Senior Scientist, Associate Professor, Deputy Head of Research Institute Head of working group "Molecular ecology and ecophysiology of algae (cyanobacteria)"
Research area:
Molecular physiology, ecology and evolution of toxin-producing cyanobacteria
Nov 2014- present: Associate Professor at the Research Department for Limnology, Mondsee, University of Innsbruck; University Docent at the University of Vienna, Faculty of Life Sciences (since 2007)
June 2013 – Oct. 2014: Assistant Professor at the Research Institute for Limnology, Mondsee, University of Innsbruck
Sept 1, 2012 - May, 2013: Senior scientist at the Research Institute for Limnology, Mondsee, University of Innsbruck
2007-Aug 31, 2012: Senior scientist at the Institute for Limnology in Mondsee, Austrian Academy of Sciences
2001-2007: Junior scientist at the Institute for Limnology in Mondsee, Austrian Academy of Sciences
1999-2001: Post doc position at the Federal Environmental Agency and Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
1997-1999: PhD fellow at the University of Vienna, Doc fellowship by the Austrian Academy of Sciences
Molecular physiology, ecology and evolution of toxin-producing cyanobacteria
Harmful algal blooms formed by cyanobacteria (cyanoHABs) are a global phenomenon observed both in fresh and brackish water. The human society is facing a couple of toxic compounds (“cyanotoxins”; e.g. the microcystins) of different chemical structure that are produced by several genera (Microcystis, Planktothrix, Anabaena), with some of them leading to outbreaks and diseases in livestock and humans.
Sampling of Planktothrix blooms in lakes in the Alps, Photo: R. Kurmayer
It is a challenge to identify the factors leading to toxic outbreaks which is due to the development of toxic ecotypes carrying the genes for the production of a certain toxin. am interested in physiological and ecological regulation of toxin production as well as evolutionary questions.
The elucidation of the genes involved in the synthesis of these toxins paved the way to
(i) Explore time scales and mechanisms in the evolution of responsible genes involved in cyanoHAB formation.
(ii) Postulate hypotheses about factors driving the innovation of toxin synthesis
(i) Forecast the ecological fitness of toxic/non-toxic genotypes during cyanoHAB development
Microcystis bloom formation in Nyanza Gulf (L. Victoria), Photo: R. Kurmayer
Answering these questions would help to understand whether the biodiversity and evolution of cyanotoxins is favored by the global increase of cyanoHAB formation. These questions are addressed by integrating the ecology, physiology and the genetic analysis of ecotypes through a comprehensive field and laboratory research program.
PhD fellowship Austrian Academy of Sciences (Elisabeth Entfellner): Toward an Understanding of Secondary Metabolic Diversity Among Algal Bloom-forming Cyanobacteria (2016 – 2020)
Microcystis with epibiontic protozoa and algae and bacteria, Photo: R. Kurmayer
Due to massive accumulation of cyanoHAB organisms at the surface or along the shore, the toxins that are produced can occur in high concentrations. This is of relevance when contaminated raw water is used for drinking as well as for recreation and tourism. Various aquatic biota like fish, crustaceans and mussels that are used for nutrition have been shown to contain cyanotoxins.
In Austria cyanoHABs occur in ponds and gravel pit lakes frequently after sunny periods during summer and autumn. In deep physically stratified lakes in the Alps, high abundances of the cyanobacterium Planktothrix can occur and under bloom conditions microcystin has been shown to be transferred up to the highest trophic levels.
Small fish (mostly Rastineobola argentea) occurring in Lake Victoria contain the hepatotoxin microcystin as revealed by ELISA, Photo: R. Kurmayer
As the occurrence of cyanoHABs is of public interest, water samples sent by technical offices or authorities are analyzed for the two most frequent cyanotoxins in freshwater, microcystin and anatoxin-a. Currently, in Austria a national guideline on the estimation of health risks associated with cyanoHABs occurrence is not available. Thus public requests are referred to the recommendation published by the Federal Environmental Agency in Germany.
Projects:
CYANOCOST, “Cyanobacteria booms and toxins in water resources : Occurrence, impacts and management”, EU COST Action ES1105, (2012-2016), http://cyanocost.com/
IPGL, International Training Programs in Limnology,
PhD-APPEAR fellowship granted by OEAD (Benard Simiyu): The effects of hydrological changes on spatial phytoplankton composition and Microcystin concentrations in Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya (2017-2020).
Alpine lakes as in situ observatories for climate change effects
Ice break up in Twenger Alm See (2118 m aSL) in the Niedere Tauern Region during June 2012, Photo: V. Schaidreiter
Both direct impacts (i.e. increase in water temperature) and indirect impacts (i.e. increase in physical lake stratification, longer vegetation period, eutrophication due to increased precipitation) are predicted to favor the occurrence of nuisance algae such as cyanoHAB organisms. It is possible that the effects of climatic change are likely to run counter to the reduction in nutrient loading which is aimed for by the water management.
We aim to understand the factors that regulate the growth of algae and cyanobacteria both through direct measurements in the field and also through modelling of cyanoHAB growth in the water column. In a recent project we use high-throughput sequencing techniques to monitor plankton community composition as well as the immigration of certain nuisance species as a consequence of climatic change.
The ultimate aim is to use these results for a protection, monitoring and restoration of aquatic ecosystems
Asterionella formosa blooming in Lake Moaralmsee (1825 m aSL) in the Niedere Tauern Region during summer 2011, Photo: R. Kurmayer
Ruben Ascensió Moron, PhD student, project FWF-P 32193, Subcellular localization of toxin production in cyanobacteria-SLOT
Daniel Holzer (MSc student)
staff members of the Research group (from left to right: R. Vith, D. Schuler, R. Kurmayer, C. Kotzorek, H. Pritsch, R. Li (former PostDoc), B. M. Simiyu, in front: A. Wiedlroither, H. Rund, not at the picture: E. Entfellner and R.A. Moron) click on photo to enlarge
CLimate response of Alpine lakes: resistance variability and Management consequences for Ecosystem Services (CLAIMES) - Earth System Sciences (ESS), Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ÖAW) (Jul 2019 - Jul 2022) (with S. Wanzenböck) https://www.uibk.ac.at/projects/claimes/
Eco-AlpsWater - Innovative Ecological Assessment and Water Management Strategy for the Protection of Ecosystem Services in Alpine Lakes and Rivers. Interreg Alpine Space - Europäischer Fonds für regionale Entwicklung (EFRE) - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (May 2018 - Apr 2021) together with J. Wanzenböck
‘The effect of hydrological changes on the spatial phytoplankton composition and microcystin concentration in Nyanza Gulf; Lake Victoria, Kenya’, APPEAR scholarship, Benard Mulchowa Simiyu (2017-2020)
Cyanobacterial blooms and toxins in water resources: Occurrence, impacts and management. ESSEM COST Action ES1105 (Apr 2012 - Mar 2016, http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/essem/Actions/ES1105 ). This new COST Action will establish a European network in order to address the issues of cyanobacterial blooms, their toxicity, monitoring, risk assessment, treatment and management and has been approved for involving >30 partners from 24 countries. http://cyanocost.com/
Risk Analysis of Direct and Indirect Climate effects on deep Austrian Lake Ecosystems (RADICAL) Climate and Energy Fund of the Federal State, ACRP (2009-2012)
“DEcadal deTECTion of biodIVErsity in alpine lakes, DETECTIVE - Global warming threatens biodiversity in (ultra)-sensitive Alpine lakes: an assessment of past, present and future scenarios" funded by the Alpine Research Programme of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (Dec 2009 - Dec 2012), National and International Research Programme.
“Natural products from cyanobacteria”, funded by Cyano Biotech GmbH, Chausseestr. 117, D-10115 Berlin, www.cyano-biotech.com
“Genotype determined toxin content in cyanobacteria”, funded by the Austrian Science Fund, P20231, www.fwf.at, July 2008 – June 2011 Dez 2011, finished. As a deliverable to disseminate the projects results an international mutagenisation workshop has been held in July 2011 (Link to: announcement; report)
“Linking Cyanotoxin production to genetic diversity” funded by the Austrian Science Fund P15709, www.fwf.ac.at , finished
"Microevolution of toxin synthesis in cyanobacteria" funded by the Austrian Science Fund P18185, www.fwf.ac.at , finished
“Use of cyanobacteria for the production of ethanol”, funded by Cyano BioFuels, Magnusstrasse 11, D-12489 Berlin, www.cyano-biofuels.com, finished
“Toxic and other bioactive PEPtides in Cyanobacteria” (PEPCY), funded by the European Community, QLK4-CT-2002-02634, finished, www.pepcy.de , Link to Final report. PDF (FINAL report PEPCY) As a deliverable for the PEPCY project “A manual on the use of genetic techniques to quantify genotypes of cyanobacteria in freshwater” has been compiled. Link to manual. PDF
Limnogeology VU/4- Interdisciplinary MSc course in Mondsee since WS 2017/18, SS2019, at Research Department for Limnology, Mondseestrasse 9, 5310 Mondsee (other lecturers involved from Mondsee: Sonntag, B.; Wanzenböck, J.; Weisse, T.)
Molecular Taxonomy and Ecophysiology of Algae VU/2 at Research Department for Limnology, Mondseestrasse 9, 5310 Mondsee and Project Study Hydrobotany EU/3, at Institute for Botany, Sternwartestrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck
Evolution of algae VO/1, part of Elective Module 2: Plant Diversity and Systematics, Winter semester (every second year), WS 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 at Institute for Botany, Sternwartestraße 15, A-6020 Innsbruck
Nature as Political Subject VO/2, part of Elective Module 18: Theory of Science and Gender Research, SS 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023 at Research Department for Limnology, Mondseestrasse 9, 5310 Mondsee
Evolutionary Ecology of Aquatic Organisms VU/5, SS 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023 at Research Department for Limnology, Mondseestrasse 9, 5310 Mondsee
Basic Laboratory Course UE/3, in WS since 2012/13 (yearly) at Institute for Microbiology, Labor Biologie 0/406, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020 Innsbruck
Molecular Ecology of Algae, VU/1, Elective Module 4: Diversity, Systematics and Ecology and Vascular Plants and Algae, at Institute for Botany, Sternwartestraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck
University of Vienna
Physiology and Ecology of Cyanobacteria, VO/1 Winter Semester (every 2nd year since 2007), University of Vienna, UZAI, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna.
Diploma theses
Quantification of toxin genes in surface waters by real-time PCR (Thomas Kutzenberger, Univ. of Vienna) 107pp.
Assessment of toxin producing cyanobacteria in Mwanza Gulf - Lake Victoria (Baraka Sekadende, IHE Delft, The Netherlands) 47pp.
Phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of isolates of the toxic cyanobacterium Planktothrix (Marlies Gumpenberger, Univ. of Salzburg) 122pp.
Characterising the content of two cyclic peptides and phytoplankton pigments in isolates of the toxic cyanobacterium Planktothrix spp. under maximum growth rate conditions (Simone Kosol, Univ. of Salzburg) 87pp.
Toxic cyanobacteria in Ugandan freshwater habitats (William Okello, IHE Delft, The Netherlands) 70pp.
Abundance of specific microcystin-deficient genotypes in Planktothrix rubescens populations of the Salzkammergut Area, Upper Austria (Qian Liu, IHE Delft, The Netherlands) 61pp.
Phylogenetic characterisation of mutations inactivating the biosynthesis of the toxic heptapeptide microcystin (Carole Molitor, Univ. of Innsbruck) 150pp.
Seasonal abundance of mutation and recombination in microcystin genes in populations of cyanobacteria (Veronika Ostermaier, Univ. of Munich) 104pp.
Analysis of phytoplankton composition during stratification of Lake Victoria (Mwanza Gulf, Tanzania), Athanasio Mbonde (IHE Delft, The Netherlands) 71pp.
The concentration of microcystins in Rastineobola argentea in Nyanza Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya (Benard Simiyu, IHE Delft, the Netherlands) 69pp.
Genetic variation and recombination processes affecting the synthesis of bioactive peptides in the cyanobacterium Planktothrix (Mark Frei, Univ. of Vienna) 121pp.
The occurrence of cyanobacterial toxins and their elimination in drinking water in Uganda (Mark Olokotum, Univ. of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna) 74pp.
Evolution of aeruginosin bioactive peptide synthesis in bloom-forming cyanobacteria (Kathrin Baumann, Univ. of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna) 112pp.
Cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms in two East African lakes: community composition, associated cyanotoxins and toxigenic genotype diversity, (Rachel Vith, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna) 114pp.
Click labelling and In Vitro clicking (CuAAC) of the widespread cyanotoxin Microcystin and the bioactive peptide Anabaenopeptin from cyanobacteria, (Christoph Kotzorek, University of Innsbruck) 95pp.
PhD theses
Diversity in abundance of toxic genotypes in populations of the cyanobacterium Planktothrix spp. (Eva Schober, Univ. of Vienna) 2012 129pp.
Molecular and chemical characterisation of toxic cyanobacteria in Ugandan freshwater (William Okello, Univ. of Vienna) 2009 109pp.
Effects of cage fish farming systems on phytoplankton and water quality in small ponds of East Africa (Nadja Straubinger, Univ. of Vienna), 2015, 67pp., EU project BOMOSA, http://bomosa.oeaw.ac.at
Time in microevolution of microcystin synthesis (Veronika Ostermaier, Univ. of Vienna), 2013, 161pp, DOC-FORTE fellowship 2009-2011.
Molecular Ecology and Physiology of Cyanobacteria in the Ecosystems of Freshwater and Sediments (Qin Chen, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi Province) 2016.
Analysis of genetic recombination phenomena in cyanotoxin gene clusters as induced by mobile transposable elements (Elisabeth Entfellner, Univ. of Innsbruck), FWF-P24070, Mobilomics, http://www.uibk.ac.at/limno/research/projects/mobilomics
Benard Mulchowa Simiyu, ‘The effects of hydrological changes on spatial phytoplankton composition and microcystin concentrations in Nyanza Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya.’, (April 2017 – , Univ. Innsbruck, ongoing). Funded through OEAD (APPEAR PhD fellowship).
Teofana Chonova, “Hospital effluents and their effect on microbial communities in environmental biofilms” (2019), Univ. of Innsbruck, 198pp., defended), within the alpine space project EcoAlpsWater
Fontana V., Ebner M., Schirpke U., Ohndorf M., Pritsch H., Tappeiner U., Kurmayer R. (2023). An integrative approach to evaluate ecosystem services of mountain lakes using multi-criteria decision analysis. Ecological Economic 204(A): 107678 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107678
2022
Teubner K., Kurmayer R., Dokulil M.T. (2022). Eutrophierung, toxische Cyanobakterien am Beispiel des urbanen Donau-Altarmgewässers Alte Donau und des alpinen Mondsees. In: ÖWAV Arbeitsbehelf 52, Band 2 „Mikrobiologie und Wasser“ (Fallstudien), (eds Farnleitner et al.), 35-45, https://www.oewav.at/Publikationen?current=449629&mode=form
Olokotum M., Humbert J.-F., Quiblier C., Okello W., Semyalo R., Troussellier M., Marie B., Baumann K., Kurmayer R., Bernard C. (2022). Characterization of Potential Threats from Cyanobacterial Toxins in Lake Victoria Embayments and during Water Treatment. Toxins 14(10):664, https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14100664
Entfellner E., Li R., Jiang Y., Ru J., Blom J., Deng L.,Kurmayer R.(2022). Toxic/bioactive peptide synthesis genes rearranged by insertion sequence elements among the bloom-forming cyanobacteriaPlanktothrix.Front Microbioldoi:10.3389/fmicb.2022.901762
Salmaso N., Vasselon V., Rimet F., Vautier M., Elersek T., Boscaini A., Donati C., Moretto M., Pindo M., Riccioni G., Stefani E., Capelli C., Lepori F., Kurmayer R., Mischke U., Klemenčič A.K., Novak K., Greco C., Franzini G., Fusato G., Giacomazzi F., Lea A., Menegon S., Zampieri C., Macor A., Virgilio D., Zanut E., Zorza R., Buzzi F., Domaizon I. (2022). DNA sequence and taxonomic gap analyses to quantify the coverage of aquatic cyanobacteria and eukaryotic microalgae in reference databases: Results of a survey in the Alpine region. Science of The Total Environment 834:155175 doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155175
Simiyu B.M., Kurmayer R. (2022). Response of planktonic diatoms to eutrophication in Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya, Limnologica 93: 125958 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2022.125958
Simiyu B. M., Amukhuma H. S., Sitoko L., Kurmayer R. (2022). Interannual variability of water quality conditions in the Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya, Journal of Great Lakes Research 48: 97-109, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2021.10.017
Mischke U., Kurmayer R., Salmaso N., Elersek T., Lepori F., Schaumburg J., Rimet F., Vasselon V., Domaizon I. (2022). Metabarcoding für Phytoplankton- und benthische Diatomeenarten durch das Projekt Eco-AlpsWater – Erfahrungen für bayerische Gewässer. In: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Limnologie e.V.: Ergebnisse der Jahrestagung 2021 der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Limnologie (DGL) und der deutschen und österreichischen Sektion der Societas Internationalis Limnologiae (SIL). Leipzig, 27. September – 1. Oktober 2021. Essen: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Limnologie, ISBN 978-3-9818302-6-2, S. 163 - 170.
2021
Morón-Asensio R., Schuler D., Wiedlroither A., Offterdinger M., Kurmayer R. (2021). Differential Labeling of Chemically Modified Peptides and Lipids among Cyanobacteria Planktothrix and Microcystis. Microorganisms 9(8):1578. doi:10.3390/microorganisms9081578
Schirpke U., Ebner M., Pritsch H., Fontana V., Kurmayer R. (2021). Quantifying Ecosystem Services of High Mountain Lakes across Different Socio-Ecological Contexts. Sustainability 13(11):6051. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116051
Ibelings B., Kurmayer R, Azevedo S.M.F.O., Wood S.A., Chorus I., Welker M. (2021). Chapter 4: Understanding the occurrence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins, In: Chorus I., Welker M. (eds.). Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water: A Guide to Their Public Health Consequences, Monitoring and Management. CRC Press, 213-294.
Padisák J., Chorus I., Welker M., Maršálek B., Kurmayer R. (2021). Chapter 13: Laboratory analyses of cyanobacteria and water chemistry, In: Chorus I., Welker M. (eds.). Toxic Cyanobacteria in Water: A Guide to Their Public Health Consequences, Monitoring and Management. CRC Press, 689-744.
Rott E., Kurmayer R., Holzinger A., Sanders D.G. (2021). Contrasting endolithic habitats for cyanobacteria in spring calcites of the European Alps. Nova Hedwigia 112(1-2): 17-48. doi: 10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2021/0615
2020
Schwarzenberger A., Kurmayer R., Martin-Creuzburg D. (2020). Toward Disentangling the Multiple Nutritional Constraints Imposed by Planktothrix: The Significance of Harmful Secondary Metabolites and Sterol Limitation. Frontiers in Microbiology 11:2473 doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.586120.
Kaletta J., Pickl C., Griebler C., Klingl A., Kurmayer R., Deng L. (2020). A rigorous assessment and comparison of enumeration methods for environmental viruses. Sci Rep 10(1):18625 doi:10.1038/s41598-020-75490-y.
Kurmayer R., Entfellner E., Weisse T., Offterdinger M., Rentmeister A., Deng L. (2020). Chemically labeled toxins or bioactive peptides show a heterogeneous intracellular distribution and low spatial overlap with autofluorescence in bloom-forming cyanobacteria. Sci Rep 10, 2781, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59381-w
2019
Ma T., Jiang Y., Elbehery A. H. A., Blank S., Kurmayer R., Deng L. (online first). Resilience of planktonic bacterial community structure in response to short-term weather deterioration during the growing season in an alpine lake. Hydrobiologiadoi:10.1007/s10750-019-04118-8.
Jiang Y., Huang H., Ma T., Ru J., Blank S., Kurmayer R., Deng L. (2019). Temperature response of planktonic microbiota in remote alpine lakes, Front. Microbiol. 10:1714, doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01714
Chonova T., Kurmayer R., Rimet F., Labanowski J., Vasselon V., Keck F., Illmer P., Bouchez A. (2019). Benthic Diatom Communities in an Alpine River Impacted by Waste Water Treatment Effluents as Revealed Using DNA Metabarcoding, Frontiers in Microbiology, 10:653. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00653
2018
Simiyu B.M., Odour S.O., Rohrlack T., Sitoki L., Kurmayer R. (2018). Microcystin Content in Phytoplankton and in Small Fish from Eutrophic Nyanza Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya, Toxins 10(7): 275 doi:10.3390/toxins10070275
Kurmayer R., Christiansen G., Holzinger A., Rott E. (2018). Single colony genetic analysis of epilithic stream algae of the genus Chamaesiphon spp. Hydrobiologia 811:61-75,doi:10.1007/s10750-017-3295-z
2017
Meriluoto J., Blaha L. , Bojadzija G., Bormans M., Brient L., Codd G.A., Drobac D., Faassen E.J., Fastner J., Hiskia A., Ibelings B.W. , Kaloudis T., Kokocinski M., Kurmayer R., Pantelić D., Quesada A., Salmaso N., Tokodi N., Triantis T.M., Visser P.M. Svirčev Z. (2017). Toxic cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in European waters - recent progress achieved through the CYANOCOST Action and challenges for further research. Advances in Oceanography and Limnology 8(1) doi:10.4081/aiol.2017.6429.
Kurmayer, R., A. Wilmotte, K. Sivonen, N. Salmaso (eds.) 2017. Molecular tools for the detection and quantification of toxigenic cyanobacteria, 276pp. Wiley & Sons Limited http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1119332109.html (Deliverable of the CyanoCOST project, http://cyanocost.com)
Entfellner E., Frei M., Christiansen G., Deng L., Blom J., Kurmayer R. (2017): Evolution of anabaenopeptin peptide structural variability in the cyanobacterium Planktothrix. Frontiers in Microbiology 8:219, doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.00219
2016
Bullerjahn, G.S. et al. (2016). Global solutions to regional problems: collecting global expertise to address the problem of harmful algal blooms - A Lake Erie case study. Harmful Algae 54:223-238, doi:10.1016/j.hal.2016.01.003.
Kurmayer, R., Deng, L., Entfellner, E. (2016). Role of toxic and bioactive secondary metabolites in colonization and bloom formation by filamentous cyanobacteria Planktothrix. Harmful Algae 54:69-86. doi:10.1016/j.hal.2016.01.004
Weckström K., Weckström J., Huber K., Kamenik C, Schmidt R., Salvenmoser W., Rieradevall M., Weisse T., Psenner R., Kurmayer R. (2016). Impacts of climate warming on Alpine lake biota over the last decade. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research 48, 361-376. Abstract
Chen, Q., Christiansen, G., Deng, L., Kurmayer, R. (2016). Emergence of nontoxic mutants as revealed by single filament analysis in bloom-forming cyanobacteria of the genus Planktothrix. BMC Microbiology 16:23, doi 10.1186/s12866-016-0639-1 PDF
2015
Mbonde A., Sitoki L., Kurmayer R. (2015). Phytoplankton composition and microcystin concentrations in open and closed bays of Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 18(2):212-220, DOI:10.1080/14634988.2015.101103. PDF
Kurmayer R., Blom J., Deng L., Pernthaler J. (2015) Integrating phylogeny, geographic niche partitioning, and secondary metabolite synthesis in bloom-forming Planktothrix. The ISME Journal 9(4):909-921. doi: 10.1038/ismej.2014.189 PDF
2014
Kohler, E., V. Grundler, D. Häussinger, R. Kurmayer, K. Gademann, J. Pernthaler & J. F. Blom, (2014). The toxicity and enzyme activity of a chlorine and sulfate containing aeruginosin isolated from a non-microcystin-producing Planktothrix strain. Harmful Algae 39:154-160 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2014.07.003
Christiansen G., Goesmann A., Kurmayer R. (2014). Elucidation of insertion elements encoded on plasmids and in vitro construction of shuttle vectors from the toxic cyanobacterium Planktothrix.Appl Environ Microbiol. doi:10.1128/AEM.01188-14
Niedermeyer T. J., Schmieder P., Kurmayer R. (2014) Isolation of Microcystins from the Cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens Strain No80. Natural Products and Bioprospecting. 1-9. DOI 10.1007/s13659-013-0001-3
2013
Ostermaier, V., Christiansen G., Schanz, F., Kurmayer, R. (2013) Genetic variability of microcystin biosynthesis genes in Planktothrix as elucidated from samples preserved by heat desiccation during three decades. PLOS One. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080177PDF
Nevalainen, L., Ketola, M., Korosi, J.B., Manca, M., Kurmayer, R., Koinig, K., Psenner, R., Luoto, TP. (2013) Zooplankton (Cladocera) species turnover and long-term decline of Daphnia in two high mountain lakes in the Austrian Alps. Hydrobiologia, DOI 10.1007/s10750-013-1676-5.
Rohrlack, T., Christiansen, G., Kurmayer, R. (2013). A putative anti-parasite defensive system in the cyanobacterium Planktothrix involving ribosomal and non-ribosomal oligopeptides. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 79, 2642-2647 PDF
2012
Ostermaier V., Schanz F., Köster O., and Kurmayer R. (2012) Stability of toxin gene proportion in red-pigmented populations of the cyanobacterium Planktothrix during 29 years of re-oligotrophication of Lake Zürich. BMC Biology 10:100, doi:10.1186/1741-7007-10-100.
Savichtcheva, O., Debroas, D., Kurmayer, R., Villar, C., Jenny J.P., Fabien A., Perga M.E., Domaizon I. (2011) Quantitative PCR enumeration of total and toxic Planktothrix rubescens/agardhii and other cyanobacteria in preserved DNA isolated from lake sediments. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 77:8744-8753. doi: 10.1128/AEM.06106-11PDF
Christiansen, G., Philmus, B., Hemscheidt, T., and Kurmayer, R. (2011) Genetic variation of adenylation domains of the anabaenopeptin synthesis operon and the evolution of substrate promiscuity. Journal of Bacteriology 193, 3822-3831 PDF
Okello, W., Kurmayer, R. (2011) Seasonal development of cyanobacteria and microcystin production in Ugandan freshwater lakes. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research & Management 16:123-135.
Babanazarova, O. V., Kurmayer R., Sidelev S. I., Aleksandrina E. M., and Sakharova E .G. (2011) Phytoplankton structure and microcystine concentration in the highly eutrophic Nero Lake. Water Resources 39(2):229-236. PDF
Kurmayer, R., Schober E., Tonk L., Visser P., and Christiansen G. (2011) Spatial divergence in the proportions of genes encoding toxic peptide synthesis among populations of the cyanobacterium Planktothrix in European lakes. FEMS Microbiol Letters 317:127-137. PDF
Kurmayer, R. (2011) The toxic cyanobacterium Nostoc strain 152 produces highest amounts of microcystin and nostophycin under stress conditions. Journal of Phycology 47:200-207. PDF
2010
Ostermaier, V., and Kurmayer, R. (2010) Application of real-time PCR to estimate toxin production by the cyanobacterium Planktothrix sp. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 76:3495-3502. PDF
Okello, W; Ostermaier, V; Portmann, C; Gademann, K, and Kurmayer, R. (2010) Spatial isolation favours the divergence in microcystin net production by Microcystis in Ugandan freshwater lakes. Water Research 44: 2803-2814. PDF
Okello, W., Portmann, C., Erhard, M., Gademann, K., Kurmayer, R. (2010) Occurrence of microcystin-producing cyanobacteria in Ugandan freshwater habitats. Environ. Tox. 25: 367-380. PDF
2009
Kosol, S., Schmidt, J., and Kurmayer, R. (2009): Variation in peptide net production and growth among strains of the toxic cyanobacterium Planktothrix spp. Eur. J. Phycol. 44:49-62. PDF
Kurmayer, R. and Christiansen, G. (2009): The genetic basis of toxin production in Cyanobacteria. Freshwater Reviews 2:31-50 PDF
Ostermaier, V. and Kurmayer, R. (2009): Distribution and abundance of nontoxic mutants of cyanobacteria in lakes of the Alps. Microbial Ecology 58:323-333. PDF
2008
Christiansen, G., Yoshida W.Y., Blom, J., Portmann, C., Gademann, KG., Hemscheidt, T., and Kurmayer, R. (2008): Isolation and structure determination of two microcystins and sequence comparisons of McyABC adenylation domains in Planktothrix species. Journal of Natural Products 71:1881-1886. PDFSupplement
Christiansen G., Molitor C., Philmus B., and Kurmayer R. (2008): Non-toxic strains of cyanobacteria are the result of major gene deletion events induced by a transposable element. Molecular Biology and Evolution 25:1695-1704 Link
2007
Naselli-Flores, L., Barone, R., Chorus, I., and Kurmayer, R. (2007): Toxic cyanobacterial blooms under a semiarid mediterranean climate: The magnification of a problem. Environmental Toxicology 22:399-404. PDF
Ishida K., Christiansen G., Yoshida WY., Kurmayer R., Welker , Bonjoch J., Hertweck C., Börner T., Hemscheidt T., and Dittmann E. (2007): Biosynthetic pathway and structure analysis of aeruginoside 126A and B, cyanobacterial peptide glycosides bearing an unusual 2-carboxy-6-hydroxyoctahydroindole moiety. Chemistry and Biology 14: 565-576. Links to PDF's (Ishida et al. 2007), (preface Ishida et al. 2007)
Schober E., Werndl M., Laakso K., Korschineck I., Sivonen K., and Kurmayer R. (2007): Interlaboratory comparison of Taq Nuclease Assays for the quantification of the toxic cyanobacteria Microcystis sp. Journal of Microbiological Methods 69: 122-128. PDF
2006
Kurmayer R. and Gumpenberger M. (2006): Diversity of microcystin genotypes among populations of the filamentous cyanobacteria Planktothrix rubescens and Planktothrix agardhii. Molecular Ecology 15: 3849-3861. PDF
Schober E. and Kurmayer R. (2006): Evaluation of different DNA sampling techniques for the application of the real-time PCR method for the quantification of cyanobacteria in water. Letters in Applied Microbiology 42: 412-417. PDF
Christiansen G., Kurmayer R., Liu Q., and Börner T. (2006): Transposons inactivate the biosynthesis of the nonribosomal peptide microcystin in naturally occurring Planktothrix spp. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72: 117-123. PDF, Cover
2005
Sekadende BC., Lyimo T. J., and Kurmayer R. (2005): Microcystin production by cyanobacteria in the Mwanza Gulf (Lake Victoria, Tanzania). Hydrobiologia 543: 299-304. PDF
Kurmayer R., Christiansen G., Gumpenberger M., and Fastner J. (2005): Genetic identification of microcystin ecotypes in toxic cyanobacteria of the genus Planktothrix. Microbiology 151: 1525-1533. PDF
2004
Via-Ordorika L., Fastner J., Kurmayer R., Hisbergues M., Dittmann E., Komarek J., Erhard M., and Chorus I. (2004): Distribution of microcystin-producing and non-microcystin-producing Microcystis sp. in European freshwater bodies: detection of microcystins and microcystin genes in individual colonies. Systematic and Applied Microbiology 27: 592-603. PDF
Kurmayer R., Christiansen G., Fastner J., and Börner T. (2004): Abundance of active and inactive microcystin genotypes in populations of the toxic cyanobacterium Planktothrix spp. Environmental Microbiology 6: 831-841. PDF, Cover
2003
Kurmayer R. and Kutzenberger T. (2003): Application of real-time PCR for the quantification of microcystin genotypes in a population of the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis sp. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 69:6723-6730. PDF
Kurmayer R., Christiansen G., and Chorus I. (2003): The abundance of microcystin-producing genotypes correlates positively with colony size in Microcystis and determines its microcystin net production in Lake Wannsee. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 69/2: 787-795. PDF
2002
Kurmayer R., Dittmann E., Fastner J.and Chorus I. (2002): Diversity of microcystin genes within a population of the toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis spp. in Lake Wannsee (Berlin, Germany). Microbial Ecology 43: 107-118. PDF
2001
Kurmayer R. (2001): Competitive ability of Daphnia under dominance of non-toxic filamentous cyanobacteria, M. Boersma & K. Wiltshire (eds.): Proceedings of the V symposium on cladocera in Plön (Germany), Hydrobiologia 442: 279-289. PDF
2000
Kurmayer R. (2000): Nutritive vs. interfering effects of Anabaena sp. on Daphnia and Ceriodaphnia. Verh. Int. Ver. Limnol. 27: 3001-3005.
1999
Kurmayer R., and Jüttner F. (1999): Strategies for the coexistence of zooplankton with the toxic cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens in Lake Zürich. J. Plankt. Res. 21: 659-683. PDF
Wanzenböck J., Kurmayer R. (2014). Radical - Risk Analysis of Direct and Indirect Climate Effects on Deep Austrian Lake Ecosystems. Berichte zur Klimafolgenforschung 2014 - Biodiversität, Broschüre des Austrian Climate Research Programme in Essence, 13-19. PDF
Kurmayer, R. (2006). Bedingungen und Steuerung der Toxinproduktion bei Cyanobakterien – aktueller Stand der Forschung. In: Toxinbildende Cyanobakterien (Blaualgen) in bayrischen Gewässern. Materalienband Nr. 125, Bayrisches Landesamt für Umwelt, pp. 116-143. Link to PDF (Bayr. Landesamt Bericht)
Kurmayer R. (2005). Dreckige Gewinner. Team vom Mondsee erforscht die Karriere von Blaualgen. Universum April 2005, No4: 91. PDF
