AWWA WQTC55115

A variety of gene based techniques are described in this paper that have been used to characterize the toxic cyanobacteria Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Anabaena circinalis. The techniques have not only been used to interpret the likely phylogeny of these species but have also been applied to their rapid detection in environmental samples. The nucleotide sequence of the DNA dependent RNA polymerase gene, rpoC1, has been used for phylogenetic analysis and the design of specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for detection. Short tandemly repeated repetitive (STRR) sequences were also used to create genetic profiles of individual isolates. A PCR test is also described which specifically identifies cylindrospermopsin producing C. raciborskii and is capable of identifying other genera of cyanobacteria that produce this toxin. Includes 5 references, figures.