This article is part of the supplement: Proceedings of the Centers for Oceans and Human Health Investigators Meeting .

Proceedings

Centers for Oceans and Human Health: a unified approach to the challenge of harmful algal blooms

Deana L Erdner¹ , Julianne Dyble² , Michael L Parsons³ , Richard C Stevens⁴ , Katherine A Hubbard⁵ , Michele L Wrabel⁵ , Stephanie K Moore^6,7 , Kathi A Lefebvre⁷ , Donald M Anderson⁸ , Paul Bienfang⁹ , Robert R Bidigare¹⁰ , Micaela S Parker⁵ , Peter Moeller¹¹ , Larry E Brand¹² and Vera L Trainer⁷

¹  University of Texas Marine Science Institute, Port Aransas, TX 78373, USA

²  NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA

³  Department of Marine and Ecological Sciences, Coastal Watershed Institute, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565, USA

⁴  Department of Medicine (Div. of Medical Genetics), University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

⁵  Pacific Northwest Center for Human Health and Ocean Studies, School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-7940, USA

⁶  School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-5351, USA

⁷  NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, WEst Coast Center for Oceans and Human Health, 2725 Montlake Blvd. E., Seattle, WA 98112, USA

⁸  Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA

⁹  Center for Oceans and Human Health, Pacific Research Center for Marine Biomedicine, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

¹⁰  Center for Marine Microbial Ecology and Diversity, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822-2327, USA

¹¹  Toxin/Natural Products Chemistry Program, National Ocean Service, NOAA, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC 29412, USA

¹²  University of Miami, RSMAS, Miami, FL 33149, USA

author email corresponding author email

Environmental Health 2008, 7(Suppl 2):S2doi:10.1186/1476-069X-7-S2-S2

Published:	7 November 2008

Abstract

Background

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are one focus of the national research initiatives on Oceans and Human Health (OHH) at NIEHS, NOAA and NSF. All of the OHH Centers, from the east coast to Hawaii, include one or more research projects devoted to studying HAB problems and their relationship to human health. The research shares common goals for understanding, monitoring and predicting HAB events to protect and improve human health: understanding the basic biology of the organisms; identifying how chemistry, hydrography and genetic diversity influence blooms; developing analytical methods and sensors for cells and toxins; understanding health effects of toxin exposure; and developing conceptual, empirical and numerical models of bloom dynamics.

Results

In the past several years, there has been significant progress toward all of the common goals. Several studies have elucidated the effects of environmental conditions and genetic heterogeneity on bloom dynamics. New methods have been developed or implemented for the detection of HAB cells and toxins, including genetic assays for Pseudo-nitzschia and Microcystis, and a biosensor for domoic acid. There have been advances in predictive models of blooms, most notably for the toxic dinoflagellates Alexandrium and Karenia. Other work is focused on the future, studying the ways in which climate change may affect HAB incidence, and assessing the threat from emerging HABs and toxins, such as the cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine.

Conclusion

Along the way, many challenges have been encountered that are common to the OHH Centers and also echo those of the wider HAB community. Long-term field data and basic biological information are needed to develop accurate models. Sensor development is hindered by the lack of simple and rapid assays for algal cells and especially toxins. It is also critical to adequately understand the human health effects of HAB toxins. Currently, we understand best the effects of acute toxicity, but almost nothing is known about the effects of chronic, subacute toxin exposure. The OHH initiatives have brought scientists together to work collectively on HAB issues, within and across regions. The successes that have been achieved highlight the value of collaboration and cooperation across disciplines, if we are to continue to advance our understanding of HABs and their relationship to human health.