The Use of Peptide Nucleic Acids in Surface Plasmon Resonance for Detection of Red Tide Algae

There is a need for low-cost, rapid, and accurate detection of harmful organisms. Some species of the marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium produce paralytic shellfish toxins that can accumulate in shellfish tissue and can cause paralysis and death if ingested by humans. We have developed a method for RNA detection of Alexandrium using a portable surface plasmon resonance biosensing instrument and peptide nucleic acid probes. Because our method is user-friendly, cost-effective, and yields quick results, it will greatly improve the abilities of monitoring programs to detect harmful species and take appropriate measures to prevent detrimental human health effects.