Sorption and Biodestruction of Microcystin-LR by Penicillium verrucosum CP4 Strain Isolated from the Bottom Sediments of Lake Sestroretsky Razliv

The strain of fungus СР4 capable of degrading microcystin-LR (MC-LR) was isolated from the bottom sediments of Lake Sestroretsky Razliv. On the basis of DNA ITS sequencing and morphological analysis, the CP4 strain was identified as Penicillium verrucosum. The decrease in the content of MC-LR during the cultivation of strain СР4 from 0.64 to 0.31 μg/mL occurs mainly owing to biodegradation and, to a lesser extent, because of the sorption of the toxin by fungal cells. The method of biotesting (Daphnia magna) showed a decrease in the toxicity of the culture liquid in the process of MC-LR biodegradation by the strain СР4. The obtained results allow us to consider Penicillium verrucosum СР4 as a promising strain for mycoremediation of water bodies contaminated with microcystins.