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Your search keyword '"Barker, Katelyn B."' showing total 4 results
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4 results on '"Barker, Katelyn B."'

2. An assessment of a biosensor system for the quantification of microcystins in freshwater cyanobacterial blooms

Author

Chaffin, Justin D., Barker, Katelyn B., Bickman, Sarah R., Bratton, John F., Bridgeman, Thomas B., Bhatia, Mudit, Buchholz, Seth D., Bullerjahn, George S., Johengen, Thomas H., Kang, Dae-Wook, Lewis, Gregory G., Lochhead, Michael J., Macdonald, Brooks M., Petrou, Cassandra L., Platz, Michelle, Purcell, Heidi, Roser, Jack, Seo, Youngwoo, Siddiquee, Mashuk, Snyder, Brenda, Taylor, Autumn T., Verhamme, Edward M., and Westrick, Judy A.

Published
2024
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3. Bacterial community and cyanotoxin gene distribution of the Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya.

Author

Brown, Katelyn M., Barker, Katelyn B., Wagner, Ryan S., Ward, Christopher S., Sitoki, Lewis, Njiru, James, Omondi, Reuben, Achiya, James, Getabu, Albert, McKay, R. Michael, and Bullerjahn, George S.

Subjects
*CYANOBACTERIAL toxins, *AGRICULTURE, *ALGAL blooms, *RIBOSOMAL RNA, *WASTEWATER treatment, *SUMMER
Abstract

The Winam Gulf (Kenya) is frequently impaired by cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) due to inadequate wastewater treatment and excess agricultural nutrient input. While phytoplankton in Lake Victoria have been characterized using morphological criteria, our aim is to identify potential toxin‐producing cyanobacteria using molecular approaches. The Gulf was sampled over two successive summer seasons, and 16S and 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was performed. Additionally, key genes involved in production of cyanotoxins were examined by quantitative PCR. Bacterial communities were spatially variable, forming distinct clusters in line with regions of the Gulf. Taxa associated with diazotrophy were dominant near Homa Bay. On the eastern side, samples exhibited elevated cyrA abundances, indicating genetic capability of cylindrospermopsin synthesis. Indeed, near the Nyando River mouth in 2022, cyrA exceeded 10 million copies L−1 where there were more than 6000 Cylindrospermopsis spp. cells mL−1. In contrast, the southwestern region had elevated mcyE gene (microcystin synthesis) detections near Homa Bay where Microcystis and Dolichospermum spp. were observed. These findings show that within a relatively small embayment, composition and toxin synthesis potential of cHABs can vary dramatically. This underscores the need for multifaceted management approaches and frequent cyanotoxin monitoring to reduce human health impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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4. Using Novel Technology to Examine Trends in Cyanobacterial Toxin Levels

Author

Barker, Katelyn B.

Subjects
Biology, cHABs, cyanotoxin, microcystin, toxin monitoring, cyanobacteria, Sandusky Bay, saxitoxin, LightDeck
Abstract

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms are ubiquitous globally and can have enormous impacts on the environment, economy, and human health. These blooms have the potential to produce toxins such as microcystin (MC), cylindrospermopsin (CYN), and saxitoxin (STX). Currently, the standard method for toxin testing is by an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). This method is time consuming; LightDeck Diagnostics has developed a rapid and portable multiplexed assay to simultaneously test for MC, CYN, STX as an alternative to ELISA testing. During the summer of 2021, LightDeck’s duplexed MC-CYN assay was successfully field validated in Sandusky Bay. A method of portable lysis was also tested but is undergoing further development prior to being used in additional testing. During the summer of 2022, a triplexed version of the LightDeck cartridge (MC-CYN-STX) was field validated in both Sandusky Bay and Springbrook Lake in Whitehouse, Ohio. The STX assay successfully detected toxin, however the triplexed MC assay did not perform as well as the previous duplex formulation. Additionally, toxin concentrations were correlated with water quality parameters and nutrients in both lakes to investigate potential environmental drivers of toxicity during bloom events. The LightDeck assay was also used as part of a research cruise in the Winam Gulf, Kenya. Though ELISA remains the gold standard for toxin detection, the LightDeck assay could be a valuable tool in monitoring and reporting toxin in water bodies that people interact with, whether they be recreational lakes or water that the community relies on for daily functions as demonstrated in the case of the Winam Gulf.

Published
2023

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