title: An evaluation of the applicability of microarrays for monitoring toxic algae in Irish coastal waters.
abstract: The applicability of microarrays to monitor harmful algae across a broad range of ecological niches and toxic species responsible for harmful algal events has been one of the key tasks in the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)-funded Microarrays for the Detection of Toxic Algae project. The technique has a strong potential for improving speed and accuracy of the identification of harmful algae and their toxins to assist monitoring programmes. Water samples were collected from a number of coastal sites around Ireland, including several that are used in the Irish National Phytoplankton and Biotoxin Monitoring Programme. Ribosomal RNA was extracted from filtered field samples, labelled with a fluorescent dye, and hybridised to probes spotted in a microarray format on a glass slide. The fluorescent signal intensity of the hybridisation to >120 probes on the chip was analysed and compared with actual field counts. There was a general agreement between cell counts and microarray signal. Results are presented for field samples taken from a range of stations along the Irish coastline known for harmful algal events during the first field trial (July 2009-April 2010).
authors.affiliation: The Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland, g.mccoy3@nuigalway.ie.
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Touzet
authors.forename: Gerard Ta
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raine
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D007494:Ireland; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis; D058086:Microalgae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical