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.     

南极半岛外过去冰流的深海底证据

南极冰盖和冰帽的过去范围和将来稳定性是理解气候变化后果的主要依据,因为南极大陆的９９%被冰覆盖,冰下侵蚀和搬运为大量陆源沉积物输送到海底提供了唯一的手段,在以前的冰川地形中,无论在陆地上还是海洋中,带状地貌形态与先前的冰流平行非常普遍,并且可用于重建古冰流方向。这种地形形成于运动的冰流之下,由于它出现于大约２１ｋａ的末次冰期极盛时,无论是岸上和浅海冰盖的全球范围和厚度都比目前大。从那时起,在南极西部冰盖失去了２／３的质量。冰川后退引起了陆地上和海底之上这种大规模构造的出露,它们或多或少地被后来地质作用重塑…     

CHARACTERISTICS ON INTERANNUAL VARIATIONS OF NORTH PACIFIC SST AND ITS RELATION TO EAST ASIA CLIMATE

The interannual variations of the monthly sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Pacific (including Equatorial East Pacific) during 1951-1980 are analysed by means of EOF method. The findings are:(1) In the cold and warm ocean current areas, such as the North Pacific Current, the California Current and the Equatorial East Pacific areas, the convergence speeds are the fastest, while in the Kuroshio and the western part of the North Equatorial Current areas they are fast only in winter.(2) The physical features of the first 3 eigenvectors are obvious. The first eigenvector shows that the SST values are high in the south and low in the north in the latitudinal distribution of the SST field. The warm current area, i.e. the northwestern part of the North Pacific is positive and the cold current area, i.e. the southeastern part of the North Pacific including the Eastern Equatorial Pacific is negative. The zero line of the 2nd eigenvector field runs from northeast to southwest, in the same direction as the     

周期性Ca2+ 、Mg2+浓度波动对凡纳滨对虾稚虾摄食、生长和能量代谢物含量的影响

养殖水环境中的离子浓度会因气候和季节的变化发生波动,对凡纳滨对虾的摄食、存活和生长产生影响。在实验室条件下,凡纳滨对虾养殖水体Ca~(2+)/Mg~(2+)保持在1∶3左右,以恒定Ca~(2+)浓度150 mg/L、Mg~(2+)浓度450 mg/L为对照组(CC0组),4 d为一个离子浓度波动周期,分别以Ca~(2+)浓度100 mg/L、Mg~(2+)浓度300 mg/L和Ca~(2+)浓度45 mg/L、Mg~(2+)浓度135 mg/L为离子浓度波动处理组(CCM1组和CCM2组),研究Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)浓度波动对凡纳滨对虾稚虾生长和鳃中能量代谢物质含量的影响。结果表明:在本实验条件下,Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)浓度波动对凡纳滨对虾稚虾的存活无显著影响。在CCM1组中,对虾的食物转化效率(FCE)、特定生长率(SGR)显著高于CC0组和CCM2组对虾(P0.05),蜕皮率也达到最高,但蜕皮率与其他两组差异不显著(P0.05)。在检测出的21种能量代谢物质中,丙酮酸等3种能量代谢物含量随水体Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)浓度波动幅度的升高而降低,且在CC0组对虾体内含量较高;草酰乙酸等4种能量代谢物含量随水体Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)浓度波动幅度的升高而降低,且在CCM1组对虾体内含量较高;NAD+等14种能量代谢物含量随水体Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)浓度波动幅度的升高而升高。其中,NADP+、环腺苷酸、丙酮酸和α-酮戊二酸的含量变化达到显著水平(P0.05)。研究结果表明:周期性Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)浓度波动条件下,凡纳滨对虾具有生长差异,且在能量平衡上产生积极响应。适宜范围内的Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)浓度波动,促进凡纳滨对虾的生长,这与其能量储备和平衡相关。     

五种植物提取液的抗鱼病菌和抗鱼病毒效应(英文)

本文旨在探索用廉价的野生植物防治鱼病。所用的植物有牛繁缕(Stellaria aqu-atica),双花凤仙(Impatiens biflora),夜来香(Oenothera biennis),艾草(Artem-isia vulgaris)和忍冬(Lonicera japonica)。用作试验的鱼病菌共13种(18个菌株),分属于气单孢菌属、假单孢菌属、爱德华氏菌属、耶尔森氏菌属、弧菌属。所用的鱼病毒为传染性胰脏坏死病毒IPNV,传染性造血组织坏死病毒IHNV。上述病原微生物均获自美国马里兰大学微生物系。实验结果表明,五种植物提取液均有不同程度的抗鱼病菌作用,其中以牛繁缕的抗菌谱最广,作用力最强。忍冬、艾草、牛繁缕有抗鱼病毒作用。其中以忍冬的效果最好,它能抑制IPNV和IHNV。而艾草和牛繁缕只能抑制IHNV。     

Metal concentrations in sediments and clams in four Moroccan estuaries

Metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mn and Fe) were analyzed seasonally over three years in sediments and in tissues of the clam Scrobicularia plana in four Moroccan Atlantic estuaries: Loukkos, Sebou, Bou Regreg and Oum er Rbia. Of these metals, Cd was at the lowest concentrations in sediment. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, and to a lesser extent Ni, in sediments suggest greater contamination in Sebou and Bou Regreg than in the other estuaries. The fluctuations of Mn and Fe concentrations in the fine surface sediments reflect their continental origin and show seasonal variations that indicate soil run-off following rain events. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, and especially Ni in clam tissues in these estuaries were generally higher than in some other common bioindicator bivalve species. The seasonal variations in S. plana's tissue metal concentrations are linked to patterns of reproductive activity for all metals except Cd and possibly Zn, whose tissue concentrations may be regulated. Mn and Fe concentrations in S. plana were positively correlated to sediment levels of these metals.     

Assessing degradation capability of aerobic indigenous microflora in PAH-contaminated brackish sediments

A study was conducted to determine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) distribution and microbial population changes in brackish sediments from an Italian lagoon included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. The presence and level of PAH-degrading bacteria were estimated by the most probable number (MPN) enumeration technique, whereas degradation capability towards target compounds was checked against loss of spiked PAHs (Phenanthrene, Anthracene and Fluoranthene) in MPN tubes after incubation in optimal conditions. Chemical analyses and microbiological counts suggested a potential for PAHs biodegradation by natural occurring populations of sediment microorganisms, thus indicating an "optimal range" in sediment PAHs concentrations, outside of which the natural selection of the indigenous microflora did not occur. The MPN procedure here described, provided an effective and reliable way to simultaneously determine microbial population densities and subsequent confirmation of the biodegradation capability of sediment indigenous microflora when exposed to laboratory and environmental concentrations of PAHs.     

Upper temperature tolerances of exotic brackish-water mussel, Mytilopsis leucophaeata (Conrad): an experimental study

The dark false mussel, Mytilopsis leucophaeata is an important mussel colonising the brackish-water systems of temperate and subtropical regions. Of late it has earned notoriety as a biofouling species in industrial cooling water systems. However, there are no published data on the temperature tolerance of this species. This paper presents data on the upper temperature tolerance of this mussel from the view point of biofouling control using thermal methods. In addition to mortality, response of physiological activities such as oxygen consumption, filtration rate, foot activity and byssus thread production were also studied at temperatures varying from 5 to 35 degrees C. Experiments were also carried out to understand the effect of mussel size, breeding condition, nutritional status and acclimation conditions (temperature and salinity) on the mortality pattern. The physiological activities were significantly reduced at temperatures beyond 27.5 degrees C and ceased at 35 degrees C. In 20 mm size group mussels exposed to 37 degrees C, 50% mortality was observed after 85 min and 100% mortality after 113 min. The effect of mussel size on mortality at different temperatures was significant, with the larger size group mussels showing greater resistance. M. leucophaeata collected during the non-breeding season (December-April) were more tolerant to temperature than those collected during the breeding season (June-October). Nutritional status of the mussel had no significant influence on the thermal tolerance of the mussel: fed and starved (non-fed) mussels succumbed to temperature at comparable rates. The effect of acclimation temperature and acclimation salinity on M. leucophaeata mortality at different temperatures was significant. Survival time increased with increasing acclimation temperature and decreased with increasing salinity. In comparison with other co-occurring species such as Mytilus edulis and Dreissena polymorpha, M. leucophaeata appears to be more tolerant to high temperature stress.