Marine microalgae produce a variety of specialised metabolites that have toxic effects on humans, farmed fish, and marine wildlife. Alarmingly, many of these compounds bioaccumulate in the tissues of shellfish and higher trophic organisms, including species consumed by humans. Molecular methods are emerging as a potential alternative and complement to the conventional microscopic diagnosis of toxic or otherwise harmful microalgal species. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) in particular, has gained popularity over the past decade as a sensitive, rapid, and cost-effective method for monitoring harmful microalgae. Assays targeting taxonomic marker genes provide the opportunity to identify and quantify (or semi-quantify) microalgal species and importantly to pre-empt bloom events. Moreover, the discovery of paralytic shellfish toxin biosynthesis genes in dinoflagellates has enabled researchers to directly monitor toxigenic species in coastal waters and fisheries. This review summarises the recent developments in qPCR detection methods for harmful microalgae, with emphasis on emerging toxin gene monitoring technologies.

海洋微藻产生多种对人类、养殖鱼类和海洋野生动物具有毒性作用的特殊代谢物。令人担忧的是，这些化合物中有许多会在贝类和更高营养级生物的组织中生物积累，包括人类食用的物种。分子方法正在成为对有毒或其他有害微藻物种的常规显微镜诊断的潜在替代方法和补充。尤其是定量 PCR (qPCR)，在过去十年中作为一种灵敏、快速且具有成本效益的监测有害微藻的方法而广受欢迎。针对分类标记基因的检测提供了识别和量化（或半量化）微藻物种的机会，重要的是可以预防水华事件。而且，甲藻中麻痹性贝类毒素生物合成基因的发现使研究人员能够直接监测沿海水域和渔业中的产毒物种。本综述总结了有害微藻 qPCR 检测方法的最新进展，重点介绍了新兴的毒素基因监测技术。