Method of controlling bioluminescence in red tide algae
AssigneeUniversity of South Florida
InventorsAidan McFarland, Libin Ye
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Abstract
A novel method of reducing dinoflagellate algae blooms that cause red tide is disclosed. Aggregation of dinoflagellate algae, such as Lingulodinium polyedra (L. polyedra), can cause algae blooms contributing to “red tide”. Bioluminescence emitting from these algae reduce copepod predation of the algae thus increasing the formation of large algae blooms. By inhibiting BIR1, bioluminescence is reduced thus leading to increased copepod predation and control of the algae bloom formation.
Claims20
A method of preventing formation of harmful algae blooms comprising:
- applying an effective amount of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) inhibitor to algae capable of forming harmful algae blooms to reduce bioluminescence of the algae to prevent the formation of the algae blooms,
- wherein the GPCR inhibitor comprises an antisense oligonucleotide having SEQ ID NO:
- 7 targeting bioluminescence-inducing receptor (BIR1).
A method of reducing bioluminescence in dinoflagellate algae comprising:
- applying an effective amount of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) inhibitor to algae capable of forming harmful algae blooms to reduce bioluminescence of the algae;
- wherein the GPCR inhibitor comprises an antisense oligonucleotide having SEQ ID NO:
- 7 targeting bioluminescence-inducing receptor (BIR1).
A method of controlling harmful algae or harmful algae blooms (HAB) comprising:
- treating algae capable of forming the harmful algae blooms with an effective amount of an antisense oligonucleotide having SEO ID NO:
- 7;
- wherein the antisense oligonucleotide inhibits expression of bioluminescence inducing receptor (BIR1) which reduces bioluminescence of the algae to prevent the formation of the harmful algae blooms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.