Abstract

Imaging Flow Cytometry (IFCM) combined with a molecular tagging technique called Recognition of Individual Genes by Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization (RING-FISH) provides the ability to differentiate toxin producing cells on a rapid basis. Evaluation of the IFCM method demonstrated the ability to detect signal intensity for toxin producing cells after hybridization of RNA probes with a microcystin-synthetase gene. IFCM data show signal amplification of the probe detected mainly on the outside of the cell(s) created by the toxin, accumulating mostly on the cell surface and creating a ring-shaped (halo) pattern. Our IFCM RING-FISH method can detect and delineate between toxic and non-toxic cells when applied to the specific case of Microcystis aeruginosa targeting the microcystin - synthetase gene. As such, early differentiation and detection of toxin producing cyanobacteria using either (or both) qPCR and IFCM can provide a means to improve the management of water resources to avoid public health risks.

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