Investigation into the hemolytic activity of tentacle venom from jellyfish Cyanea nozakii Kishinouye

Cyanea nozakii Kishinouy e( C. nozakii), a giant cnidarian of the class Scyphomedusae, order Semaeostomeae and family Cyaneidae, is widely distributed in the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea, and is abundant from late summer to early autumn. Venom produced by C. nozakii during mass agglomerations can contaminate seawater resulting in death of the halobios and seriously damage commercial fisheries. Swimmers and fishermen commonly suff er painful stings from this jellyfish, resulting in local edema, tingling, breathing difficulties, depressed blood pressure and even death. Such eff ects arise from the complex mixture of biologically active molecules that make up jellyfish venom. In the present study, the hemolytic activity of venom from tentacles of C. nozakii and factors aff ecting its activity were assayed. The HU 50( defined as the amount of protein required to lyse 50 % of erythrocytes) of the venom against dove and chicken erythrocytes was 34 and 59 μg/m L, respectively. Carboxylmethyl chitosan and glycerol could increase hemolytic activity at concentrations greater than 0.06% and 0.2 mol/L, respectively.     

Investigation into the hemolytic activity of tentacle venom from jellyfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyanea nozakii</Emphasis> Kishinouye

Cyanea nozakii Kishinouy e (C. nozakii), a giant cnidarian of the class Scyphomedusae, order Semaeostomeae and family Cyaneidae, is widely distributed in the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea, and is abundant from late summer to early autumn. Venom produced by C. nozakii during mass agglomerations can contaminate seawater resulting in death of the halobios and seriously damage commercial fisheries. Swimmers and fishermen commonly suff er painful stings from this jellyfish, resulting in local edema, tingling, breathing difficulties, depressed blood pressure and even death. Such effects arise from the complex mixture of biologically active molecules that make up jellyfish venom. In the present study, the hemolytic activity of venom from tentacles of C. nozakii and factors aff ecting its activity were assayed. The HU₅₀ ( defined as the amount of protein required to lyse 50 % of erythrocytes) of the venom against dove and chicken erythrocytes was 34 and 59 μg/mL, respectively. Carboxylmethyl chitosan and glycerol could increase hemolytic activity at concentrations greater than 0.06% and 0.2 mol/L, respectively.     

Intraguild predation by polyps of three scyphozoan jellyfish: Nemopilema nomurai,Aurelia coerulea,and Rhopilema esculentum

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - Jellyfish blooms occur worldwide and have resulted in serious problems in tourism, fisheries, coastal industries, and the marine ecosystem. The life cycle of...     

Comparative analysis of methods for concentrating venom from jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye

In this study, several methods were compared for the efficiency to concentrate venom from the tentacles of jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye. The results show that the methods using either freezing-dry or gel absorption to remove water to concentrate venom are not applicable due to the low concentration of the compounds dissolved. Although the recovery efficiency and the total venom obtained using the dialysis dehydration method are high, some proteins can be lost during the concentrating process. Comparing to the lyophilization method, ultrafiltration is a simple way to concentrate the compounds at high percentage but the hemolytic activities of the proteins obtained by ultrafiltration appear to be lower. Our results suggest that overall lyophilization is the best and recommended method to concentrate venom from the tentacles of jellyfish. It shows not only the high recovery efficiency for the venoms but high hemolytic activities as well.     

Comparative analysis of methods for concentrating venom from jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye

In this study, several methods were compared for the efficiency to concentrate venom from the tentacles of jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye. The results show that the methods using either freezing-dry or gel absorption to remove water to concentrate venom are not applicable due to the low concentration of the compounds dissolved. Although the recovery efficiency and the total venom obtained using the dialysis dehydration method are high, some proteins can be lost during the concentrating process. Comparing to the lyophilization method, ultrafiltration is a simple way to concentrate the compounds at high percentage but the hemolytic activities of the proteins obtained by ultrafiltration appear to be lower. Our results suggest that overall lyophilization is the best and recommended method to concentrate venom from the tentacles of jellyfish. It shows not only the high recovery efficiency for the venoms but high hemolytic activities as well. Supported by the Award Foundation of Scientific Research for Excellent Young and Middle-age Scientist of Shandong Province (No. 2006BS07003) and the Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-YW-R-104)     

Isolation and characterization of venom from nematocysts of jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye

The present work is the first report of the biochemical characterization of the venom from nematocysts of the jellyfish Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye. The nematocysts were isolated by autolysis and centrifugation and separated by flow cytometry. Four types of nematocysts were identified: mastigophores, euryteles, and atrichous and holotrichous isorhiza. SDS-PAGE and amino acid analyses demonstrated that most of the proteins in the nematocyst extract were between 10 kDa and 40 kDa, and that glutamic acid was the main amino acid. A hemolytic activity assay showed that the activity of the nematocyst venom (RNV) was strongest in Tris-HCl buffer (50 mmol/L, pH 7.8, 5% glycerol, 0.5 mmol/L EDTA, 0.1 mol/L NaCl). The hemolytic activity was related to protein concentration and the HU50 against chicken erythrocytes was 0.91 μg/mL.     

南海区4种鲷鱼精子的适盐性比较

研究了盐度对黄鳍鲷SparuslatusHouttuyn、平鲷Rhabdosargussarba（Forskal）、黑鲷Sparusmacrocephalus（Basilewsky）和真鲷Pagrsomusmajor（TemmincketSchlegel）4种鲷鱼精子活力的影响。对南海区4种鲷鱼精子的适盐性及其活力进行了比较,黄鳍鲷、平鲷、黑鲷和真鲷精子激活所需的最低盐度分别为8、10、＞8、＞10;激活的最适盐度则分别为21、22、25、25,与之相应的精子活动（涡动）时间分别为14．7、17．7、17．2、18．0min;在高盐条件（盐度40左右）下,黄鳍鲷精子的适应性最强,精子活力最好,其次是黑鲷、真鲷的精子,平鲷精子对高盐条件的适应性最差。     

Comparative study of the nutritional composition and toxic elements of farmed and wild Chanodichthys mongolicus

Information of the difference in quality between farmed and wild fish is central to better ensuring fish products produced in aquaculture meet regulatory and consumer requirements.Proximate composition,amino acid and fatty acid profiles,and toxic elements contents of farmed and wild Chanodichthys mongolicus were established and compared.Significantly higher crude protein content while lower moisture content in farmed fish compared to wild fish were observed(P0.05).The percentages of total amino acids(TAA),total essential amino acids(TEAA),total non-essential amino acids(TNEAA)and total delicious amino acids(TDAA) in farmed fish were all significantly higher than those in the wild equivalent(PO.05).Compared to the FAO/WHO recommended reference values,the ratios of TEAA/TAA(39.84%-40.33%) were comparable to 40%and TEAA/TNEAA(66.22%-67.60%) were above 60%.Fatty acid profiles in both fanned and wild C.mongolicus were dominated by monounsaturated fatty acid(MUFA),with farmed fish contained much more MUFA content compared to wild counterpart(P0.05).Notably,wild fish exhibited significantly higher levels of total polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA) including eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) than farmed fish(P0.05).The EPA(C_(20:5n3))and linoleic acid(C_(18:2n6)) were the predominant PUFA in wild and fanned C.mongolicus,respectively.Moreover,farmed fish displayed an overall lower toxic element levels(As,Cd,Pb and Hg) in comparison with wild fish,and both were far lower than the established limit standard.In conclusion,our results suggest that the nutritional quality of farmed C.mongolicus was inferior to their wild counterpart with respect to fatty acids nutrition,and therefore further studies should focus on the improving C.mongolicus diet in order to enhance the overall nutritional composition.     

Comparative study on the organoleptic quality of wild and farmed large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - To fill the blank in systematic study on the organoleptic quality of large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea, we analyzed the organoleptic quality of the fish...     

A Comparative study on the nonspecific immunity of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei ever inhabiting freshwater and seawater

A study on the nonspecific immunity of Litopenaeus vannamei ever inhabiting freshwater and seawater was carried out at different molt stages by comparing their total hemocyte count(THC) and respiratory burst(RB) and activity of phenol oxidase(PO), nitric oxide synthase(NOS) and lysozyme(LY). Two-way ANOVA showed that salinity and molt stage independently affected THC and RB and the activity of PO, NOS and LY of juvenile L. vannamei significantly(P 0.05). The THC and RB and the activity of NOS gradually increased from the post-molt stages(A and B) to the pre-molt stages(D0–D3), which were common in shrimps inhabiting freshwater and seawater. The activity of PO peaked at the inter-molt stage(C), and touched the lowest at the post-molt stage in freshwater and pre-molt stage in seawater. The activity of LY was stable over the molt cycle. The RB and the activity of PO, NOS and LY of juvenile L. vannamei were significantly lower in freshwater than in seawater; whereas THC was significantly higher in freshwater than in seawater(P 0.05). It was concluded that the post-molt stage(especially stage A) was critical to shrimp culture, which should be intensively attended when L. vannamei was cultured in freshwater.     

Characterization and antioxidant activities of marine pepsin soluble collagen from the skin of yellow goosefish Lophius litulon

Characteristics and antioxidant activities of pepsin-soluble collagen(PSC) from yellow goosefish( Lophius litulon) skins were investigated. PSC was characterized as a type I collagen, and its imino acid content was 193 residues/1 000 residues. PSC's denaturation temperature was ~17.56°C and Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed the presence of triple helices. Solubility analysis showed good solubility at acidic pH(1–6) or low Na Cl concentrations(≤2%). PSC showed scavenging activity against hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, PSC could protect D-galactose-induced skin aging by significantly controlling malondialdehyde formation and improving the activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione, and hydroxyproline. PSC may be a promising antioxidant in appropriate applications.     

Comparative study of otolith and sulcus morphology for stock discrimination of yellow drum along the Chinese coast

Otolith morphology is widely used for fish stock identification.The sulcus,a structure on the medial side of the otolith,is an important feature in morphological analysis.This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using sulcus morphology for stock identification and to compare its performance with commonly used otolith morphology analysis.Otoliths were collected and analyzed from three geographical groups(the Huanghe(Yellow)River estuary,HHE;the Jiaozhou Bay,JZB;and the Changjiang(Yangtze)River estuary,CJE)of yellow drum Nibea albiftora.The results show that the analysis of sulcus morphology based on shape indices(SIs),elliptic Fourier coefficients(EFc),and a combination of the two parameters identified stocks at overall classification rates of 51.0%,72.5%,and 73.2%,respectively.These classification rates are similar to those obtained using otolith morphology analysis(57.0%,73.8%,and76.5%by SIs,EFc,and their combination,respectively).The findings suggest that sulcus morphology is comparable to the commonly used otolith morphology for identifying stocks of sciaenids,such as the yellow drum.For both otolith and sulcus morphology,EFc could identify the stocks more efficiently than SIs,while the combination of SIs and EFc was even better.     

SCREENING FOR ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES IN SOME MARINE ALGAE FROM THE FUJIAN COAST OF CHINA WITH THREE DIFFERENT SOLVENTS

Three different solvents viz ethanol, acetone and methanol-toluene (3:1) were used to extract antibiotics from 23 species of marine algae belonging to the Chlomphyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta. Their crude extracts were tested for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Among them, the ethanol extract showed the strongest activity against the bacteria and fungi tested. Four species of the Rhodophyta (Laurenc/a okamurai, Dasya scoparia, Grateloupia filicina and plocamium telfairiae ) showed a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity. Every solvent extract from the four species was active against all the bacteria tested. The test bacterium Pseudomonas solancearum and the fungus Penicilium citrinum were most sensitive to the extracts of marine algae. In general, the extracts of seaweeds inhibited bacteria more strongly than fungi and species of the Rhodophyta showed the greatest activity against the bacteria and fungi tested.     

Comparative study of hydrographic conditions for algal bloom formation in the coastal waters of east and west of Hong Kong during 1998

Phytoplankton abundance was found to be positively correlated with seasonal changes of seawater temperature in Port Shelter and Lamma Channel, Hong Kong in 1998. Rising water temperature from around 20°C to 25°C coincided with an increase in phytoplankton abundance at both locations. Heavy rains from June to September reduced salinity from 30 to 20, but the decrease in salinity was not correlated with a decline in phytoplankton abundance. In spring 1998, over 0.6×106 cells dm-3 and 0.1×106 cells dm-3 of the...     

Antialgal and antilarval activities of bioactive compounds extracted from the marine dinoflagellate <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amphidinium carterae</Emphasis>

With the global ban on the application of organotin-based marine coatings by the International Maritime Organization, the development of environmentally friendly, low-toxic and nontoxic antifouling compounds for marine industries has become an urgent need. Marine microorganisms have been considered as a potential source of natural antifoulants. In this study, the antifouling potential of marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae, the toxic and red-tide microalgae, was investigated. We performed a series of operations to extract the bioactive substances from Amphidinium carterae and tested their antialgal and antilarval activities. The crude extract of Amphidinium carterae showed significant antialgal activity and the EC₅₀ value against Skeletonema costatum was 55.4 μg mL^?1. After purification, the isolated bioactive substances (the organic extract C) exhibited much higher antialgal and antilarval activities with EC₅₀ of 12.9 μg mL^?1 against Skeletonema costatum and LC₅₀ of 15.1 μg mL^?1 against Amphibalanus amphitrite larvae. Subsequently, IR, Q-TOFMS, and GC-MS were utilized for the structural elucidation of the bioactive compounds, and a series of unsaturated and saturated 16- to 22-carbon fatty acids were detected. The data suggested the bioactive compounds isolated from Amphidinium carterae exhibited a significant inhibiting effect against the diatom Skeletonema costatum and Amphibalanus amphitrite larvae, and could be substitutes for persistent, toxic antifouling compounds.     

Formation of an anticyclonic eddy and the mechanism involved: a case study using cruise data from the northern South China Sea

Data from satellite altimetry and in situ observations together with the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model(HYCOM)reanalysis data were used to investigate the mechanism and formation of an anticyclonic eddy in the northeastern South China Sea(SCS).Analysis of water mass using cruise data indicated that the water captured in the eddy differs from those in the SCS,the Kuroshio intrusion,and the eddy-forming region.Data from sea surface height(SSH)and sea level anomaly(SLA)indicate that the eddy formed due both to the Kuroshio intrusion and the local circulation in the SCS.The Kuroshio intrusion is present at the start of the eddy growth(March 5-9)before Kuroshio leaps the Luzon Strait.The eddy then becomes larger and stronger in the absence of the Kuroshio intrusion.From the eddy budget of the HYCOM reanalysis data,the formation of the eddy goes in three steps.By the third step,the eddy had become affected by variations of local SCS circulation,which is more strongly than in the first step in which it is affected more by the Kuroshio intrusion.The variability of the temperature and salinity inside the eddy provide a support to this conclusion.The water in the SCS intruded into the eddy from the southeast,which decrease the salinity gradually in the southern part of the eddy during the growth period.     

Comparative study of epiphytic algal communities on Typha latifolia L. and Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud in the shallow Gala Lake (European Part of Turkey)

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - The aim of this study was to determine the species composition, biodiversity and, relative abundance of epiphytic algae and their relationship with...     

米兰科维奇旋回识别与天文标尺的建立:以莫索湾地区莫21井三工河组一段为例

依据米兰科维奇理论识别划分旋回，是对传统层序地层学的有力补充，具备高等时约束性，可实现高分辨率旋回识别与高精度等时地层格架的建立。莫索湾地区是准噶尔盆地油气勘探的有利区域之一，其中三工河组一段发育了有效的、成规模的致密气储集层。利用自然伽马测井数据，通过频谱分析等方法，对研究区目标层位进行了米兰科维奇信号识别与旋回划分。以405 ka周期滤波曲线作为基准，借助三工河组底界地质年龄，建立了浮动天文标尺。研究表明，三工河组一段存在米兰科维奇旋回。短期偏心率125 ka周期控制厚度约为29.73 m的旋回；斜率54 ka周期控制厚度约为12.47 m的旋回；岁差24 ka周期控制厚度约为5.62 m的旋回。三工河组一段地质年龄为189.951~190.800 Ma，共识别出了7个短期基准面旋回，由此划分出了7个五级层序，沉积速率从下到上，虽呈现出“减小-增大-持续减小-持续增大”的趋势，但整体变化不大；发育了B1、B2、C1三种类型的短期基准面旋回。      

南海南部陆缘盆地裂陷-漂移-前陆期构造演化及沉积响应:以礼乐盆地为例

通过礼乐盆地构造-地层-沉积分析，查明了其构造演化及沉积充填特征，揭示了其与南海扩张事件的成因联系，为南海边缘海演化研究提供了参考。研究结果表明:礼乐盆地新生代构造-沉积演化经历了3个差异显著的阶段，即古新世-早渐新世陆缘裂陷-滨浅海碎屑岩沉积阶段、晚渐新世-早中新世裂离漂移-浅海碳酸盐岩沉积阶段、中中新世以来周缘前陆挠曲沉降-区域差异沉积阶段。古新世-早渐新世，古南海向东南俯冲，华南古陆陆缘因水平引张力作用发生被动裂陷，形成礼乐盆地；此时以滨浅海环境为主，受碎屑物源供给控制，在盆地西北部发育一系列规模相对较大的辫状河三角洲，礼乐盆地东部、南部邻近古南海，仅在孤立隆起边缘发育规模较小的扇三角洲。晚渐新世-早中新世，古南海持续俯冲，新南海扩张，礼乐-巴拉望地块裂离华南古陆，向南漂移，盆地沉降缓慢，断层活动弱；此时以浅海-半深海环境为主，碎屑物源匮乏，盆地北部发育大型碳酸盐岩台地和生物礁，南部总体为半深海环境。中中新世以来，新南海扩张停止，礼乐-巴拉望地块向菲律宾岛弧俯冲碰撞，礼乐盆地进入周缘前陆期，以非对称挠曲沉降为特点，水深增大，断层活动增强；此时以半深海-浅海为主，盆地北部总体以碳酸盐岩台地和生物礁为特色，盆地南部局部发育深水重力流沉积。礼乐盆地构造-沉积演化与古南海俯冲-消亡、新南海扩张-关闭过程密切相关。