(sī″ă-nō-bak-tēr′ē-ă)
[ cyano- + bacteria ]
A phylum of bacteria that obtain energy through photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria produce neurotoxins, cytotoxins, endotoxins, and hepatotoxins. Some cyanobacteria are sold as food, e.g., Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis).
Some taxonomic systems consider Cyanobacteria to be the same as blue-green algae.
SEE: blue-green algae