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Distribution of Synechococcus spp. determined by immunofluorescent assay
Author(s) -
Acosta Pomar M.L.C.,
Caruso G.,
Maugeri T.L.,
Scarfò R.,
Zaccone R.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2672.1998.00370.x
Subject(s) - synechococcus , estuary , phycoerythrin , seawater , antiserum , mediterranean sea , upwelling , biology , mediterranean climate , microbiology and biotechnology , oceanography , bacteria , cyanobacteria , ecology , geology , antigen , flow cytometry , genetics
By using two polyclonal antisera against WH 7803 strain (Synechococcus sp.) and WH 5701 strain (Synechococcus bacillaris) it is possible to detect and to enumerate cells of the two cyanobacterial serogroups. The immunofluorescence technique was used to study the distribution of the two serogroups in the estuarine, coastal and upwelling waters of the Mediterranean Sea surrounding Messina. In the estuarine waters of the Alcantara River (Ionian Sea), the WH 7803 serogroup was present at a concentration in the order of 10 2 cells ml −1 and the WH 5701 serogroup at a concentration of 5·5 × 10 2 cellsml −1 . In the coastal waters of Messina, where urban and industrial wastes are usuallydumped, the concentration of total phycoerythrin‐ Synechococcus ranged from 1·3 × 10 2 to 4·1 × 10 3 cells ml −1 ; the WH 7803 serogroup accounted for 50–94% of the totalpopulation in Ionian stations, whereas the WH 5701 serogroup ranged from1·4 × 10 1 to6·7 × 10 2 cells ml −1 . In the upwelling area (Straits of Messina) bothserogroups were found. Vertical distribution of two Synechococcus strains had anopposite trend and their concentrations were of the order of 10 1 –10 2 cells ml −1 . Theuse of the Scan laser system allows both autofluorescent and labelled organismsto be distinguished in a preparation for optical microscopy. It also allows false‐positivecells to be distinguished.