OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PROBE TECHNOLOGY AS APPLIED TO THE STUDY OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS

Harmful algal bloom (HAB) research and monitoring has traditionally be en based on ecological and microbiological measurements which are labo rious, time-consuming, and reliant on experienced operators. Recent de velopments in oligonucleotide probe technology and immunofluorescence research have revealed several potential applications and techniques t hat may be transposable to laboratory and field-based monitoring and r esearch. Field trials are currently underway for fluorescent in situ h ybridisation and sandwich hybridisation assays. The former is particul arly suited for laboratory-based research on harmful algal bloom (HAB) population dynamics and structure, whereas the sandwich hybridisation assays based on a portable robotics workstation, offers the potential of quick and reliable laboratory and possibly field-based screening f or HAB species. Initial development is underway for molecular beacons and the Q beta replicase detection system, both offer the potential of simple and cost effective strategies for field-based monitoring by pe ople with minimal knowledge of molecular biology.