• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.149-154
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• 2007

In the present study, we performed the PCR assay using TOX2P/TOX2M primer targeting a specific region within mcyB gene to identify potential microcystin-producing cyanobacteria. TOX2P/TOX2M primer set was effective in amplifying mcy gene in the field samples containing Microcystis spp. of 1,000 cells per mL. Moreover, the results from the PCR assay agreed with those of the ELISA analysis. Consequently, this study demonstrated that TOX2P/TOX2M primer set can be used as a genetic probe for the early detection of cyanobacterial toxigenicity in Korean water bodies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1201-1206
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• 2010

We performed a comparative analysis using a Real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and LC/MS (Liquid-Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer) method in order to detect microcystin in environmental sources. Among the three different primer sets tested for microcystin using three positive strains of Microcystis aeruginosa by Real-time PCR assay, only TOX2P/TOX2M primer pairs were able to detect Microcystis aeruginosa. According to the results of a survey carried out from June 2009 to September 2009, 11 out of 11 (100%) raw water samples were were found to have microcystin when the Real-Time PCR and LC/MS method was used, with total microcystin concentration ranging from 5.98~219.0 ${\mu}g/l$. A microcystin removal treatment process was used to ensure entire removal, by passing it through a BAC filtration step. It was concluded that real-time PCR assay can be used to estimate micrucystin detection more rapidly and easily than the LC/MS method.