Neutral lipid content and biomass production in Skeletonema marinoi (Bacillariophyceae) culture in response to nitrate limitation.

Microalgae are one of the most promising biodiesel feedstocks due to their efficiency in CO2 fixation and high neutral lipid productivity. Nutrient-stress conditions, including nitrogen starvation, enhance neutral lipid content, but at the same time lead to a reduction of biomass. To maximize lipid production in the diatom Skeletonema marinoi, we investigated two different nitrogen starvation approaches.

Application of the standard addition method for the absolute quantification of neutral lipids in microalgae using Nile red.

Microalgae are considered one of the best candidates for biofuel production due to their high content in neutral lipids, therefore, an accurate quantification of these lipids in microalgae is fundamental for the identification of the better candidates as biodiesel source. Nile red is a fluorescent dye widely employed for the quantification of neutral lipids in microalgae. Usually, the fluorescence intensity of the stained samples is correlated to the neutral lipid content determined with standard methods, in order to draw a standard curve and deduce the neutral lipids concentration of the unknown samples positioning their fluorescence intensity values on the curve.

Development of a real-time PCR assay for rapid detection and quantification of Alexandrium minutum (a Dinoflagellate).

The marine dinoflagellate genus Alexandrium includes a number of species which produce neurotoxins responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), which in humans may cause muscular paralysis, neurological symptoms, and, in extreme cases, death. A. minutum is the most widespread toxic PSP species in the western Mediterranean basin.