Scientists close in on 'cell from hell' lurking in Chesapeake Bay

The dinoflagellates blamed for killing thousands of fish and poisoning fisherman in Chesapeake Bay on America's mid-Atlantic coast are related to Pfiesteria piscida, a versatile single-cell organism that can take twenty distinct forms during its life-cycle. Pfiesteria piscicida was first identified by JoAnn Burkholder of North Carolina State University in 1992 and she attributes neurological symptoms she has experienced to contact with the organism in the laboratory. Congress is expected to give a $7 million emergency fund to the Centers for Disease Control for Pfiesteria research.