Toxicological characterization of Fukuyoa paulensis (Dinophyceae) from temperate Australia

Dinoflagellates of the genus Gambierdiscus are known to produce neurotoxins that cause the human illness ciguatera, a tropical and sub-tropical fish poisoning. Some species from the Gambierdiscus genus were recently re-classified into a new genus, Fukuyoa based on their phylogenetic and morphological divergence, however, little is known about their distribution, ecology and toxicology. Here we report the first occurrence of F. paulensis in the temperate coastal waters of eastern Australia and characterize its toxicology. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) did not detect the presence of ciguatoxins, however, a putative maitotoxin congener (MTX-3) was present. Similarly, high maitotoxin-like activity was detected in High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) fractionated cell extracts using a Ca2+ influx bioassay on a Fluorescent Imaging Plate Reader (FLIPR), but no ciguatoxin-like activity was detected.