The annual occurrence of Karenia brevis in the Gulk of Mexico is one of the most significant harmful? algal blooms (HABs) in the coastal waters of the United States. This HAB species has a large economic,? health, and environmental impact on Gulf coast communities, especially in Florida, through massive fish? kills, deaths of marine mammals and birds, human consumption of toxin-contaminated seafood, and? respiratory effects from aerosolized toxins. Over the past few decades the incidence of K. brevis blooms? appears to be increasing in both frequency and duration. Current government-mandated programs for? monitoring this HAB species must rely on microscopic cell counts. These counts are time consuming, have? low sample through-put, and require highly-skilled microscopists who are experts at identifying and? enumerating Karenia brevis cells of varying morphologies in complex natural phytoplankton assemblages.? There is consensus among HAB researchers and public health professionals that monitoring efforts for? HABs must evolve towards the use of rapid, accurate, sensitive, and objective molecular-based detection? and quantitation methods.? The proposed project will first utilize a combination of molecular techniques, such as Fluorescent In Situ? Hybridization (FISH) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), with traditional methods? (light and fluorescent microscopy) to enumerate Karenia brevis cells in laboratory cultures. The objective of? this initial phase is to test the efficacy of, and where feasible optimize, molecular methodologies with a? short (3-5 hour) processing time for use in natural populations. Second, we will apply a combination of? metabolic measurements (cell division, photosynthesis and respiration rates) and flow cytometry? methodologies in cultures, and then natural popualtiosn, to improve our understanding of how? environmental factors influence the metabolic state of K. brevis. Third, we will attempt to relate these? indices to environmental parameters. The ultimate objective of this research is to facilitate the idenitfication? and enumeration of this HAB species, and develop near real-time indices to assess the metabolic state of? Karenia brevis in various stages of bloom development.? Significance: It is anticipated that the results of this project will enhance our understanding of what? factors contribute to Karenia bloom development. It will also synergistically enhance other collaborative? HAB research programs through a rapid-response sampling program and sharing of samples and data.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Minority Biomedical Research Support Thematic Project Grants (S11)
Project #
5S11ES011181-08
Application #
7682316
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZES1)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2008-09-01
Budget End
2009-08-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$62,099
Indirect Cost
Name
Florida International University
Department
Type
DUNS #
071298814
City
Miami
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33199
Jaja-Chimedza, Asha; Sanchez, Kristel; Gantar, Miroslav et al. (2017) Carotenoid glycosides from cyanobacteria are teratogenic in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo model. Chemosphere 174:478-489
Sun, Pengfei; Leeson, Cristian; Zhi, Xiaoduo et al. (2016) Characterization of an epoxide hydrolase from the Florida red tide dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. Phytochemistry 122:11-21
Stice, Szabina; Liu, Guangliang; Matulis, Shannon et al. (2016) Determination of multiple human arsenic metabolites employing high performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 1009-1010:55-65
Hu, Ligang; Cai, Yong; Jiang, Guibin (2016) Occurrence and speciation of polymeric chromium(III), monomeric chromium(III) and chromium(VI) in environmental samples. Chemosphere 156:14-20
Jaja-Chimedza, Asha; Saez, Christopher; Sanchez, Kristel et al. (2015) Identification of teratogenic polymethoxy-1-alkenes fromCylindrospermopsis raciborskii, and taxonomically diverse freshwater cyanobacteria and green algae. Harmful Algae 49:156-161
Walton, Katherine; Gantar, Miroslav; Gibbs, Patrick D L et al. (2014) Indole alkaloids from Fischerella inhibit vertebrate development in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo model. Toxins (Basel) 6:3568-81
Pettay, D Tye; Lajeunesse, Todd C (2013) Long-range dispersal and high-latitude environments influence the population structure of a ""stress-tolerant"" dinoflagellate endosymbiont. PLoS One 8:e79208
Rivera-Reyna, Nidia; Hinojosa-Reyes, Laura; Guzman-Mar, Jorge Luis et al. (2013) Photocatalytical removal of inorganic and organic arsenic species from aqueous solution using zinc oxide semiconductor. Photochem Photobiol Sci 12:653-9
Hu, Ligang; Greer, Justin B; Solo-Gabriele, Helena et al. (2013) Arsenic toxicity in the human nerve cell line SK-N-SH in the presence of chromium and copper. Chemosphere 91:1082-7
Liu, Guangliang; Cai, Yong (2013) Studying arsenite-humic acid complexation using size exclusion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. J Hazard Mater 262:1223-9

Showing the most recent 10 out of 66 publications