Measurement of DNA single-strand breaks in gill and hemolymph cells of mussels, Mytilus sp., collected on the French Atlantic Coast

DNA single-strand breaks were measured by the comet assay in both gill and hemolymph cells of mussels collected in 3 sampling areas of the French coast (Pointe du Castelli, Pen Bron and Saint-Nazaire Harbour). Whole mussel tissue samples were also collected for the chemical determination of PAH, PCB and heavy metal concentrations. In mussel, a higher level of DNA strand breaks was measured in gill than in hemolymph cells (p < 0.01). Despite a factor of contamination from 2 to 3 between sites, no difference in the extent of mussel DNA strand breaks was shown between sampling locations (p > 0.05), questioning the sensitivity of the assays used in biomonitoring studies.     

海洋微生物学的主要任务

海——微生物栖息的特殊环境。特殊的盐类成分,低温,高压,低浓度的有机物质,植物及动物区系的稀少等组成了微生物生命活动的广阔海洋区域一些主要生态特征。 海洋中最初的微生物学研究,早在上一世纪就已进行了,但足它们局限于较狭小的任务——     

A NEW MODEL FOR PEBBLE BEACH TRACER DISPERSAL

A series of eight tracer experiments were carried out over one year (1983) on a low energy, macro-tidal beach in South Wales, UK. Tracer movement was monitored and 30 pebbles adjacent to coloured tracer pebbles were measured. Measurements were of the A, B, and C axes, roundness, Maximum Projection Sphericity and Oblate-Prolate indices. Analysis shows that through time, the percentage rejection of these properties increased. It is theorised that the surface tracers are 'misfits' or 'rejects' which have not found their equilibrium position in the pebble facies.     

西南太平洋彭林海盆表层和埋藏锰结核成分和生长史

本文所研究的样品由《Hakurei—maru》号科学考察船进行的GH80—1和GH83—3两个航次所采集．这两次航行的目的是作为日本“中太平洋锰结核调查”五年计划(1979—1983)任务的一部分，在威克-塔希提横断层上进行地质调查(GSJ)。     

由偏顶蛤贝壳中稳定同位素剖面追溯海水温度记录

本文用在加拿大诺瓦·斯科舍省芬克湾采集到的两只活体偏顶蛤(Modiolus)贝壳上的氧同位素组成重建了过去十年间的底层海水温度记录,它也可作为一种独立的方法来确定贝壳上外生长线的沉积时间。由于对贝壳进行了密集采样(可多至每个贝壳沉积年份取15个样品),贝壳上的δ~(16)O变化反映了芬克湾底层海水的季节性变化。两只贝壳所得的温度剖面符合得很好,说明它们基本上是与真实的环境温度相对应的。本研究证明在海胆疾病爆发时底层海水的温度并没有异常升高,这说明疾病传播的关键因素是带病的生物体,而不是温度。同位素技术也说明了在贝壳外表面上可见的外生长线是年轮性的,它们是在每年冬季最低水温时沉积出来的。     

Population structure of Haliotis rubra from South Australia inferred from nuclear and mtDNA analyses

1Introduction ThemajorityofAustralia’sabalonefisheryex ports(5.135kt,worth＄216millionin2002～2003,ABARE2004)consistofblacklipabalone(HaliotisrubraLeach,1814).AssuchH.rubrais consideredasanimportantmarineresourcewithin Australia.Likemanyabalonespecieswor…     

Bacterial killing by Mytilus hemocyte monolayers as a model for investigating the signaling pathways involved in mussel immune defence

The signaling pathways involved in mussel immune defence were investigated utilizing a model of killing of Escherichia coli by Mytilus galloprovincialis hemocytes in a co-culture setting. In particular, the role played by different mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and by the production of eicosanoids were investigated utilising specific cell permeant, pharmacological enzyme inhibitors. Hemocyte pretreatment with the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 significantly reduced bacterial killing, whereas PD98059 (an inhibitor of ERK--extracellularly regulated kinase--MAPK activation) had no significant effect. Wortmannin also inhibited bacterial killing, indicating a crucial role for PI3-kinase activation in the immune response. Killing of E. coli was also reduced by inhibitors of both PLA2 and cyclooxygenase activities, indicating that eicosanoid production is involved in mediating the response to bacterial challenge. The results demonstrate that bacterial killing by mussel hemocytes is particularly sensitive to inhibitors of the key steps involved in the transduction of bacterial signals into the host cell. Moreover, these data indicate that the hemocyte bactericidal activity can be suitably utilized not only for identifying the signaling pathways involved in the response to bacterial infection, but also as a potential investigative-toxicology model to test drugs and contaminants for their effect on the overall mussel immune defence.