Identification of Prorocentrum minimum and Takayama pulchella by fluorescence in situ hybridization through epifluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry

Partial rDNA sequences of Prorocentrum minimum and Takayama pulchella were amplified, cloned and sequenced, and these sequence data were deposited in the GenBank. Eight oligonucleotide probes (DNA probes) were designed based on the sequence analysis. The probes were employed to detect and identify P. minimum and T. pulchella in unialgal and mixed algal samples with a fluorescence in situ hybridization method using flow cytometry. Epifluorescence micrographs showed that these specific probes labeled with flu...     

Identification of Prorocentrum minimum and Takayama pulchella by fluorescence in situ hybridization through epifluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry

Partial rDNA sequences of Prorocentrum minimum and Takayama pulchella were amplified,cloned and sequenced,and these sequence data were deposited in the GenBank.Eight oligonucleotide probes(DNA probes)were designed based on the sequence analysis.The probes were employed to detect and identify P.minimum and T. pulchella in unialgal and mixed algal samples with a fuorescence in situ hybridization method using flow cytometry.Epifluorescence micrographs showed that these specific probes labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate entered the algal cells and bound to target sequences,and the fluorescence signal resulting from whole-cell hybridization varied from probe to probe.These DNA probes and the hybridization protocol we developed were specific and effective for P.minimum and T. pulchella,without any specific binding to other algal species.The hyrbridization efficiency of difierent probes specific to P.minimum was in the order:PMl8S02＞PM28S02＞PM28S01＞PM18S01,and that of the probes specific to T. pulchella was TP18S02＞TP28S01＞TP28S02＞TP18S01.The djfferent hybridization efficiency of the DNA probes could also be shown in the fuorescent signals between the labeled and unlabeled cells demonstrated using flow cytometry.The DNA probes PM18S02,PM28S02,TPl8S02 and TP28S01,and the protocol,were also useful for the detection of algae in natural samples.     

Development of taxonomic rRNA-targeted probes of two harmful algae: Prorocentrum minimum and Karenia mikimotoi by fluorescence in situ hybridization

Harmful algal blooms recently have been under the spotlight throughout the world, because of their negative impact on the marine environment, aquaculture, fisheries as well as public health. The development of methods for rapid and precise identification and quantification of causative species is essential for the warning and monitoring of blooms, among which the techniques based on taxonomic probes are the most favored. In this study, two harmful algae, i.e., Prorocentrum minimum and Karenia mikimotoi were taken into consideration. The partial large subunit rDNA (D1-D2) of both species were firstly PCR-amplified, cloned and sequenced. The obtained sequences were then introduced to carry out alignment analysis for gene specific regions. Three respective candidate probes for each species were designed and used to screen the optimal probe by performing fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) tests. The results showed that the probes Pmin0443 and Kmik0602 displayed the best hybridization for P. minimum and K. mikimotoi, respectively. Both the specific (taxonomic) (Pmin0443 and Kmik0602) and the control probes (UniC0512 and UniR0499) were used for cross-reactivity tests with other microalgae in our laboratory. The probes Pmin0443 and Kmik0602 are specific and could be served as taxonomic probes introduced into the techniques targeting rRNA, such as FISH, sandwich hybridization, and DNA-microarray assay of P. minimum and K. mikimotoi in the future. Finally, FISH analyses with both probes were performed on the simulated field samples. The probes could hybridize exclusively with the target cells well, and no significant difference (p >0.05) was observed in the cell densities of the samples determined by FISH and light microscopy (LM). All suggest that the probes are specific and could be introduced into FISH for the monitoring of both harmful algae.     

Detection of two pathogenic marine ciliates Ancistrum haliotis and A. crassum (Ciliophora: Scuticociliatia) by fluorescence in situ hybridization

The scuticociliatid ciliates Ancistrum haliotis and A. crassum are parasites that may cause high mortality in the cultured abalone Haliotis spp. and the bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum. Traditional identification with silver staining methods is hampered by their morphological similarities to closely related species and the complicated procedures of morphological analysis. We designed two SSU rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes labeled with a fluorochrome, and optimized the fluorescence in situ ...