Top: Micrograph of Aetokthonos hydrillicola culture. Photo credit: Chris Tucker.
Bottom: Micrograph of Aetokthonos hydrillicola-like cyanobacteria (darker filamentous colonies) on the leaf of Hydrilla verticillata. Photo Credit: Theresa Hattenrath
Scientists at the Wadsworth Center have developed a novel molecular assay to evaluate the risks posed by the emerging toxic cyanobacterium Aetokthonos hydrillicola. A. hydrillicola is associated with invasive aquatic plants and is capable of producing two potent toxins: aetokthonotoxin, a brominated neurotoxin, and aetokthonostatin, a cytotoxic dolastatin analog. Aetokthonotoxin has been identified as the cause of Vacuolar Myelinopathy, a fatal neurological condition linked to deaths in wildlife including eagles, waterfowl, fish, and bobcats. The potential for toxin transfer through the food chain raises emerging concerns for human health.
Led by Theresa Hattenrath, the Wadsworth team developed a real-time PCR assay capable of detecting Aetokthonos and its toxin-producing genes in aquatic plant material. This tool enables more rapid and sensitive identification of the organism and its toxigenic potential in environmental samples. The assay was validated through collaboration with Susan Wilde at the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources using field samples from the southeastern United States, where Aetokthonos is more commonly observed. In parallel, the Wadsworth team partnered with Cathy McGlynn and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to assess the presence and distribution of the organism and its toxins in New York State. Sampling of invasive aquatic plants across multiple NYS water bodies identified the presence of aetokthonostatin-associated genes in specimens collected from Lake Sebago, while genes associated with aetokthonotoxin were not detected. Preliminary sequencing data suggest that Aetokthonos strains in New York may be genetically distinct from those found in the southeastern United States.
This research was published in January 2026 in the journal Harmful Algae. Dr. Hattenrath has also presented these findings at the New York State Invasive Species Conference with additional presentations planned at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Harmful Algal Bloom Summit. This work provides a new tool for environmental monitoring, enabling more rapid assessment of lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, to assist in making informed decisions to protect wildlife and assess potential risks to human health. Ongoing research is focused on comparing toxin biosynthetic gene clusters across geographically distinct populations to better understand the evolution and distribution of this emerging threat.