Molecular forecasting of domoic acid during a pervasive toxic diatom bloom.

ABSTRACT: In 2015, the largest recorded harmful algal bloom (HAB) occurred in the Northeast Pacific, causing nearly 100 million dollars in damages to fisheries and killing many protected marine mammals. Dominated by the toxic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia australis, this bloom produced high levels of the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). Through molecular and transcriptional characterization of 52 near-weekly phytoplankton net-tow samples collected at a bloom hotspot in Monterey Bay, California, we identified active transcription of known DA biosynthesis (dab) genes from the three identified toxigenic species, including P. australis as the primary origin of toxicity. Elevated expression of silicon transporters (sit1) during the bloom supports the previously hypothesized role of diss

SUBMITTER: Brunson JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11459128 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature