title: Reporter gene assay for fish-killing activity produced by Pfiesteria piscicida.
abstract: Collaborative studies were performed to develop a functional assay for fish-killing activity produced by Pfiesteria piscicida. Eight cell lines were used to screen organic fractions and residual water fraction by using a 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-(2-4)]-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cytotoxicity assay. Diethyl ether and a residual water fraction were cytotoxic to several cell lines including rat pituitary (GH(4)C(1)) cells. Residual water as well as preextracted culture water containing P. piscicida cells induced c-fos-luciferase expressed in GH(4)C(1) cells with a rapid time course of induction and sensitive detection. The reporter gene assay detected activity in toxic isolates of P. piscicida from several North Carolina estuaries in 1997 and 1998 and may also be suitable for detecting toxic activity in human and animal serum.
authors.affiliation: Marine Biotoxins Program, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, NOAA-National Ocean Service, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, USA.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Fairey
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Edmunds
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Deamer-Melia
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Glasgow
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Moeller
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Burkholder
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ramsdell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D005399:Fishes; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D016762:Genes, fos; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D020045:Pfiesteria piscicida / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D008156:Luciferases