Current World Environment

Toxic cyanobacteria blooms became a worldwide problems as many countries encounter the presence of the blooms in most of water bodies. As part to develop monitoring of cyanobacterial toxins in Malaysia, samples taken in twelve points in five different lakes in Miri, Sarawak. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of cyanobacterial 16S rRNA were carried out to detect the presence of cyanobacteria in the water samples. Cyanobacterial 16S rRNA were detected in all the samples collected. While molecular analysis for detection of cyanobacterial toxin encoding gene were done using specific primers. PCR amplification of cyanobacterial toxin-encoding gene were carried using the combination of forward primer; mcyE-F2 and reverse primer; mcyE-R4 to amplify generic microcystin (mcyE) gene in the samples. Out of twelve samples collected, microcystin (mcyE) producing gene was detected in one of the samples tested. Presence of microcystin encoding gene indicates the risk of cyanobacterial toxins in Miri, Sarawak.