@article{HuLudsinMartinetal.2018,
  author    = {Hu, Chenlin and Ludsin, Stuart A. and Martin, Jay F. and Dittmann, Elke and Lee, Jiyoung},
  title     = {Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs)-producing Microcystis in Lake Erie},
  series = {Harmful algae},
  volume    = {77},
  journal   = {Harmful algae},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {1568-9883},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.hal.2018.05.010},
  pages     = {1 -- 10},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are UV-absorbing metabolites found in cyanobacteria. While their protective role from UV in Microcystis has been studied in a laboratory setting, a full understanding of the ecology of MAA-producing versus non-MAA-producing Microcystis in natural environments is lacking. This study presents a new tool for quantifying MAA-producing Microcystis and applies it to obtain insight into the dynamics of MAA-producing and non-MAA-producing Microcystis in Lake Erie. This study first developed a sensitive, specific TaqMan real-time PCR assay that targets MAA synthetase gene C (mysC) of Microcystis (quantitative range: 1.7 × 101 to 1.7 × 107 copies/assay). Using this assay, Microcystis was quantified with a MAA-producing genotype (mysC+) in water samples (n = 96) collected during March-November 2013 from 21 Lake Erie sites (undetectable - 8.4 × 106 copies/ml). The mysC+ genotype comprised 0.3-37.8\% of the Microcystis population in Lake Erie during the study period. The proportion of the mysC+ genotype during high solar UV irradiation periods (mean = 18.8\%) was significantly higher than that during lower UV periods (mean = 9.7\%). Among the MAAs, shinorine (major) and porphyra (minor) were detected with HPLC-PDA-MS/MS from the Microcystis isolates and water samples. However, no significant difference in the MAA concentrations existed between higher and lower solar UV periods when the MAA concentrations were normalized with Microcystis mysC abundance. Collectively, this study's findings suggest that the MAA-producing Microcystis are present in Lake Erie, and they may be ecologically advantageous under high UV conditions, but not to the point that they exclusively predominate over the non-MAA-producers.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{HuweFiedlerMoritzetal.2019,
  author    = {Huwe, Bj{\"o}rn and Fiedler, Annelie and Moritz, Sophie and Rabbow, Elke and de Vera, Jean-Pierre Paul and Joshi, Jasmin Radha},
  title     = {Mosses in Low Earth Orbit},
  series = {Astrobiology},
  volume    = {19},
  journal   = {Astrobiology},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Liebert},
  address   = {New Rochelle},
  issn      = {1531-1074},
  doi       = {10.1089/ast.2018.1889},
  pages     = {221 -- 232},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {As a part of the European Space Agency mission "EXPOSE-R2" on the International Space Station (ISS), the BIOMEX (Biology and Mars Experiment) experiment investigates the habitability of Mars and the limits of life. In preparation for the mission, experimental verification tests and scientific verification tests simulating different combinations of abiotic space- and Mars-like conditions were performed to analyze the resistance of a range of model organisms. The simulated abiotic space- and Mars-stressors were extreme temperatures, vacuum, and Mars-like surface ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in different atmospheres. We present for the first time simulated space exposure data of mosses using plantlets of the bryophyte genus Grimmia, which is adapted to high altitudinal extreme abiotic conditions at the Swiss Alps. Our preflight tests showed that severe UVR200-400nm irradiation with the maximal dose of 5 and 6.8 x 10(5) kJ center dot m(-2), respectively, was the only stressor with a negative impact on the vitality with a 37\% (terrestrial atmosphere) or 36\% reduction (space- and Mars-like atmospheres) in photosynthetic activity. With every exposure to UVR200-400nm 10(5) kJ center dot m(-2), the vitality of the bryophytes dropped by 6\%. No effect was found, however, by any other stressor. As the mosses were still vital after doses of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) expected during the EXPOSE-R2 mission on ISS, we show that this earliest extant lineage of land plants is highly resistant to extreme abiotic conditions.},
  language  = {en}
}