USF scientists find viruses in red tide bacteria

TAMPA, Fla. (WWSB) - A study by researchers at the University of South Florida is shining new light into the what causes red tide to bloom.

By testing water samples collected along the offshore of southwest Florida, the researchers found several viruses — including one new viral species — present in K. brevis blooms. By identifying the types of viruses, scientists hope to find ways to control red tide.

“We know that viruses play an important role in the dynamics of harmful algal blooms, but we haven’t known which viruses might be associated with Karenia brevis blooms,” said Jean Lim, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral researcher at the USF College of Marine Science (CMS). “Now that we’ve identified several viruses in these blooms, we can work to determine which viruses might have an influence on these events.”

To conduct the study, Lim and her team partnered with researchers from the harmful algal bloom monitoring and research program at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute who collect samples off the coast of southwest Florida to help research the dynamics of red tide. Using a method called viral metagenomics, Lim was able to extract genetic material to identify the viruses.

Red tide is a complex problem. Regularly occurring events are not fully understood, driven in part by environmental factors such as ocean circulation, nutrient concentration, and physical conditions such as temperature and salinity, but it is still hard to forecast when and where blooms will start, peak, and end.

A large network of research teams investigate these problems. The neurotoxins emitted by K. brevis can kill marine life, cause respiratory issues for beachgoers, and impact coastal economies based around tourism and fishing.

Kate Hubbard leads the FWC Center for Red Tide Research and recognizes the importance of using new approaches to look at blooms in the field.