Abstract:

A bibliometric analysis on the research dynamics of microcystins (MCs) was conducted by using CiteSpace software, and obtained the research advances, hot topics and the evolution of knowledge topics in this field, providing reference for further research. From the perspective of the annual number of publications, the study of MCs had received a large number of continuous attentions from scholars. Most of the papers were published in the journals of environmental chemistry, biology and ecology, among which Acta Hydrobiologica Sinica was the most published journal. Keywords analysis showed that MCs research involved a comprehensive content, including toxicity, detection, degradation and spatial and temporal distribution, among which the biodegradation and toxic effects of MCs were the research hotspots. The effect of MCs on organ and gene expression of grass carp was the frontier of research. The research related to MCs can be divided into three stages. From 1993 to 1999, the research was in the initial stage, mainly focusing on the isolation and purification of MCs, the toxic effect on liver and the concentration of MCs in drinking water. From 2000 to 2011, this field had become a hot research area and showed a number of research directions. From 2012 to 2021 the detection of MCs content and its toxic effects were deeply studied. It is an important development direction of MCs biodegradation to construct engineered bacteria with highly efficient expression of MCs degradation genes or to establish microbial communities with good stability and high degradation efficiency using genetic engineering technology. To study the toxic effects of MCs, it is necessary to explore the ecotoxicological effects and mechanism of MCs combined with environmental related concentrations.

Key words: microcystins, CiteSpace, visual analysis, research hotspot, research progress, evolution of knowledge topics, biodegradation, toxic effects, environmental distribution, gene expression, ecotoxicological effects