Greenhouse Evaluation of Dose– and Time–Mortality Relationships of Two Nucleopolyhedroviruses for the Control of Beet Armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, on Chrysanthemum

Dose– and time–mortality relationships of baculoviruses in pest insects are important for the determination of effective spraying regimes. A series of experiments with Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) and Spodoptera exigua MNPV (SeMNPV) against synchronized populations of S. exigua larvae in greenhouse chrysanthemum was conducted. Dose– and time–mortality relationships of different virus concentrations and S. exigua target stages were determined and the area foliage consumption was measured. Crop injury was greatly reduced when S. exigua were controlled as second or third instar larvae, whereas virus applications against fourth instar larvae could not prevent considerable crop injury, even at high concentrations. SeMNPV was approximately 10 times as infectious as AcMNPV when applied on greenhouse chrysanthemum. The relative virulence of AcMNPV and SeMNPV corresponded reasonably well with previously published laboratory bioassay data. SeMNPV killed second and fourth instar S. exigua larvae approximately 12 h faster than did AcMNPV in chrysanthemum, but no difference in speed of action was found for third instar larvae. The relative speed of action of AcMNPV and SeMNPV determined in chrysanthemum and in laboratory bioassays did not correspond for third instar S. exigua larvae; laboratory bioassay data can therefore not simply be extrapolated to the crop level.     

取食聚苯乙烯塑料对黄粉虫幼虫肠道微生物群落的影响北大核心

随着塑料在人类社会中的普及,越来越多的废弃塑料及其前体物质被遗留在环境中,且其在自然环境中的降解速度十分缓慢,为此寻找有效的降解途径成为亟待解决的科学问题。【目的】探究利用黄粉虫(Tenebrio molitor)幼虫取食聚苯乙烯对其肠道微生物种群及其代谢路径的响应,以期通过食物诱导寻找一条生物降解和利用聚苯乙烯的有效途径。【方法】以聚苯乙烯为唯一食物来源喂饲黄粉虫幼虫,通过测量幼虫存活率和个体的体重来测定其生长发育情况;通过对其肠道内容物进行16S rRNA基因测序,分析其肠道菌群结构的变化;采用京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG)分析法来预测相关功能基因。【结果】取食聚苯乙烯黄粉虫幼虫存活率和体重均下降,聚苯乙烯塑料明显减少;取食聚苯乙烯的黄粉虫幼虫肠道菌群丰度与多样性明显减少,在门水平,取食聚苯乙烯的黄粉虫幼虫肠道的优势菌为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、软壁菌门(Tenericutes)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes);在属水平,取食聚苯乙烯的黄粉虫幼虫肠道优势菌为螺旋体菌属(Spiroplasma)、肠杆菌(Enterobacillus)和大肠埃氏-志贺氏菌(Escherichia-Shigella);通过KEGG功能预测,找到与芳香类和烷烃降解功能相关的基因共18种,取食聚苯乙烯组黄粉虫幼虫肠道菌群降解聚苯乙烯相关通路丰度升高,相关基因表达增强。【结论】聚苯乙烯可以为黄粉虫幼虫生长发育提供一定的物质和能量,且能够使其完成一个世代过程;幼虫长时间取食单一食物后,其肠道菌群结构会发生目标性变化,利用KEGG预测能够找到与聚苯乙烯代谢相关的基因,为后续研究工作提供了有价值的依据。     

Cloning, sequencing and prokaryotic expression of cDNAs for antifreeze protein family from beetle Tenebrio molitor

Partial cDNA sequences coding for antifreeze proteins in Tenebrio molitor were obtained by RT-PCR. Sequence analysis revealed nine putative cDNAs with a high degree of homology to Tenebrio molitor antifreeze protein genes published in GenBank. The recombinant pGEX-4T-1-tmafp-XJ430 was introduced into E. coli BL21 to induce a GST fusion protein by IPTG. SDSPAGE analysis for the fusion protein shows a band of 38 kDa. pCDNA3-tmafp-XJ430 was injected into mice to generate antiserum which was later detected by indirect ELISA. The titer of the antibody was 1:2000.Western blotting analysis shows that the antiserum was specifically against the antifreeze protein. Our results laid the foundation for further studies on the properties and functions of insect antifreeze proteins. __________ Translated from Hereditas (Beijing), 2006, 28(12): 1532-1540 [译自: 遗传]     

Modified Behavior in Baculovirus-Infected Lepidopteran Larvae and Its Impact on the Spatial Distribution of Inoculum

Quantifying the rate of dispersal of target insects when infected with a disease agent will aid the development of biorational pest control programs. The effect of nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) infection on the mobility of second and fourth instarMamestra brassicaelarvae was investigated in the laboratory and field. NPV infection altered larval mobility, with the changes in behavior varying with the timecourse of infection. Diseased larvae moved three to five times further than healthy ones during the middle stages of infection. By the 7th day postinfection diseased larvae were less mobile than healthy counterparts. The same pattern of modified behavior was observed in both instars. Fourth instar larvae moved further than second instars under laboratory and field conditions. In the field, infected larvae tended to die on the apex of the cabbage leaves. Bioassay of the leaves showed a linear decrease in inoculum from central to peripheral plants within the plots, which occurred to the same extent for second and fourth instars. Leaves from plots where infected fourth instar larvae had been introduced had higher inoculum density than those from plots with second instars.     

Refinement of a cell line based artificial diet for rearing the parasitoid wasp, Trichogramma pretiosum

An artificial diet incorporating insect cells originally developed for Trichogramma australicum Girault (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) was successfully used to rear Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). To refine the diet, individual components were removed. Chicken egg yolk and the insect cells were identified as the most important components for T. pretiosum development. Their removal resulted in few pupae and no adults. Removal of Grace’s insect medium, a common component of artificial diets, was found to markedly improve the development of T. pretiosum, producing 60% larva to pupa transition and 19% pupa to adult transition. There was no significant difference in T. pretiosum development on diets in which milk powder, malt powder or infant formula were interchanged, despite differences in nutrient composition. The use of yeast extract resulted in significantly higher survival to the adult stage when compared with yeast hydrolysate enzymatic and a combination of yeast extract and yeast hydrolysate enzymatic. Comparison of four antimicrobial agents showed the antibacterial agent Gentamycin and the antifungal agent Nystatin had the least detrimental effect on T. pretiosum development. The use of insect cell line diets has the potential to simplify artificial diet production and significantly reduce T. pretiosum production costs in Australia compared to diets using insect hemolymph or the use of natural or factitious hosts.     

铁皮石斛钙网蛋白基因DoCRT1的分子克隆与表达研究

该研究采用RACE克隆铁皮石斛钙网蛋白(calreticulin,CRT)基因DoCRT1,进行生物信息学分析,并借助定量PCR检测基因表达模式,为揭示该基因在铁皮石斛生长发育及逆境生理中的分子作用奠定基础。结果表明:(1)DoCRT1基因(GenBank登录号KT957551)cDNA全长1 672bp,ORF长1 275bp,编码一条由424个氨基酸组成的多肽,分子量49.05kD,等电点4.42,具有CRT蛋白保守的钙网蛋白/钙联接蛋白P结构域(205~320)和类伴刀豆球蛋白凝集素/葡聚糖酶结构域A(20~222)以及多个基序;蛋白N端含有一个信号肽(1~23)和一个跨膜区域(8~24),预测结果显示主要定位于细胞液泡、胞外,与多种植物CRT蛋白一致性很高(80%~87%)。(2)DoCRT1蛋白与OsCRT1/2、ZmCRT1亲缘关系近,聚在CRT进化树的CRT1/2分支。(3)qRT-PCR检测结果显示,DoCRT1基因转录本在石斛根中表达量较高,为叶中的2.23倍,且茎与叶中表达量无显著差异。     

‘潘那利’番茄碱性螺旋环螺旋转录因子基因的克隆与表达分析

碱性螺旋环螺旋(basic/Helix Loop Helix, bHLH)转录因子是植物最大的转录因子家族之一,其广泛参与植物逆境胁迫响应。该研究从野生‘潘那利’番茄(Solanum pennellii Correll)中成功克隆出bHLH转录因子基因SpbHLH89(Sol Genomics登录号Sopen04g001150),采用qRT PCR分析其在干旱胁迫下的表达模式,并利用异源表达初步分析其对非生物胁迫的响应。结果表明：(1)SpbHLH89编码区包含684 bp,编码227个氨基酸,具有典型的碱性螺旋环螺旋区,主要定位于细胞核中;进化树结果显示,SpbHLH89转录因子高度保守,与拟绒毛烟草NtbHLH94(Nicotiana tomentosiformis)存在高度相似性。(2)qRT PCR结果显示,SpbHLH89在‘潘那利’番茄的茎、叶和花中均有表达,其表达量受干旱胁迫诱导。(3)SDS PAGE与Western bloting结果显示,pET 30a SpbHLH89重组蛋白大小约为31 kD。(4)在盐胁迫(400 mmol/L NaCl)和干旱胁迫(600 mmol/L甘露醇)条件下,异源表达重组蛋白的E. coli BL21(DE3)重组菌生长速度提高,说明异源表达SpbHLH89转录因子基因可提高细菌对非生物胁迫的耐受性。     

Identification of a CArG Box-Dependent Enhancer within the Cysteine-Rich Protein 1 Gene That Directs Expression in Arterial but Not Venous or Visceral Smooth Muscle Cells

Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are heterogeneous with respect to their contractile, synthetic, and proliferative properties, though the regulatory factors responsible for their phenotypic diversity remain largely unknown. To further our understanding of smooth muscle gene regulation, we characterized the cis-regulatory elements of the murine cysteine-rich protein 1 gene (CRP1/Csrp1). CRP1 is expressed in all muscle cell types during embryogenesis and predominates in vascular and visceral SMCs in the adult. We identified a 5-kb enhancer within the CRP1 gene that is sufficient to drive expression in arterial but not venous or visceral SMCs in transgenic mice. This enhancer also exhibits region-specific activity in the outflow tract of the heart and the somites. Within the 5-kb CRP1 enhancer, we found a single CArG box that binds serum response factor (SRF), and by mutational analysis, demonstrate that the activity of the enhancer is dependent on this CArG element. Our findings provide further evidence for the existence of distinct regulatory programs within SMCs and suggest a role for SRF in the activation of the CRP1 gene.     

粗枝云杉病程相关蛋白基因PaPR10的克隆及表达分析

为了探究粗枝云杉(Picea asperata)病程相关蛋白PR10的核糖核酸酶活性,该研究以粗枝云杉一年生针叶为材料,以响应云杉落针病菌(Lophodermium piceae)侵染而显著上调的一个PR10基因(PaPR10)序列为研究对象,设计特异性引物,采用RT PCR技术克隆获得PaPR10基因的cDNA序列全长,使用生物信息学软件预测该基因编码蛋白的序列特征,将该基因进行原核表达和纯化,利用底物法检测纯化蛋白的核糖核酸酶活性,为解析PR10基因的抗菌活性机理奠定基础。结果表明：(1)成功克隆到PaPR10基因(GenBank登录号为OM743228)的ORF长456 bp,编码151个氨基酸序列,相对分子量为16.52 kD,理论等电点为5.73。(2)PaPR10蛋白无信号肽、不含跨膜区、定位在细胞质中,具有典型的病程相关蛋白Bet_v_1家族保守结构域和一个富含甘氨酸环(P Loop)的保守结构域,但PaPR10蛋白的P Loop结构域存在一个碱基突变;PaPR10蛋白与北美云杉等多种裸子植物和部分苔藓植物的PR10蛋白相似性较高。(3)IPTG诱导下,PaPR10蛋白以可溶性蛋白和包涵体的形式并存,且以终浓度为0.8 mmol/L的IPTG在30 ℃下诱导10 h时表达量最佳,但纯化后的PaPR10可溶性蛋白没有核糖核酸酶活性。研究发现,PaPR10蛋白不具备核糖核酸酶活性。     

Host range of an NPV and a GV isolated from the common cutworm, Agrotis segetum: pathogenicity within the cutworm complex

The term cutworm covers a range of species with a similar life history that can be very damaging pests on a wide range of crops. Attacks by cutworms are often made up of more than one species; thus, the most cost effective microbial control agent needs to be pathogenic for multiple species within this complex. In this study we investigate the host range of Agrotis segetum NPV and A. segetum GV for other cutworm species and closely related Noctuinae. Eight species, A. segetum, Agrotis ipsilon, Agrotis exclamationis, Agrotis puta, Noctua comes, Peridroma saucia, Xestia sexstrigata, and Xestia xanthographa, were clearly susceptible to AgseNPV, which was confirmed by DNA analysis. Aglais urticae, Diarsia rubi, Noctua pronuba, and Xestia c-nigrum were not susceptible to AgseNPV at the doses used. Noctua fimbriata, Noctua janthina, and Ochroplura plecta gave ambivalent results: larvae died of NPV infection when they were challenged with AgseNPV, but these individuals only produced weak positives in a squash blot analysis and there was insufficient DNA for confirmation by restriction endonuclease profiling. These ambivalent results could suggest either a weak infection by AgseNPV or partial homology between their own virus and AgseNPV. The untreated control insects of several species died of NPV infection, which indicates that these field-collected insects were probably carrying a vertically transmitted NPV. Fewer species were tested with AgseGV and only N. pronuba and N. comes were susceptible. N. fimbriata and Helicoverpa armigera were not susceptible to AgseGV.     

独行菜冷上调基因LaNHR2B的低温耐受性研究

新疆北部早春短命植物独行菜幼苗期能够在早春的低温条件下生长,具有良好的耐受低温胁迫的能力。前期研究获得了独行菜幼苗冷诱导上调表达基因片段,通过同源克隆获得该基因的全长cDNA序列（LaNHR2B）,运用生物信息学软件预测分析该基因编码蛋白的性质及其构象,采用荧光定量RT PCR技术分析其表达量与幼苗生长阶段、冷诱导处理以及外源ABA处理间的关系,通过转化拟南芥研究过表达该基因对植物幼苗低温耐受性的影响。结果表明：（1）LaNHR2B基因全长1 035 bp,编码344个氨基酸,蛋白质分子质量为85 791.16 kD,理论等电点为5.06,分子式为C₃₁₂₉H₅₂₂₅N₁₀₃₅O₁₃₀₇S₂₃₅;其蛋白主要由丙氨酸、苏氨酸、甘氨酸及半胱氨酸组成,具有3个跨膜结构,功能未知;在十字花科植物中保守性强,其他科的植物中未见同源基因。（2）LaNHR2B受4 ℃低温诱导显著上调表达,但随幼苗生长受低温诱导上调表达有所降低,与幼苗随发育耐受低温能力下降变化一致。（3）外源ABA可诱导LaNHR2B表达上调;过表达拟南芥幼苗低温耐受性明显增强。该研究初步证明,LaNHR2B表达量与独行菜幼苗耐受低温密切相关,可能是独行菜幼苗经过冷驯化后能够增强植株抗寒能力的功能性基因。这为进一步开发利用该基因进行油菜等作物抗寒育种提供理论依据。     

Distribution of Bm1, a SINE type transposable element, in cecropin B genes of the silkworm, Bombyx mori

In order to investigate the distribution of Bm1, a SINE type transposable element, in cecropin B genes of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, a genomic library was first screened with cecropin B cDNA as a probe. Eighteen out of 275 positive clones were selected at random and SalI digestion patterns were compared. Ten clones which showed different patterns were further analyzed by Southern blotting using a cecropin B cDNA fragment encoding exon 1, exon 2 or the entire coding region as probes. The same SalI digested genomic clones were hybridized with a Bm1 probe. Comparison of positive patterns hybridized with the Bm1 probe to those hybridized with the cecropin B probes indicated that all cecropin B-fragments except one fragment had Bm1. The exceptional fragment contained exon 2 only. The results indicate that Bm1 is widely distributed in cecropin B genes.     

A new species of Phaeohelotium from Nothofagus forests in Argentina and Chile, with a key to the Southern Hemisphere species

Phaeohelotium nothofagi, sp.nov., found on fallen wood and leaves of Nothofagus dombeyi, is described and illustrated. The fungus is characterized by pale yellow discs, and fumose ascospores with asperulate walls. A key with distributional data for the five species of the genus now known in the Southern Hemisphere is provided.     

香蕉MaPIP2-6基因的克隆、亚细胞定位及表达分析

该研究从香蕉中克隆了一个水通道蛋白(AQP)基因MaPIP2-6。序列分析表明,MaPIP2-6基因开放阅读框(ORF)为849bp,编码282个氨基酸。多序列比对和进化树分析表明,MaPIP2-6基因所编码的蛋白与其它植物中AQP蛋白具有较高的一致性,并且与水稻OsPIP2-6的亲缘关系最近。亚细胞定位表明,MaPIP2-6基因定位在细胞膜上。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,甘露醇和高盐胁迫处理下,MaPIP2-6基因在巴西蕉和粉蕉中的表达趋势基本一致,在处理早期表达量轻微下降,随后被诱导并达到最大值,然后下降;在低温和ABA处理下,MaPIP2-6基因在巴西蕉和粉蕉的表达趋势相反,低温处理47h时,巴西蕉的MaPIP2-6表达量显著降低,而粉蕉无显著变化,但在其他时间点,巴西蕉的表达量无显著变化,粉蕉显著降低。ABA处理下,MaPIP2-6基因在巴西蕉被诱导,而在粉蕉被抑制。研究认为,MaPIP2-6可能参与了非生物逆境胁迫应答,为进一步研究MaPIP2-6基因的功能鉴定了基础。     

茶树谷丙转氨酶基因的克隆及其表达分析

该研究基于茶树的转录组数据,采用RT PCR方法从茶树‘黄金芽’cDNA中克隆获得茶树谷丙转氨酶基因（CsAlaAT）,利用荧光定量PCR方法,对CsAlaAT在茶树材料‘迎霜’和‘黄金芽’不同组织、温度胁迫与激素处理的表达进行分析。结果显示：CsAlaAT基因开放阅读框长度为1 662 bp,编码553个氨基酸,含有天冬氨酸转氨酶家族（Aspartate aminotransferase family）典型的AAT like保守结构域。多序列比对显示,该序列与多个相关物种的序列一致性达78.83%,与磷酸吡哆醛（PLP）结合的10个氨基酸残基以及第358位赖氨酸催化位点在物种间高度保守。茶树CsAlaAT蛋白属亲水性蛋白,相对分子质量为60 877.5 D,等电点为6.11,碱性、酸性、脂肪族和芳香族氨基酸比例分别为12%、11%、22%和8%,无序化特征不明显,与大麦HvAlaAT具有相似的三维结构。实时定量PCR分析表明,CsAlaAT在茶树‘迎霜’和‘黄金芽’中的表达均具有组织特异性,且均在根部的表达量最高;CsAlaAT响应高温（38 ℃）和低温（4 ℃）胁迫的表达上调;外源施用脱落酸（ABA）和赤霉素（GA）能够抑制茶树中CsAlaAT基因的表达。     

Performance and impact of the biological control agent Xubida infusella (Lepidoptera; Pyralidae) on the target weed Eichhornia crassipes (waterhyacinth) and on a non-target plant, Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed) in two nutrient regimes

Xubida infusella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is potentially a useful biological control agent targeting Eichhornia crassipes (waterhyacinth) in the USA but many regions infested with waterhyacinth are also inhabited by an alternative native host, Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed). Experiments were conducted in Australia to assess the impact of X. infusella on pickerelweed compared to waterhyacinth where both these plants were available and X. infusella had already been released. Overall X. infusella had a greater impact on pickerelweed than on waterhyacinth. More than one larva per plant was required to reduce the total shoot dry weight of waterhyacinth but only one larva per plant reduced the total shoot dry weight of pickerelweed. Insect feeding caused the number of secondary shoots (daughter plants) of pickerelweed to double whereas the number of daughter plants produced by waterhyacinth remained unchanged. We suggest this indicates a considerable impact on pickerelweed rather than effective compensation for insect damage because the shoots produced were very small. Waterhyacinth produced a constant number of daughter plants when fed on by up to three larvae per plant. Higher nitrogen status of both species of host plant increased the rate of larval development and pupal weight of X. infusella. The weight and fecundity of X. infusella reared on pickerelweed were lower than those reared on waterhyacinth but large numbers of progeny were produced on both plant species. This experiment demonstrates a considerable impact of X. infusella on pickerelweed suggesting this plant is at risk from this agent if released in the USA where pickerelweed is present. The considerable impact on waterhyacinth demonstrates the potential for this insect to contribute to waterhyacinth control in countries where risk assessment favours release.     

Paralytic shellfish toxins in zooplankton, mussels, lobsters and caged Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, during a bloom of Alexandrium fundyense off Grand Manan Island, in the Bay of Fundy

Substantial mortalities of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at two aquaculture sites in Long Island Sound, off Grand Manan Island, Bay of Fundy (BoF) (New Brunswick, Canada) in September 2003, were associated with a bloom of Alexandrium fundyense (>3 × 10⁵ cells L⁻¹), a dinoflagellate alga that produces toxins which cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Cells of A. fundyense collected from surface waters while fish were dying had total paralytic shellfish (PS) toxin concentrations of 70.6 pg STX equiv. (saxitoxin equivalents) cell⁻¹ and PS toxin profiles rich in carbamate toxins (78.2%). The zooplankton sampled contained PS toxins (63.1 pg STX equiv. g⁻¹ wet wt) and the toxin profile matched that of A. fundyense cells.Mean PS toxin levels were low (<4 μg STX equiv. 100 g⁻¹ wet wt) in stomach, gill and muscle tissues of moribund salmon, suggesting that PS toxins are very lethal to salmon.The PS toxin concentrations in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) growing on the salmon cages (37; 526 μg STX equiv. 100 g⁻¹ wet wt) were the highest recorded to date from this region. Their PS toxin profiles showed enhanced carbamate contents (85.5%) compared with that found in A. fundyense. Blue mussels collected from an adjacent Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) monitoring site in Grand Manan had PS toxin concentrations of 4214 and 150 μg STX equiv. 100 g⁻¹ wet wt in late September and December, respectively, well above the regulatory limit (RL), and horse mussels (Modiolus modiolus) collected in late September had PS toxin concentrations of 2357 μg STX equiv. 100 g⁻¹ wet wt. Detoxification under laboratory conditions suggested that blue mussels may require up to 19 weeks for elimination below RL when they accumulate these high concentrations of PS toxins. This depuration period may be shorter in the field.PS toxin levels above RL were detected in hepatopancreatic tissues of lobster (Homarus americanus), with lower levels (<16 μg STX equiv. 100 g⁻¹ wet wt) in tail muscle and gills.These results illustrate the movement of PS toxins through the marine food chain following an A. fundyense bloom in the BoF, and support earlier studies suggesting that kills from the region of zooplanktivorous fish, such as herring (Clupea harengus harengus), can be attributed to blooms of A. fundyense. This is the first reported incident of PSP associated with mortalities of caged Atlantic salmon in the BoF. Analyses of muscle tissues and viscera from the affected salmon indicated that any portion would not be a health hazard if consumed.     

Development and application of LSU rRNA probes for Karenia brevis in the Gulf of Mexico, USA

The brevetoxin producing dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, is the target of several monitoring and research programs in the Gulf of Mexico, where it forms extensive and frequently long-lived annual blooms that can cause human intoxication and fish kills, as well as severe economic losses to coastal communities. Rapid, reliable methods for the detection and enumeration of K. brevis cells, as well as their discrimination from morphologically similar species, are valuable tools for managers and scientists alike. Our aim was to produce a species-specific molecular probe that would serve as a tool to facilitate the efficient and reliable detection of K. brevis in the Gulf of Mexico. We sequenced a fragment of the large-subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSU rDNA) from five K. brevis cultures isolated from the Texas Gulf coast, the Florida Gulf coast, and the Atlantic coast of Florida, and detected no differences among these isolates. A consensus sequence was thus compiled and compared to a previously published sequence from Karenia mikimotoi, the closest known phylogenetic relative to K. brevis, for the purpose of identifying unique K. brevis signature sequences. Fluorescently-labeled (FITC) oligonucleotide probes targeting these regions of the K. brevis LSU rRNA were designed to include at least two base pair differences, as compared to K. mikimotoi. Among seven probes designed, one uniquely identified all K. brevis isolates to the exclusion of all other species tested (Kbprobe-7), including a Gulf of Mexico K. mikimotoi isolate (Sarasota, FL) and several additional Gymnodinium species, as well as other dinoflagellate, diatom, and raphidophyte taxa. Importantly, K. brevis cells in samples taken during a 2001 bloom, fixed with a mixture of modified saline ethanol and 10% formalin, and stored at 4 °C for 7 months were successfully labeled with Kbprobe-7. In addition, preliminary analysis of labeled cells by flow cytometry revealed that K. brevis could be distinguished from K. mikimotoi in solution, suggesting other potential applications of this probe.