Dinophysis

Dinophysis (Ehrenberg 1839) is a dinoflagellate genus (Dinophysiales, Dinophyceae) with more than 200 recognised species found in coastal and oceanic waters throughout the World ^[1]. Cell densities are usually neglestible, but favourable conditions can result in massive blooms also known as red tides. Attention to Dinophysis greatly increased as several species of the genus was linked to the toxin responsible for the toxic syndrome diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), a gastrointestinal illness causing huge economical losses for the mussel industry, especially around Europe and Japan. ^{[2] [3]}

The first culture of Dinophysis was established by feeding the photosinthetic Dinophysis acuminata with the ciliate Myreonecta rubra.^[4]

Dinophysis includes heterotrophic and photosynthetic species. Only photosynthetic species (mixotrophic) have been linked to DSP.

Dinophysis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Chromalveolata
Superphylum:	Alveolata
Phylum:	Dinoflagellate
Genus:	Dinophysis

Common species within the genus include Dinophysis acuminata, D. acuta, D. norvegica, D. caudata and D. tripos

References

1. ^ Hallegraeff GM, Lucas IAN (1988) The marine dinoflagellate genus Dinophysis (Dinophyceae): photosynthetic, neritic and non-photosynthetic, oceanic species. Phycologia 27: 25–42
2. ^ Yasumoto T, Oshima Y, Sugawara W, Fukuyo Y, Oguri H,Igarashi T, Fujita N (1980) Identification of Dinophysis fortii as the causative organism of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. Nippon Suisan Gakkai Shi 46:1405–1411
3. ^ Lee JS, Igarashi T, Fraga S, Dahl E, Hovgaard P, Yasumoto T (1989) Determination of diarrhetic shellfish toxins in various dinoflagellate species. J Appl Phycol 1:147–152
4. ^ Park MG, Kim S, Kim HS, Myung G, Kang YG, Yih W (2006)First successful culture of the marine dinoflagellate Dinophysis acuminata. Aquat Microb Ecol 45:101–106