title: Detection of Alexandrium tamarensis by rapid PCR analysis.
abstract: Alexandrium tamarensis is a toxigenic dinoflagellate found in coastal waters worldwide. A critical factor in alleviating the health and economic threats posed by this species is the development of a rapid and reliable method for detection. This study stream-lined a labor- and resource-intensive protocol for the isolation of A. tamarensis ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Subcultures of A. tamarensis were established in water samples from several coastal Atlantic sites. A commercial DNA isolation kit protocol for cultured cells was used for isolation of the dinoflagellate DNA. Samples were amplified by PCR using primers specific for a 700-bp sequence of A. tamarensis rDNA. It was determined that this method facilitated the detection of 10(-4) ng/microL of A. tamarensis DNA. Furthermore, the kit enabled A. tamarensis to be isolated from the water sources with little signal degradation. This is a valuable technique for the rapid detection of A. tamarensis, even before cell numbers are large enough for morphological identification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Elizabethtown College, PA 17022, USA.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Haley
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cavender
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal