Research
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) of the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis can cause massive fish-kills and marine mammal mortalities, as well as impact human health via the consumption of brevetoxin-contaminated shellfish and the inhalation of aerosolized toxins. There is a strong effort to predict and prevent human health impacts by monitoring the bloom stages of K. brevis. The current standard method for quantifying K. brevis is by microscopic enumeration; the process is time-consuming and requires taxonomic expertise to discern K. brevis from other Karenia species.
I am developing and implementing a genetic sensor to rapidly quantify K. brevis, which is the most economically and clinically important HAB-causing dinoflagellate in the Gulf of Mexico. Using a handheld Nucleic Acid Sequence Based Amplification (NASBA) platform, we will be able to acquire genetically accurate data in near real-time. Samples concurrently analyzed by the standard microscopic enumeration and NASBA molecular quantification are shown to have a correlation coefficient of 0.98, indicating this newly developed method parallels the standard method in accuracy in addition to being cheaper, quicker, and portable.
Real-time detection of K. brevis is harbinger to successful ecotoxicology research in the Gulf of Mexico. Acquiring near real-time data series about bloom intensity and spatiotemporal distributions of HAB species such as K. brevis will better inform responses to public health risks. We currently cannot stop HABs from occurring, but we can mitigate damages more effectively via genetic and technological advances.
D.M. Nieuwkerk, A.E. Hoeglund, K.A. Hubbard, J.H. Paul, V.J. Harwood. 2019. Molecular Quantification of the Red Tide Dinoflagellate
Karenia brevis. Water Microbiology Conference, University of North Carolina. Oral Presenter.
​
D.M. Nieuwkerk, R.M. Ulrich, A.E. Hoeglund, C.L. Tilney, K.A. Hubbard, J.H. Paul. 2018. Measuring rbcL Expression as a Proxy for Cell Concentrations of the Florida Red Tide Dinoflagellate. Ocean Sciences Meeting. Oral Presenter.
​
D.M. Nieuwkerk, R.M. Ulrich, A.E. Hoeglund, C.L. Tilney, K.A. Hubbard, J.H. Paul. 2017. Improving Standards for Molecular Quantification of the Florida Red Tide Dinoflagellate. 9th Annual US Symposium on Harmful Algae. Oral Presenter.
​
C.L. Tilney, S. Shankar, A.E. Hoeglund, E.M. Olesin, C. Chadwick, E. Muhlbach, C. Villac, A.A. Corcoran, L.J. Flewelling, D.M. Nieuwkerk, R.M. Ulrich, J.H. Paul, K.A. Hubbard. 2017. An Integrated Look at Karenia brevis Photophysiology. 9th Annual US Symposium on Harmful Algae. Oral Presenter.
A.E. Hoeglund, C.L. Tilney, J.H. Paul, D.M. Nieuwkerk, R.M. Ulrich, B. Kirkpatrick, R. Currier, K. Henschen, L. Markley, S. Keller Abbe, K.A. Hubbard. 2017. Integrating Tools for in situ Detection of the Florida Red Tide Alga, Karenia brevis, into a State Monitoring Program. 9th Annual US Symposium on Harmful Algae. Poster Presenter.
J.H. Paul, K.A. Hubbard, D.M. Nieuwkerk, A.E. Hoeglund, C.L. Tilney, R.M. Ulrich, B. Kirkpatrick, R. Currier. 2017. Monitoring HABs by Isothermal RNA Amplification Using Handheld Genetic Sensors (AKA ‘Tricorders’). 9th Annual US Symposium on Harmful Algae. Speed Talk and Poster Presenter.
​
J.H. Paul, K.A. Hubbard, D.M. Nieuwkerk, A.E. Hoeglund, C.L. Tilney, R.M. Ulrich, B. Kirkpatrick, R. Currier. 2017. Implementing the Karenia ‘Tricorder’ to Improve Red Tide Monitoring and Management in the Gulf of Mexico. NOAA’s Emerging Technologies at the Center for Climate Prediction. Poster Presenter.
​
J.H. Paul, K.A. Hubbard, R.M. Ulrich, D.M. Nieuwkerk, A.E. Hoeglund, C.L. Tilney, E.M. Olesin. 2017. PCMHAB: Implementing the Karenia ‘Tricorder’ to Improve Red Tide Monitoring and Management in the Gulf of Mexico. ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting. Oral Presenter.
D.M. Nieuwkerk, R.M. Ulrich, K.A. Hubbard, A.E. Hoeglund, C.L. Tilney, E.M. Olesin, J.H. Paul. 2017. Real-time Molecular Quantification of the Florida Red Tide Dinoflagellate and the Development of a Volunteer-attended Handheld Sensor Network. College of Marine Science - 50th Anniversary Student Poster Session. Poster Presenter.
D.M. Nieuwkerk, R.M. Ulrich, K.A. Hubbard, A.E. Hoeglund, C.L. Tilney, E.M. Olesin, J.H. Paul. 2016. Real-time Molecular Quantification of the Florida Red Tide Dinoflagellate and the Development of a Volunteer-attended Handheld Sensor Network. American Society for Microbiology – Florida Branch. Poster Presenter.
​
J.H. Paul, R.M. Ulrich, D.M. Nieuwkerk, K.A. Hubbard, A.E. Hoeglund, B.A. Kirkpatrick, T.A. Fanara, C.P. Dorsey. 2016. Novel Sensor Technology Sniffs Out Fake Grouper and Red Tide. Florida State Senate – Invited Presenter. Poster Presenter.
D.M. Nieuwkerk, R.M. Ulrich, J.H. Paul, B.A. Kirkpatrick, K.A. Hubbard, T.A. Fenara, S.E. Bruzek, A.E. Hoeglund. 2016. Molecular Quantification of the Florida Red Tide Dinoflagellate and the Development of Low Cost, Volunteer-attended Handheld Sensor Networks. Ocean Sciences Meeting. Oral Presenter.
D.M. Nieuwkerk, R.M. Ulrich, J.H. Paul. 2016. Molecular Quantification of the Florida Red Tide Dinoflagellate and the Development of Low Cost, Handheld Sensor Networks. College of Marine Science Graduate Student Symposium. Oral Presenter. Awarded 2nd Place.
Presentations
