Specificity of LSU rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes for Pseudo-nitzschia species tested through dot-blot hybridisation

In the scope of the development of a microarray PhyloChip for the detection of toxic phytoplankton species, we designed a large series of probes specific against targets in the nuclear large subunit (LSU) rRNA of a range of Pseudo-nitzschia species and spotted these onto the microarray. Hybridisation with rRNA extracted from monoclonal cultures and from plankton samples revealed many cross-reactions. In the present work, we tested the functionality and specificity of 23 of these probes designed against ten of the species, using a dot-blot procedure. In this case, probe specificity is tested against the target region in PCR products of the LSU rRNA gene marker region blotted on nitrocellulose filters. Each filter was incubated with a species-specific oligoprobe. Eleven of the tested probes showed specific responses, identifying seven Pseudo-nitzschia species. The other probes showed non-specific responses or did not respond at all. Results of dot-blot hybridisations are more specific than those obtained with the microarray approach and the possible reasons for this are discussed.