Nyuk, Fong Kon and Sing, Tung Teng and Kieng, Soon Hii and Leh, Hie Yek and Aazani, Mujahid (2015) Spatial distribution of toxic Alexandrium tamiyavanichii (Dinophyceae) in the southeastern South China Sea-Sulu Sea: A molecular-based assessment using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. Harmful Algae, 50. pp. 8-20. ISSN 1568-9883
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NO 116 Spatial distribution of toxic Alexandrium tamiyavanichii (Dinophyceae) in the southeastern South China Sea-Sulu Sea (abstract).pdf Download (190kB) | Preview |
Abstract
In this study, a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay targeting the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of the nuclear-encoded ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) was developed for Alexandrium tamiyavanichii, a harmful tropical marine dinoflagellate. This species is of concern because it produces toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). The qPCR assay employed hydrolysis probe technology and showed high specificity, with a detection limit of 102 gene copies (less than one cell equivalent). Using this assay, the spatial distribution of A. tamiyavanichii was assessed, for the first time, in the southeastern South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. Plankton samples were collected from 71 stations during a scientific cruise from the Research Vessel Sonne as part of the joint EU project on Stratosphere ozone: Halogens in a Varying Atmosphere (SHIVA), conducted in November 2011. The highest cell densities were detected offshore of Kuching, southern Borneo (150 cells l−1) and exceeded the threshold level of 20–40 cells l−1 where the bioaccumulation of PSP toxins by shellfish is of concern. The distribution of A. tamiyavanichii was patchy horizontally with the highest cell concentrations found mainly offshore of southern Borneo, and a heterogeneous vertical distribution was observed above the pycnocline. The A. tamiyavanichii qPCR assay proved its applicability, specificity and sensitivity, and provides an alternative implementation tool for harmful microalgae monitoring programs.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Alexandrium, Detection, Malaysian Borneo, Paralytic shellfish poisoning, Saxitoxin, Second internal transcribed spacer, research, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, unimas, university, universiti, Borneo, Malaysia, Sarawak, Kuching, Samarahan, ipta, education |
| Subjects: | S Agriculture > SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling |
| Divisions: | Academic Faculties, Institutes and Centres > Faculty of Resource Science and Technology Faculties, Institutes, Centres > Faculty of Resource Science and Technology |
| Depositing User: | Karen Kornalius |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Mar 2016 07:46 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Oct 2016 06:56 |
| URI: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/10734 |
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