Evaluation of taxa-specific real-time PCR, whole-cell FISH and morphotaxonomy analyses for the detection and quantification of the toxic microalgae Alexandrium minutum (Dinophyceae), Global Clade ribotype

38Citations
Citations of this article
60Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

The dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium contains neurotoxin-producing species that have adversely affected the aquaculture industry in many countries. The morphological similarity between Alexandrium species has led to the development of molecular methods for the discrimination, enumeration and monitoring of toxic and nontoxic species. A quantitative real-time PCR assay (qRT-PCR) targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1-5.8S rRNA gene using hybridization probe technology was developed for the potentially toxic species Alexandrium minutum (Global Clade) (GC). The assay was specific with a detection limit of less than one cell equivalent. The assay was used to detect and quantify A. minutum (GC) in seawater samples collected during summer 2007 in Cork Harbour, Ireland. The results were compared with those obtained using whole-cell FISH (WC-FISH) and morphotaxonomy analyses. Alexandrium minutum did not reach high bloom concentrations over the sampling period (maximum of c. 6 × 104 cells L-1), and the average concentrations determined using qRT-PCR, WC-FISH and morphotaxonomy did not significantly differ in eight of nine comparisons. Regression curves showed positive relationships between the methods; WC-FISH and qRT-PCR slightly under- and overestimated, respectively, the A. minutum concentrations compared with the morphotaxonomy method. The qRT-PCR assay for A. minutum (GC) offers high-throughput sample analysis and may prove suitable for implementation in microalgae monitoring programmes and assist in population dynamics studies of the species. © 2008 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author supplied keywords

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Touzet, N., Keady, E., Raine, R., & Maher, M. (2009). Evaluation of taxa-specific real-time PCR, whole-cell FISH and morphotaxonomy analyses for the detection and quantification of the toxic microalgae Alexandrium minutum (Dinophyceae), Global Clade ribotype. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 67(2), 329–341. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2008.00627.x

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free