Automated In-Situ Cyanotoxin Assessment Toolbox For Real-Time Surface Water Monitoring (CYANOBOX)

Automated In-Situ Cyanotoxin Assessment Toolbox for Real-Time Surface Water Monitoring, CYanoBox, is a 3-year project, coordinated by the innovation and technology company CyRIC, for the development of novel biosensors, and reliable at-source detection of toxic metabolites. The project aims to deliver an autonomous, affordable, and easy to operate water monitoring system as an early-warning tool for surface waters affected by cyano-HABs. CYanoBox comprises of an innovative water processing system that can remotely filter and lyse the cyanobacterial cells in-situ so that an accurate measurement is taken for both the extracellular and intracellular concentration of one of the most important groups of cyanotoxins, the hepatotoxic microcystins. The focus is on optimizing the method to lyse the cells in a way that maximizes the recovery of targeted cyanotoxins, followed by the development of biosensors for cyanotoxins identification and quantification. Being able to detect accurately and remotely the concentration of cyanotoxins in surface water without the physical presence of humans, it will be beneficial to the actual waterbodies, administrators, local communities, and researchers. This system will remotely evaluate the severity of a bloom based on its toxicity and track changes in water quality that traditional discrete monitoring activities usually miss.