Complex Toxin Profile of French Mediterranean Ostreopsis cf. ovata Strains and Ovatoxins Prepurification

The scientific poster entitled "Complex Toxin Profile of French Mediterranean Ostreopsis cf. ovata Strains and Ovatoxins Prepurification" presented at the 16th International Conference on Harmful Algae (ICHA 2014) in Wellington, New Zealand, described the results of a study on the toxin profile of Ostreopsis cf. ovata strains found in the French Mediterranean region. The study was conducted by a team of researchers from various French institutions, including the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer) and the Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV).

The poster outlined the methods used for the extraction and purification of the toxins produced by Ostreopsis cf. ovata strains, and the subsequent identification and characterization of these toxins using various analytical techniques, including liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The study revealed a complex toxin profile of Ostreopsis cf. ovata strains, with the presence of several types of ovatoxins, including previously unreported variants.

The results of the study have important implications for the monitoring and management of harmful algal blooms (HABs) caused by Ostreopsis cf. ovata in the French Mediterranean region and other parts of the world. The authors of the poster suggested that further studies are needed to fully understand the toxicity of these strains and the potential risks to human and animal health.