Water Quality Immune Function

& Algal Blooms

R K Pipe & M Jutson

•Chemical Analysis

•Biological Responses

•Ideally Both

Water Quality can be assessed by:

Biological Responses can be measured at different levels of organisation:

Molecules

Cells

Individuals

Populations

Communities

• If they form part of a key function

Reproductive Capacity

Immune Function

Effects measured at molecular and cellular levels can impinge on populations

Measurement of Immune Function

Water Quality

Mechanisms of Immune Defence• Phagocytosis• Blood Cell Proliferation• Release of Antimicrobial Molecules

Apparatus for Immunity• Total Blood Cell Counts• Differential Blood Cell Counts• Haemopoietic Tissues

Efficacy of Immune Response• Susceptibility to Infection

Apparatus for Immunity• Total Blood Cell Counts• Differential Blood Cell Counts• Haemopoietic Tissues

Measurement of Immune Function

Measurement of Immune Function

Mechanisms of Immune Defence• Phagocytosis• Blood Cell Proliferation• Release of Antimicrobial Molecules

Measurement of Immune Function

Efficacy of Immune Response• Susceptibility to Infection

Measurement of Immune Function

Field studies have shown correlations between assays of immune function and tissue levels of specific contaminants

Measurement of Immune Function

Local studies have shown differences between immune parameters from contaminated sites compared with clean reference sites

Measurement of Immune Function

Summary of Potential in Assessing Water Quality

• A wide range of assays can measure immune function at different levels of organisation

• Laboratory and field studies have shown these assays to be responsive and to correlate with disease susceptibility

• Laboratory and field studies have shown correlations between contaminant levels and these assays

Algal Blooms

There are more than 3000 species of Marine Phytoplankton showing an enormous diversity in size and form

Algal Blooms

• Of the >3000 species at least 300 are able to form harmful blooms

• With more than 40 species able to produce biotoxins

• Studies show increasing numbers of:

toxic species

toxins produced

geographic areas affected

fisheries, aquaculture and tourism affected

higher economic losses

Algal Blooms

• Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) causative organisms: Pseudo-nitzschia sp.

Toxin produced: Domoic Acid

ASP characterised by both gastrointestinal and neurological disorders

 

• Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) causative organisms: Dinophysis spp.

Toxin produced: Okadaic Acid

DSP characterised by gastrointestinal symptoms.

 

• Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) causative organisms: Alexandrium spp.,Gymnodinium catenatum, Pyrodinium bahamense

Toxins produced: Saxitoxins

PSP characterised by neurological symptoms  

Conditions resulting from toxic algal blooms include:

Algal Blooms

Plymouth Algal Culture Collection:

• Forms a living research collection of marine microalgae

• Established by E.J. Allen and T.C. Nelson in 1910

• The main collection consists of some 250 strains from 70 genera

• In addition we hold some 250 Emiliania huxleyii clones

• The cultures are maintained in liquid culture with regular sub-culturing

• The Collection distributes approximately 400 culture strains per year

Potential for Plymouth Algal Culture Collection to facilitate research on algal blooms

Algal Blooms

• Identification of Species

• Repository for Strains

• Culture of Strains

• Algal Physiology Research

• Training Workshops