Test écotoxicologique sur microalgues et lecteur de plaques : mesures d'activités enzymatiques sur cellules in vivo. Application à l'évaluation de la qualité du milieu

A new method for the assessment of several contaminant effects on marine microalgae (Tetraselmis suesica, Skeletonema costatum) has been developped. The method is based on the measure of cells esterase activity using a fluorimetric stain, fluorescein diacetate (FDA). The experiments are performed in microplates using a fluorimetric microplate reader. The different steps of the experiments and the data processing are controlled by an original specific software. Application of the system for rapid ecotoxicological tests (determination of LC 50) and for assessment of environment quality by observation of water samples are proposed.