Pim and Calusa Waterkeepers for assistance in sampling.
References
1. Metcalf JS et al (in press). Neurotox Res
2. Matthiensen et al 2000. In: de Koe WJ
et al (eds), Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins in Perspective at the Turn of the
Millenium. Proc Xth Int IUPAC symposium on Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins,
Guaruja,Brazil, 21-25 May 2000, pp
527-536
3. Peacock MB et al 2018. Harmful Algae
73: 138-147
Authors
James S Metcalf, Nara Souza, Sandra Anne
Banack & Paul Alan Cox, Brain Chemistry
Labs, Jackson, WY 83001, USA
Fig. 2. Bloom of Microcystis aeruginosa at Lake Okeechobee, Florida, summer 2018
Email corresponding author:
james@ethnomedicine.org
Continued from page 3
The raw and processed sequencing
data generated can be beneficial for
many applications. Some are already
routine methods, such as the use of the
genome as a reference to map RNA-seq
reads and interpret transcriptomics
studies, comparative analyses with other genomes to define structural and/or
phylogenetic relationships, estimation
of the extent of genomic variations and
rearrangements, and the identification
of regions under selection, contributing to evolutionary insights in populations and species. Other analyses
that can benefit from the existence of
a reference genome include support in
taxonomic assignation and in the interpretation of results from metagenomics and metatranscriptomics projects.
Combining information from such approaches can lead to innovative ways
to monitor phytoplankton; for example,
genes found highly induced under specific experimental conditions in the laboratory can become markers to follow
specific processes in the natural environment by qPCR or metatranscriptomics. Examples include genes involved in
the synthesis of toxins, genes expressed
during sexual reproduction, genes activated during specific stress conditions.
We are now familiar with the fact that
community composition can be described with barcode sequences. In the
future we will be able to identify organHARMFUL ALGAE NEWS NO. 65 / 2020
isms by retrieving their genomes, as is
now the case for bacteria. Moreover,
species-specific genes allow specific
functions from individual species to
be understood, e.g. to obtain a picture
of their metabolic state, or the phase of
their life history. Finally, for many traditional or more innovative methods for
the study of gene function, the presence
of a reference genome is mandatory. Sophisticated manipulations and genome
editing methods, including the CRISPR/
Cas9 technology, are now within reach
for this Pseudo-nitzschia species.
In view of the potential for P. multistriata to be used as a model for planktonic diatom life cycles, more studies
are ongoing, and a further leap forward
is expected thanks to the support of
the Marine Microbial Initiative of the
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation,
which is funding a project (http://www.
szn.it/index.php/en/research/integrative-marine-ecology/research-projectsemi/disco) to dissect the mechanisms
underlying sex determination and controlling transitions between life cycle
phases, to discover the genes and genomic regions that are under selection
in natural populations, and to assess
the effects of sex on genome evolution.
More P. multistriata genomes are being
re-sequenced thanks to this project, and
technological advances and new technologies gradually becoming available
will be exploited to improve the current
genome assembly, to explore epigenetic
control and to bring our knowledge of
Pseudo-nitzschia to a higher functional
level.
References
1. Bender et al 2014. Front Mar Sci 1: 3
2. Cohen et al 2018. Environ Microbiol 20:
3109-26
3. Harðardóttir et al 2019. BMC Mol Biol
20: 7
4. Orsini et al 2002. Eur J Phycol 37: 247257
5. Bates et al 2018. Harmful Algae 79:
3-43
6. Ruggiero et al 2018. ISME J 12: 46372
7. Basu et al 2017. New Phytol 215:
140156
8. Russo et al 2018. Nat Comm 9: 5050
9. Brunson et al 2018. Science 361: 13561358
Authors
Maria Immacolata Ferrante & Marina
Montresor, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn,
Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli (Italy)
Email corresponding author:
mariella.ferrante@szn.it
5
Harmful Algae News An IOC Newsletter on Toxic Algae and Algal Blooms No. 65 - September 2020 www.ioc-unesco.org/hab Genomic resources for the domoic acid-producing diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata Species responsible for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are among the best studied unicellular microa
Fig. 2. Schematic drawing of the life cycle of the pennate diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multistriata. The vegetative phase is characterized by progressive cell size reduction of the population. When cells reach the sexual size threshold (SST), they can either keep decreasing in size until they die, or un
Fig. 3. The genome browser available on the SZN BioInforma platform. The genome could be sequenced exploiting inbred strains, obtained from the cross of a first generation of sibling strains [7]. Because of the lower polymorphism of inbreds, it was possible to reconstruct long fragments of DNA from
When tides collide: Harmful cyanobacterial and microalgal blooms in Florida and implications for risk assessment Cyanobacterial blooms are a regular occurrence in southern Florida. Water releases from Lake Okeechobee to maintain the water level in this large lake regularly occur along the St. Lucie
Pim and Calusa Waterkeepers for assistance in sampling. References 1. Metcalf JS et al (in press). Neurotox Res 2. Matthiensen et al 2000. In: de Koe WJ et al (eds), Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins in Perspective at the Turn of the Millenium. Proc Xth Int IUPAC symposium on Mycotoxins and Phycotoxins, Gu
Record levels of Dinophysistoxin-2 in clams from Douarnenez Bay, France, after an unusual bloom of Dinophysis acuta Fig. 1. Location of Douarnenez Bay (48 5 29 North; 4 19 51 West), Western French Atlantic coast. The official monitoring network for phytoplankton and algal toxins in French shellfis
Fig. 4. Weekly lipophilic toxin concentrations in Donax spp. in 2019 and 2020. Fig. 3. (A) Percentage of Dinophysis species in Douarnenez Bay water samples between 2010 and August 2020. (B) Mean percentage of DSP toxins in Douarnenez Bay in Donax spp. between 2010 and August 2020. recorded in Dona
New insights on the diversity of the dinoflagellate genus Ostreopsis in lagoons of French Polynesia, South Pacific Ocean French Polynesia is a vast territory in the South Pacific Ocean, stretching over an expanse of more than 1,200 miles with a surface area as large as Europe. It is composed of 118
health hazards posed by the proliferation of this species in French Polynesian lagoons. Future studies should aim at developing a better understanding the biogeographic distribution of this species, as well as assessing the impacts of its associated toxins on coral reef ecosystems and/or putative ac
Toxin profiles of Gambierdiscus lapillus from the Cook Islands Species of the dinoflagellate genus Gambierdiscus produce the toxins responsible for ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), an illness that has been prevalent throughout the Pacific and particularly in the Cook Islands [1]. The illness is cause
Fig. 3. Phylogenetic analysis of partial large subunit ribosomal DNA sequences (D8D10 region) from the Gambierdiscus strains isolated in this study (in bold font) using Bayesian analyses. Values at nodes represent Bayesian posterior probability support. Scale bar is substitutions per site. lus was
Unusual bloom of the red alga Ceramium sp. (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) in Cartagena, Colombia, SW Caribbean Sea Fig. 1. Map of the study site. Macroalgal blooms are frequently associated with eutrophication of coastal waters [1]. These blooms are mainly composed of ephemeral and opportunistic green a
ported as bloom forming species, and this finding adds another genus to the group of harmful bloom-forming macroalgae. Furthermore, this report highlights the potential introduction of a new species which has passed undetected until now. This would not be the first case of a potentially introduced b
Distribution of the fish-killing dinoflagellate Karlodinium (Dinophyceae) in the Johor Strait, Malaysia Fig. 1. Sampling sites in the Johor Strait Species of Karlodinium are naked dinoflagellates. More than one third of the named species have been known to cause fish mortality. Toxigenic Karlod-
Bloom of a red tide species Akashiwo sanguinea in Semerak Lagoon, Kelantan, Malaysia March 2016: i.e. Pseudo-nitzschia spp. (potentially toxic species), Chaetoceros, Skeletonema, and Blixaea quinquecornis (red tides, fish kills) [3]. In this survey, we confirmed the blooming species as the dinoflag
Fig. 3 Bayesian trees of Akashiwo sanguinea inferred from (A) LSU rDNA and (B) ITS datasets. Values on nodes represent bootstrap supports of MP, ML, and posterior probabilities of BI Continued from page 14 sulcus extension invading the epicone is visible (Fig. 3B). Cells are slightly pigmented, wi
CLEFSA project identifies Harmful Algal Blooms as a threat to food safety resulting from climate change Fig. 1. Organizations involved in the CLEFSA project Climate change is one of the key drivers of emerging risks for food and feed safety, plant and animal health (including terrestrial and aquat
Fig. 3. CLEFSA Multi-Criteria strategy which several directly related to toxins produced by harmful algal blooms (HABs). These include: ciguatoxin, domoic acid, okadaic acid, saxitoxin, pinnatoxin, tetrodotoxin, beta-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and palytoxin analogues. The analysis indicates that
Blooming Buddies: MSc Research Projects Extend our Knowledge on Bloom-Forming Freshwater Cyanobacteria Freshwater cyanobacteria blooms are an increasing problem globally and much work is focussing on understanding bloom dynamics and toxin production in order to better manage the inherent health risk
Fig. 2. Confocal microscopy images of Planktothrix sp. CAWBG59 (A), Microcystis aeruginosa CAWBG617 (B) and Nodularia spumigena CAWBG21 (C) stained with SYTOXTM green so that lysed cells fluoresce green, whilst intact cells are detected by red chlorophyll autofluorescence. bacterium interfering wit
25 years of service enhancing the capacity to monitor and manage HABs Fig. 1. Participants from the first course held at the IOC Centre in Copenhagen in 1995 The IOC Science and Communication Centre on Harmful Algae opened in May 1995 at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. It was a new concept
International Phytoplankton Intercomparison (IPI) exercise in abundance and composition of marine microalgae Dear participants of the annual IPI (International Phytoplankton Intercomparison) exercise in abundance and composition of marine microalgae: This note is to confirm that due to the ongoing p
Canadian review: Marine harmful algal blooms and phycotoxins of concern to Canada As has been reinforced all too well in recent months with the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is indeed interconnected. The international harmful algal bloom community recognized this early on, with a series of internatio
Fig. 2. Maps showing the location of selected phycotoxins on the Canadian east (left) and west (right) coast. Symbols represent domoic acid and okadaic acid group toxins above (closed symbols) and below (open symbols) the regulatory action level. The green shaded areas show the distribution of saxit
Terri Wells (DFO-NAFC, St. Johns, NL); Michel Poulin (Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, ON); Wade A. Rourke (CFIA, Dartmouth, NS). Fig. 4. Heterosigma akashiwo bloom in Kyuquot, British Columbia, 1996 (Photo courtesy of Nicky Haigh, Microthalassia Consultants Inc., Nanaimo, BC) References 1. LoCi
ISSHAs Corner CHA 2021 Hybrid Conference, NEW DATE!! Dear ISSHA members and colleagues: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and following recommendations of the World Health Organization and National Health Authorities, the 19th International Conference on Harmful Algae has been postponed to October 10-15
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