The application of species specific DNA-targeted probes and fluorescently tagged lectin to differentiate several species of Pseudo-nitzschia (Bacillariophyceae) in Chinhae Bay, Korea

We applied molecular methods using a DNA probe and fluorescently tagged lec tins to discriminate toxic Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries from the Chinhae Ba y for a Korean harmfulalgae monitoring program. From the binding activity o f lectins, P. multistriata, P. subfraudulenta, P. pungens, P. multiseries a nd P. cuspidata bound ConA, whereas P. Sub-pacifica and P. delicatissima di d not. Ribosomal RNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes (muD1, puD1 and deD1) specifically reacted to P. multiseries, P. pungens and P. delicatissima, re spectively, whereas auD1, frD1 and amD1 probes did not bind to P. multiseri es, P. pungens, P. cuspidata, P. multistriata, P. subpacifica, P. subfraudu lenta and P. delicatissima. In particular, fluorescent FITC-conjugated WGA specifically bound to P. multiseries but not to P. pungens, indicating that this is a desirable method for their rapid and easy discrimination. In add ition, we tested a species-specific oligonucleotide DNA probe (muD1) using the whole cell hybridization filter tube system, and the WGA lectin probe t o discriminate P. multiseries in the field, The oligonucleotide probe and f luorescent WGA bound specifically to P. multiseries and these labelled cell s were correlated to label cell abundance. These results imply that DNA and lectin probes are apporopriate tools for counting P. multiseries and disti nguishing morphologically similar Pseudo-nitzschia species in natural sampl es, therefore, these methods axe especially pertinent since rapid separatio n and quantitative estimation of cell abundance of P. multiseries are now i mportant for a routine harmful algae monitoring program in Korean waters.