Isolation, purification and spectrometric analysis of PSP toxins from moraxella sp., a bacterium associated with a toxic dinoflagellate

Technical Report · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/121301· OSTI ID:121301

Boyce, S. D.; Doucette, G. J.

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is a seafood intoxication syndrome caused by the injestion of shellfish contaminated with toxins produced by algae known as dinoflagellates. The PSP toxins, saxitoxin and its derivatives, act to block voltage-dependent sodium channels and can cause paralysis and even death at higher doses. It is well documented that bacteria coexist with many harmful or toxic algal species, though the exact nature of the association in relation to toxin production is unknown. Recently, the bacterium Moraxella sp. was isolated from the PSP toxin producing dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense. Through HPLC analysis and saxitoxin receptor binding assays performed on crude bacterial extracts, it appears that Moraxella sp. is capable of producing saxitoxin and several of its derivatives. However, physical confirmation (e.g. mass spectrometry) of these results is still needed.

• Research Organization: Medical Univ. of South Carolina, Charleston, SC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 121301
• Report Number(s): DOE/EW/50625--T25; ON: DE95016555
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ALGAE
BACTERIA
CONTAMINATION
DINOFLAGELLATE
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
PURIFICATION
SEAFOOD
TOXICITY
TOXINS