Red Tide : Harmful algal blooms have significant environmental and economic impacts on the State of Florida. Mitigation strategies for red tide events can best be developed and implemented when the origin of a bloom can be determined and the organism's growth and dispersal can be monitored. A major focus of our work is to develop specific probes to identify, quantify, and examine the relatedness of Karenia brevis isolates found at traditional bloom sites and, with this information, to locate the origins and to monitor the dynamics of blooms. We are using two approaches to develop these biomarkers: I-Genetic approach: oligonucleotide probes are being developed which will allow the identification and quantification of K. brevis in situ. In addition, microsatellite primers are being developed to determine population complexity via allele frequencies, to trace bloom transport and to answer questions related to whether the population complexity changes over time and whether subsequent blooms occur by re-inoculation by the residual population. II-Immunologic approach: antibodies have been developed to cell surface markers of Karenia which will be useful not only in detecting low levels of organisms but also in examining unusual life cycle stages. Together, these complementary reagents will be used in the identification and comparison of geographic isolates.
In addition, a zebrafish model system is being developed to establish biomarkers for exposure to sub-lethal amounts of K. brevis toxin/extracts. Ultimately, this work will lead to bloom-specific microarrays to be used as monitors and even predictors of bloom events for this biological agent of global importance.
Manatees : Both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies have been developed to manatee IgG. These manatee-specific reagents will be used not only to evaluate sera for antibodies to pathogenic agents/toxins, including red tide organisms, but also to address fundamental questions concerning manatee immunology
The population genetic structure of the West Indian manatee using mitochondrial DNA control region sequences has been completed for eight locations across the Caribbean and western Atlantic coastal regions. These genealogies have been used to illuminate aspects of evolution and biogeography that are pertinent to sirenian systematics, ecology, and wildlife management programs. Current work focuses on microsatellite reagents for resolution of populations at the level of pedigree analyses.
Finally, sequence analyses of expressed genes will provide reagents critical for health assessment for this endangered species.
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Associate Professor