Publications by authors named "Rachelle Atrache"
Article Synopsis
- Harmful algal blooms (HABs) contribute to water eutrophication, affecting recreational lake usability, prompting an analysis of various detection methods for cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in the Great Lakes region.
- DNA sequencing methods effectively differentiated between bloom and non-bloom samples, revealing a higher presence of metabolic genes linked to cyanobacteria in bloom areas, though toxin genes were less identifiable.
- Traditional techniques like qPCR and ELISA showed higher microcystin levels in bloom sites, indicating that not all blooms produce this toxin, thus requiring comprehensive monitoring to fully assess water quality.
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can accumulate to form harmful algal blooms (HABs) on the surface of freshwater ecosystems under eutrophic conditions. Extensive HAB events can threaten local wildlife, public health, and the utilization of recreational waters. For the detection/quantification of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins, both the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Health Canada increasingly indicate that molecular methods can be useful.
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