Organisms

Cyanobacteria

A phylum of oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria comprised of unicellular to multicellular bacteria possessing CHLOROPHYLL a and carrying out oxygenic PHOTOSYNTHESIS. Cyanobacteria are the only known organisms capable of fixing both CARBON DIOXIDE (in the presence of light) and NITROGEN. Cell morphology can include nitrogen-fixing heterocysts and/or resting cells called akinetes. Formerly called blue-green algae, cyanobacteria were traditionally treated as ALGAE.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A phylum of oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria comprised of unicellular to multicellular bacteria possessing CHLOROPHYLL a and carrying out oxygenic PHOTOSYNTHESIS. Cyanobacteria are the only known organisms capable of fixing both CARBON DIOXIDE (in the presence of light) and NITROGEN. Cell morphology can include nitrogen-fixing heterocysts and/or resting cells called akinetes. Formerly called blue-green algae, cyanobacteria were traditionally treated as ALGAE.

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

9 entry terms
  • Algae, Blue Green
  • Algae, Blue-Green
  • Bacteria, Blue Green
  • Bacteria, Blue-Green
  • Blue Green Algae
  • Blue Green Bacteria
  • Blue-Green Algae
  • Blue-Green Bacteria
  • Cyanophyceae

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

15 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, cytology, drug effects, enzymology, genetics, growth & development, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pathogenicity, physiology, radiation effects, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

general or unspecified; prefer specifics; do not confuse entry term CYANOPHYCEAE with CYANOPHORA

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History Note

92; was ALGAE, BLUE-GREEN 1970-91; CYANOBACTERIA was see ALGAE, BLUE-GREEN 1978-91; CYANOPHYTA was see ALGAE, BLUE-GREEN 1970-91

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Algae (1966-1969)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. B03w.280
  2. B03w.440w.475.100

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QW 131

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Cyanobacteria. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D000458. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D000458
  2. Cyanobacteria. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q93315