A rapid assay of phytoplankton viability

浮游植物活力的快速测定

• 批准号: 520352-2017
• 负责人: Macintyre, Hugh
• 金额: $ 7.83万
• 依托单位: Dalhousie University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=692925
• 关键词: rapid; assay; phytoplankton; viability

Uptake and release of ballast water by ships can transport microorganisms from one part of the global ocean to another, with potentially negative consequences for natural ecosystems. To lessen the threat posed by the introduction of alien microorganisms, the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments imposes global regulations for treatment of ships' ballast water, effective September 2019. The Convention imposes limits on the concentrations of viable cells in discharged waters. Existing regulations in the USA differ from the internationally standards in regulating the discharge of living cells. By definition, a viable living cell is able to reproduce, but a nonviable living cell is not. Because the goal of ballast water treatment is prevention of reproduction of microorganisms, cell viability offers a reasonable standard for treatment.Ballast water could be disinfected by application of ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation, which is widely used in treatment of drinking and waste water. UVC treatment renders cells nonviable by damaging nucleotides but does not necessarily kill them outright. Consequently, nonviable (so non-invasive) cells register as living if tested with the US-mandated live/dead assay in water treated with UVC. Acceptance of UVC for ballast water treatment depends on development of accurate alternative tests of viability.The most direct means of demonstrating viability is with a growth assay. However, growth assays can take weeks to complete, so are inappropriate for shipboard testing to ensure that a ballast water treatment system complies with regulatory standards. With the support of NSERC and Trojan UV, an hours-long fluorescence-based Rapid Assay of Phytoplankton Viability (RAPV) has been developed and tested in the laboratory. The goals of the proposed research partnership are to test the efficacy of the RAPV; to establish the theoretical foundations underlying the rapid assay; and to refine techniques for determining viability of single cells rather than bulk assemblages. Within 5 years, this research will develop tests for assessing phytoplankton viability that have immediate application to the ballast water treatment market but will also allow development of new industrial markets in assessment and treatment of impaired waters, in studies of natural populations and in mass culture of algae for food, biofuels and other high-value products.

船只对压载水的吸收和释放可以将微生物从全球海洋的一部分运输到另一部分，对自然生态系统产生潜在的负面影响。为了减少引入外来微生物的威胁，《国际船舶压载水和沉积物的控制与管理公约》施加了全球法规，以治疗船舶的压载水，自2019年9月。该公约对出院水中可行细胞的浓度施加了限制。美国的现有法规与国际标准在调节活细胞的排放方面有所不同。根据定义，可行的活细胞能够再现，但是不可行的活细胞不是。由于压载水处理的目的是预防微生物的繁殖，因此细胞活力为治疗提供了合理的标准。可以通过应用紫外线C（UVC）辐射来消毒Ballast Water，该辐射被广泛用于饮酒和废水。 UVC治疗可通过破坏核苷酸来使细胞不可生存，但不一定会直接杀死它们。因此，如果在用UVC处理的水中用美国规定的活/死测定测试，则不可行（如此无创的）细胞为生存。接受UVC进行压载水处理取决于生存能力的准确替代测试的发展。证明生存能力的最直接方法是生长测定法。但是，生长测定可能需要数周的时间才能完成，因此不适合船上测试，以确保压载水处理系统符合法规标准。在NSERC和TROJAN UV的支持下，已经开发并在实验室中开发并测试了一个长时间的基于荧光的浮游生物（RAPV）的快速测定。拟议的研究伙伴关系的目标是测试RAPV的功效；建立快速测定基础的理论基础；并完善技术来确定单细胞的生存能力而不是大量组合。在5年之内，这项研究将开发用于评估浮游植物生存能力的测试，这些可行性立即应用于压载水处理市场，但还将允许在评估和处理受损水域的新工业市场，在自然种群和藻类大众文化中用于食品，生物燃料，生物食品和其他高价产品的研究。