Abstracts

_{Pengbin Wang*, Zihan Sun, Jiarong Hu, Lu Sun, Ruifang Wang, Ruoyu Guo, Jiraporn Charoenvattanaporn, Douding Lu, Myung-Soo Han}

Prorocentrum, a cosmopolitan dinoflagellate genus with over 80 species globally, is a primary causative agent of harmful algal blooms (HABs), with many species producing diarrhetic shellfish poison (DSP) that bioaccumulates through marine food webs and poses human health risks. This study investigated the taxonomy, composition, distribution patterns, and toxicity of Prorocentrum species in East Asian coastal waters by collecting surface water and benthic samples from the East Asia. Over ninety strains were isolated and cultured stably, with morphological characterization employing light microscopy, confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, while molecular identification utilized specific gene amplification and sequencing. Fourteen Prorocentrum species were confirmed: P. concavum, P. donghaiense, P. elegans, P. fukuyoi, P. koreanum, P. lima, P. maculosum, P. micans, P. minimum, P. rhathymum, P. sculptile, P. sinense, and P. triestinum, with P. sculptile representing a new record for Chinese waters and P. koreanum and P. sinense identified as a new species. Additionally, biogeographic distribution patterns were preliminarily established, contributing to global distribution understanding and providing essential data for marine biodiversity research, ecosystem health maintenance, and HAB monitoring systems in this economically important marine region.

_{Ellen Nisbet}

The ability to manipulate genomes, by inserting, knocking out or editing genes is a fundamental tool in modern bioscience research. Yet these tools are substantially missing for dinoflagellate algae, severely hampering our ability to study many ecologically important processes. This talk will address some of the progress (both successes and failures) that has been made by many groups in recent years. I will also speak about our attempts to establish stable genetic tools in two species, Symbiodinium microadriaticum and Amphidinium carterae. We have established tools for the manipulation of the A. carterae chloroplast genome, expressing a selectable marker and a heterologous protein of interest. In parallel, we have developed tools to insert a selectable marker and GFP to the mitochondrial genome of both A. carterae and S. microadriaticum. Protein expression is confirmed by Western blot. Genetically modified strains are stable, and have survived in the laboratory for many months. With these tools, we can begin to answer important biochemical questions, and to deepen our understanding of these enigmatic algae.