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Molecular Characterization of cyanobacterial blooms
Citation:
Santodomingo, J. Molecular Characterization of cyanobacterial blooms. Presented at Water Conference, Chapel Hill, NC, May 17 - 19, 2016.
Impact/Purpose:
Detection of cyanobacterial toxins could be conducted faster with molecular techniques
Description:
Traditionally, the detection and identification of cyanobacteria implicated in harmful algal blooms has been conducted using microscopical techniques. Such conventional methods are time consuming and cumbersome, cannot discriminate between closely related taxa, and cannot discriminate between toxin producing and non-toxic producing strains. Molecular methods can addressed all of the above issues in a faster and more economic fashion. In this seminar we will discuss ongoing efforts on the development of a molecular toolbox that can identify and detect many cyanobacterial and noncyanobacterial targets linked to toxin production. The emphasis will be on the results obtained using 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses and quantification of function toxin-specific cyanobacterial genes from a lake used for recreational activities and as a source of drinking water. The incorporation of an omics framework to further our understanding of the genetic dynamics of toxin production and degradation will also be discussed.
