• Title/Summary/Keyword: Alexandrium

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Methods for sampling and analysis of marine microalgae in ship ballast tanks: a case study from Tampa Bay, Florida, USA

  • Garrett, Matthew J.;Wolny, Jennifer L.;Williams, B. James;Dirks, Michael D.;Brame, Julie A.;Richardson, R. William
    • ALGAE
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.181-192
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    • 2011
  • Ballasting and deballasting of shipping vessels in foreign ports have been reported worldwide as a vector of introduction of non-native aquatic plants and animals. Recently, attention has turned to ballast water as a factor in the global increase of harmful algal blooms (HABs). Many species of microalgae, including harmful dinoflagellate species, can remain viable for months in dormant benthic stages (cysts) in ballast sediments. Over a period of four years, we surveyed ballast water and sediment of ships docked in two ports of Tampa Bay, Florida, USA. Sampling conditions encountered while sampling ballast water and sediments were vastly different between vessels. Since no single sample collection protocol could be applied, existing methods for sampling ballast were modified and new methods created to reduce time and labor necessary for the collection of high-quality, qualitative samples. Five methods were refined or developed, including one that allowed for a directed intake of water and sediments. From 63 samples, 1,633 dinoflagellate cysts and cyst-like cells were recovered. A native, cyst-forming, harmful dinoflagellate, Alexandrium balechii (Steidinger) F. J. R. Taylor, was collected, isolated, and cultured from the same vessel six months apart, indicating that ships exchanging ballast water in Tampa Bay have the potential to transport HAB species to other ports with similar ecologies, exposing them to non-native, potentially toxic blooms.

The Algicidal Effect of Antimicrobial Peptide, Mastoparan B (항균성 펩타이드인 mastoparan B의 살조효과)

  • Seo, Jeong-Gil;Kim, Chan-Hui;Bae, Yun-Jeong;Mun, Ho-Seong;Kim, Geun-Yong;Park, Hui-Yeon;Yun, Ho-Dong;Kim, Chang-Hun;Byeon, Dae-Seok;Hong, Yong-Gi;Park, Nam-Gyu
    • Journal of fish pathology
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    • v.16 no.3
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    • pp.193-201
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    • 2003
  • Mastoparan B (MPB), an antimicrobial cationic peptide isolated from the venom of the hornet Vespa basalis, is a basic amphipathic α-helical peptide composed of fourteen amino acid residues. In this study, we have investigated the algicidal effect of MPB against harmful algae blooms (HABs) casative Alexandrium tamarense, Chattonella marina, Cochlodinium polykrikoides and Gymnodinium catenatum. The algicidal effect of MPB showed in the concentration of 31.3 $\mu{g}$/mL to 500 $\mu{g}$/mL against 4 HAB species and observed cell lysis or cell ecdysis by microscopy. MPB reacted more sensitive to C. marina and C. polykrikoides than A. tamarense and G. catenatum. The algicidal study of MPB against HABs will provides much insight into development of new algicidal substances.

Molecular Cloning, Transcriptome Profiling, and Characterization of Histone Genes in the Dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum

  • Riaz, Sadaf;Sui, Zhenghong
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.28 no.7
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    • pp.1185-1198
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    • 2018
  • The nucleosomal organization of chromatin using histone proteins is a fundamental and ubiquitous feature of eukaryotic nuclei, with the major exception of dinoflagellates. Although a number of recent genomic and transcriptomic analyses have detected numerous histone genes in dinoflagellates, little is known about their expression. Here in, we aimed to investigate the expression pattern of histone genes under nutritional stress, and an attempt was made to detect histone expression at the protein level in Alexandrium pacificum. The presence of histones at the mRNA level was confirmed in this study by the amplification, cloning, and sequencing of 10 different genes. Relative expression profiling of these genes under different growth conditions was determined with real-time PCR and revealed considerable levels of histone transcription in nutritionally stressed cells. We were unable to detect the expression of histones at the protein level even after immunodetection and analysis using mass spectrometry, although a histone-like protein was detected as a major nuclear component. A. pacificum expresses multiple variants of histone, and protein sequences revealed both conservation and divergence with respect to other eukaryotes. We concluded that A. pacificum maintained an active transcription of histone genes within the cell, and enhanced expression of histone genes in nutritional stress strongly suggest that histones have functional significance in dinoflagellates, although expression at the protein level was below our current detection limits, which suggests a limited role of histones in DNA packaging. Finally, the plausible regulation of histone expression at the gene and protein levels in A. pacificum is discussed.

The Algicidal Effect of Antimicrobial Peptide, Apidaecin Ib (항균성 펩타이드인 Apidaecin Ib의 살조효과)

  • Kim, Chan-Hui;Kim, Eun-Jeong;Go, Hye-Jin;Kim, In-Hye;Lee, Byeong-U;Park, Nam-Gyu
    • Journal of fish pathology
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.123-130
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    • 2004
  • Apidaecin Ⅰb, an antimicrobial peptide isolated from lymph fluid of the honeybee (Apis mellifera), is a basic non-helical peptide composed of eighteen amino acid residues. In this study, we have investigated the algicidal effect of Apidaecin Ⅰb against harmful algae blooms (HABs) causative Alexandrium tamarense, Chattonella marina, Cochlodinium polykrikoides and Gymnodinium catenatum. The algicidal effect of Apidaecin Ⅰb showed in the concentration of 12.5 $\mu{g}/mL$ to 50$\mu{g}/mL$ against 4 HAB species and observed cell lysis or cell ecdysis by microscopy. Apidaecin Ⅰb reacted more sensitive to C. marina than A. tamarense, C. polykrikoides and G. catenatum. The algicidal study of Apidaecin Ⅰb against HABs will provides much insight into development of new algicidal substances.

Genetic Study of the Class Dinophyceae Including Red Tide Microalgae Based on a Partial Sequence of SSU Region : Molecular Position of Korean Isolates of Cochlodinium polykrikoides Margalef and Gyrodinium aureolum Hulburt (SSU 부위의 유전자 염기서열 분석에 의한 한국연안에서 분리한 Cochiodinium polykrikoides Margalef와 Gyrodinium aurelum Hulburt 적조생물의 분자생물학적 연구)

  • Cho, Eun-Seob
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.14 no.4
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    • pp.593-607
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    • 2004
  • The nucleotide sequence for a nuclear-encoded small subunit rDNA (SSU rDNA) was determined for 43 species of the class Dinophyceae, including harmful algae Cochlodinium polykrikoides and Gyrodinium aureolum. These sequences and data analyses were performed by parsimony, distances and maximum likelihood methods in PHYLIP (Phylogenetic Inference Package) version 3.573c. The species Noctiluca scintillans, Gonyaulax spinifern and Crypthecodinium cohnii occupied a basal position within the Dino- phyceae in our analyses. The genera Alexandrium and Symbiodinium were monophyletic (supported by a bootstrap value of >70%), whereas the genera Gymnedinium and Gyrodinium formed polyphyletic nodes, for which bootstrap support was strong (>70%) in the neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood methods except for the PHYLIP parsimony analysis (=59%). The sequence divergence between G. aureolum and G. dorsum/ G. galathenum was the largest at 7.4% (45 bp), whereas G. aureolum and G. mikimotoi showed an extremely low value of genetic divergence of 0.9% (5 bp). The genetic divergence between C. polykrikoides and G. aureolum was a low value of 5.2% (31 bp). In the phylogenetic analysis, the placement of G. aureolum and C. polykrikoides was closer to the genus Gymnodinium than to the genus Gyrodinium, which was supported by a moderate bootstrap value.

Community Dynamics and Distribution of Dinoflagellates and Their Cysts in Masan-Chinhae Bay, Korea

  • Lee Joon-Baek;Kim Dae Yun;Lee Jin Ae
    • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.1 no.2
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    • pp.283-292
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    • 1998
  • The community dynamics and distribution of dinoflagellates and their cysts were monitored monthly from June 1996 to May 1997 at six stations in Masan-Chinhae Bay, one of the famous bays for red-tide occurrence in Korea. The dinoflagellate standing crops ranged from the minimum of 306 cells $ml^{-1}$ in February to the maximum of 37,959 cells $ml^{-1}$ in May. The species causing massive blooms were Prorocentrum micans Ehrenberg and Ceratium furca (Ehrenberg) Claparede & Lachmann in July, Gymnodinium sanguineum Hirasaka in October, Alexandrium tamarense (Lebour) Balech in April and Proroeentrum minimum (Pavillard) Schiller in May. Twenty-seven taxa of dinoflagellate cysts were isolated, including 20 identified species and 7 unidentified species. The mean cyst abundance ranged from the minimum of 556 cysts $cm^{-3}$ in June to the maximum of 5,727 cysts$cm^{-3}$ in February. The spatial pattern of cyst distribution showed the gradual increase in abundance from offshore to inshore stations. The cyst genera of Protoperidinium, Gymnodinium, Serippsiella, Gyrodinium and Alexandrium were abundant throughout the year. The vertical distribution of cysts showed the surface miximum at the 0-2cm layer and the sub-surface maximum at the 2-4cm layer. Total abundance of cysts showed the most significant relationships with water temperature, and some minor relationship with dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH, phosphate and total inorganic nitrogen of surface and bottom layer in the water column. The number of dinoflagellate species decreased, while the abundance of cysts increased 4.5 times as compared with the observation of 10 years prior to the present study at the same stations of Masan-Chinhae Bay.

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Comparison of Panning and Sodium Polytungstate Methods for Separating Dinoflagellate Cysts (와편모조류 시스트 분리를 위한 Panning 방법과 SPT 용액방법의 비교)

  • Kang, Yoon-Ja;Moon, Chang-Ho;Cho, Hyun-Jin
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.41 no.3
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    • pp.228-231
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    • 2008
  • Two methods for separating dinoflagellate cysts from marine sediments were compared: panning and sodium polytungstate (SPT). After pretreatment with the SPT solution, Protoperidinium species had a high germination rate and cell growth rate. The germinated cells grew continuously, even in a low nutrient environment. Alexandrium cysts did not germinate, because their germination is usually active in winter. Using SPT solution, the separation process was easier, quicker, and caused much less eye fatigue than the panning method. Therefore, SPT solution offers a convenient way of pretreating dinoflagellate cysts for separation and analysis.

한국 연안에 분포하는 유독 와편모조 Gymnodinium catenatum 지역분리주의 마비성패독 조성 비교

  • 박태규;조성환;김창훈
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Fisheries Technology Conference
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    • 2000.05a
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    • pp.198-199
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    • 2000
  • 유독 와편모조 Gymnodinium catenatum Graham은 인간과 해양동물에 마비성패독(PSP) 발생의 원인이 되는 신경독을 생산한다. 1976년에 스페인 북서쪽 해안에서 G. catenatum에 의한 PSP 발생이 처음으로 알려졌고(Estrada et al. 1984) 특히 호주와 스페인 등지에서 문제가 되고 있다. 한국에서도 1991년 10월 진해만에서 채집된 저질로부터 처음 휴면포자가 발견되었고, 휴면포자량은 전체 와편모조류 중 0.9~l.7%를 차지하였다(Kim et al., 1996). 1996년 9월에는 영양세포가 7,250 cells/$\ell$로 진해만의 수정리에서 출현하였고, 1997년 5월에는 550 cells/$\ell$로 출현하였다(김과 신, 1997). 이는 Alexandrium속이 주로 봄철에 대량발생을 하여 패류 독화가 문제되는 것에 반해 C. catenatum은 봄, 가을에 출현함으로써 봄철에 이어 가을철에도 패류독화가 문제될 수 있다는 것을 의미한다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 서해안 및 남해안에서 분리된 지역분리주의 PSP 생산성을 검증하고, 지역 개체군의 독조성을 비교하여 지역 독화의 가능성을 예측하고자 한다. (중략)

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Seasonal Variations of Phytoplankton Community and Water Quality in the East Area of Chinhae Bay (진해만 동부 해역내 식물플랑크톤 군집과 수질환경의 계절 변동)

  • 여환구;박미옥
    • Journal of Environmental Science International
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    • v.6 no.3
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    • pp.231-238
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    • 1997
  • The community of phyloplankton and water quality were Investigated 5 times from October, 1994 to October, 1995 In the east area of Chinhae Bay. Seasonal changes of enoronmental parameters were shown general pattern and related to the red tide mechanism of phytoplankton community. Seasonal variations of dissolved oxygen concentrations were affected by the photosynthetic activity of phytoplankton community and the Increase of COD at the bottom water was occurred after the red tide. The standing stocks of phytoplankton In this study area ranged 202 - 1616 Cells . ml-1 and the bloom(red tide) was formed from April to July. The diatom species, Skeletonema costahm was a dominant species all the year round and the dinoflagellate species, Alexandrium tmuense and prorocentrum triestinum were red tide species Increased standing stocks in phytoplankton bloom.

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Development of Anti-red Tide Material by Activating Red-mud (적토의 활성화를 통한 적조구제물질 개발에 대한 연구)

  • Chae Soo-Chun;Jang Young-Nam;Bae In-Kook
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.18 no.4 s.46
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    • pp.267-276
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    • 2005
  • The study is to determine the feasibility of activated red mud as an anti-red tide material. The red mud, a byproduct of Bayer process for the production of alumina from bauxite, contained hematite, boehmite, calcite, sodalite, quartz, zircon, anatase and an unknown phase. In the adsorption study of the red mud, its adsorption efficiencies for heavy elements were close to $100\%$ except $92\%$ In As. These results seem to be attributed by the high adsorption ability of iron oxides for heavy elements. As a result of leaching tests with the red mud at various pHs (pH $1\∼13$), the high leaching efficiencies for As, Cu and Zn at low pHs (at acidic condition) were obtained. It indicated that removal efficiency of heavy elements could be excellent in acidic treatment of red mud. The activated red mud, red mud reacted with acid, contained hematite, boehmite and so on, and desorption of heavy metals from the activated red mud increased with increasing temperature. The grain of the activated red mud was tens nm in size. The removal efficiency for 5 types of plankton was generally in inverse proportion to pH, especially to final pH. Of five plankton types, Prorocentrum minimum and Alexandrium tamarense promptly were removed more than $90\%$ as soon as the activated red mud was sprayed and $100\%$ after 30 minutes. These results indicated that the activated red mud seems to be a promising anti-red tide material.