title: Lipophilic toxicity from the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevisulcata: use of the brevetoxin neuroblastoma assay to assess toxin presence and concentration.
abstract: A method for assessing the presence and concentration of a major toxin produced by Karenia brevisulcata has been developed, based on the neuroblastoma assay for brevetoxins. This cytotoxicity assay, coupled with observations of the dose-response relationship and of changes in cellular morphology during the assay gave a characteristic toxin 'signature'. This signature was consistent whether the toxicity was assessed in extracts of shellfish, seawater samples, uni-algal cultures of K. brevisulcata, or in partially purified toxin samples. Using this method it was possible to confirm the presence of this toxicity during a mixed Karenia bloom, and infer that K. brevisulcata toxin (KBT) was the probable cause of the fish and shellfish mortality observed at that time. The neuroblastoma assay thus provides a solution to the problem of confirming the presence of KBT in suspected K. brevisulcata events, even in the absence of a known toxin structure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd, Kenepuru Science Centre, PO Box 50348, Porirua, New Zealand. penelope.truman@esr.cri.nz
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Truman
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Keyzers
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Northcote
authors.forename: Vikki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ambrose
authors.forename: Natalie A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Redshaw
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hoe Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000633:toxicity; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C022616:thiazolyl blue