Abstracts:

Identity of bacteria isolated from the domoic-acid-producing diatom Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries and investigations into mechanisms by which they influence toxin production

S. Gallacher1, J.MacRae 1, C.Ferguson 1, E.Smith 1, P.Hess 1, M.Johnstone 2, L.A. Glover, 2, S.S.Bates 3 & , I.Garthwaite4

1FRS, Marine Laboratory, PO Box 101, Victoria Rd, Aberdeen, Scotland AB11 9DB 2University of Aberdeen, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, IMS, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland AB25 2ZD 3Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Fisheries Centre, P.O. Box 5030, Moncton, NB, Canada E1C 9B6 4AgResearch, Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre, East Street, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand

Domoic acid (DA) is the principle compound associated with the toxic syndrome Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) and is produced by several species of the pennate diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia, including P. multiseries. Previous studies with axenic cultures of this diatom demonstrated that DA was produced in the absence of bacteria, although the concentration was vastly reduced. Re-introduction of bacteria to the axenic diatom culture resulted in a 2 to115-fold increase in DA production, depending on the Pseudo-nitzschia culture and the bacterial strain. The mechanism by which bacteria cause this effect has not been elucidated. Here, the bacterial population associated with P. multiseries cultures will be described as will studies investigating the ability of these bacteria to produce DA autonomously. The possible role of signalling chemicals, such as homoserine lactones, will be discussed and also studies on DA metabolism by bacteria.

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