Das Projekt "FAIR: Untersuchungen zur Rolle von Bakterien/Dinflage spaete Interaktionen bei der paralytischen Schalentiervergiftung" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Stiftung Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung e.V. (AWI) durchgeführt. Molecular probes of high specificity to the microflora of selected dinoflagellate species will be produced, in order to supplement the use of traditional microbial culture techniques in monitoring the progress of various treatments in removing dinoflagellate-associated bacteria. Depending on the success of the latter either axenic dinoflagellate cultures or those which have a limited defined bacterial population will be used to determine the influence of bacteria on toxin production of dinoflagellates. The techniques developed will also be utilised to determine the influence of natural bacterial populations on dinoflagellate toxicity. The work will be supplemented with TEM, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, to determine the physical association of bacteria at different stages of the dino flagellates life cycle. The influence of bacteria on shellfish toxicity either through direct toxification or the ability to metabolie the PST toxins will also be evaluated. The frequency of occurrence of these bacteria in the environment and potential relevance to toxic events will also be determined.