principally of digestive organs. An impairment of larval survival and reproductive development anomalies and increases on the lysosomal destabilization in oysters’ hepatopancreas have been observed. Recently, in vitro assays have shown that HAB species such as Karenia brevis, Dinophysis acuminata, Alexandrium sp. affect viability and phagocytosis in bivalves’ immune cells significantly. Consequently studying the effects of harmful algae on bivalves’ immune system has recently become an area of great interest for researchers; various publications have demonstrated that hemocytes, as well as immune parameters, may be activated or modulated under the presence of several species of toxic microalgae. However, few studies have addressed gene expression changes in C. gigas in response to toxic algal exposure or to their toxins. Currently, a mussel cDNA digestive gland microarray fed for five weeks with OA contaminated nutrient reported a general upregulation of transcripts coding for stress proteins and those involved in cellular synthesis. The Pacific oyster C. gigas is a suspension-feeding bivalve mollusk, of great interest as a study model given its ecological, economic, public health, and genomic relevance because it has a completely sequenced genome. Medical advances have increased the survival rates of premature babies; however, blindness, deafness etc.. In later life, they may face complications such as motor and sensory impairment, learning difficulties and behavioral issues. Prematurity leads to an immediate and long term emotional and financial burden to families, communities and the health care system. Threatened preterm labor is defined as persistent premature uterine contractions between 20 and 37 weeks of gestation and may include other symptoms such as pelvic pressure, backache, increased vaginal discharge, menstrual-like cramps, bleeding/show and shortened cervix. Treatment of TPTL involves administration of tocolytic agents to temporarily inhibit uterine contractions and prolong the pregnancy up to 48 hours. This 48 hour window serves to achieve both the benefits of corticosteroid administration on fetal lung maturation as well as the ability to transport the woman to a tertiary hospital with advanced neonatal facilities. Generally, labor contractions in the majority of TPTL women will cease and they often continue their pregnancies to term ; while approximately 5% of these women will progress into true PTL and deliver a premature baby within 10 days. Thus, women in “false labor” are subjected to unnecessary hospitalization, medical intervention, psychologic stress, exposed to drug side effects and contribute to healthcare costs. For example, although corticosteroids augment fetal lung maturity and reduce respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage and neonatal mortality in premature infants, their longer term side effects remain unclear.