Jellyfish.

Proporciona una información básica para conocer las medusas, incluyendo su hábitat, la dieta, cómo se reproducen y las características físicas. El texto tiene dos niveles de dificultad y dos tamaños de letra para proporcionar una base para una mejor lectura. El segundo nivel es el de mayor dificultad con un vocabulario apropiado pensado para lectores más expertos. Tiene glosario.

The extract of the jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata promotes neurotoxic effects

Phyllorhiza punctata (P. punctata) is a jellyfish native to the southwestern Pacific. Herewith we present the biochemical and pharmacological characterization of an extract of the tentacles of P. punctata. The tentacles were subjected to three freezethaw cycles, homogenized, ultrafiltered, precipitated, centrifuged and lyophilized to obtain a crude extract (PHY-N). Paralytic shellfish poisoning compounds such as saxitoxin, gonyautoxin-4, tetrodotoxin and brevetoxin-2, as well as several secretory phospholipase A2 were identified. PHY-N was tested on autonomic and somatic neuromuscular preparations. In mouse vas deferens, PHY-N induced phasic contractions that reached a peak of 234 +/- 34.7% of control twitch height, which were blocked with either 100 mu m of phentolamine or 1m m of lidocaine. In mouse corpora cavernosa, PHY-N evoked a relaxation response, which was blocked with either L-NG-Nitroarginine methyl ester (0.5 m m) or 1m m of lidocaine. PHY-N (1, 3 and 10 mu g ml(-1)) induced an increase in tonus of the biventercervicis neuromuscular preparation that was blocked with pre-treatment of galamine (10 mu m). Administration of 6 mg kg(-1) PHY-N intramuscularly produced death in broilers by spastic paralysis. In conclusion, PHY-N induces nerve depolarization and nonspecifically increases neurotransmitter release. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Skin lesions in envenoming by cnidarians (Portuguese man-of-war and jellyfish): etiology and severity of accidents on the Brazilian coast

This work attempts to establish dermatological identification patterns for Brazilian enidarian species and it probable correlation with envenoming, severity In all observational prospective study, one hundred and twenty-eight patients from the North Coast re-ion of São Paulo State, Brazil were seen between 2002 and 2008. About 80% of these Showed only local effects (erythema, edema, and pain) with small, less than 20 cm, oval or round skin marks and impressions from Small tentacles. Approximately 20% of the victims had long, more than 20 cm, linear and crossed marks with frequent systemic phenomena, such as malaise, vomiting, dyspnea, and tachycardia. The former is compatible with the common hydromedusa from Southeast and Southern Brazil (Olindias sambaquiensis). The long linear marks with intense pain and systemic phenomena are compatible with envenoming, by the box jellyfish Tamoya haplonema and Chiropsalmus quadrumanus and the hydrozoan Portuguese man-of-war (Physalis physalis). There was an association between Skin marks and probable accident etiology. This simple observation rule can be indicative of severity as the Cubozoa Class (box jellyfish) and Portuguese man-of-war cause the most severe accidents. In such cases, medical attention, including intensive care, is important, as the systemic manifestations call be associated with death.

Desenvolvimento de produto tipo “snack” a base de carne mecanicamente separada de tilápia do Nilo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Processamento e caracterização de snack extrudado a partir de farinhas de quirera de arroz e de bandinha de feijão

Este trabalho teve por objetivo desenvolver nova formulação de snack por extrusão termoplástica a partir de mistura de farinhas de quirera de arroz e de bandinha de feijão, bem como avaliar o potencial nutricional, tecnológico e sensorial do novo produto. A farinha de bandinha de feijão carioca foi incorporada à farinha de quirera de arroz na proporção de 30%. O snack foi produzido em extrusora monorrosca, escala piloto. Os parâmetros de extrusão foram fixos, utilizando-se três zonas de extrusão com temperaturas de 40, 60 e 85 °C; velocidade do parafuso de 177 rpm; taxa de alimentação de 292 g.min-1, e matriz circular de 3,85 mm de diâmetro. A amostra de snack foi submetida a caracterizações fisicoquímica, tecnológica e sensorial. Observou-se efeito significativo da farinha de bandinha de feijão no aumento dos teores proteico e de fibras no snack obtido, quando comparada à farinha de quirera de arroz. Em relação às características tecnológicas do produto, obteve-se 0,17 g.cm-3 para densidade aparente, 7,75 para o índice de expansão e 435, g.f para a dureza instrumental. A formulação estudada foi aceita sensorialmente, com índice de aceitação para impressão global de 76%. Conclui-se que é possível produzir snacks por extrusão a partir da incorporação de 30% de farinha de bandinha de feijão à farinha de quirera de arroz, resultando em produto aceito sensorialmente e com adequado valor nutricional.

Jellyfish (Chrysaora lactea, Cnidaria, Semaeostomeae) aggregations in southern Brazil and consequences of stings in humans

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

CLEANER SHRIMP (CARIDEA: PALAEMONIDAE) ASSOCIATED WITH SCYPHOZOAN JELLYFISH

Shrimp are found in association with many hosts (sponges, anthozoans, mollusks, echinoids, ascidians and fish). Shrimp are rarely observed in association with jellyfish. The interaction between the cleaner shrimp Periclimenes paivai and jellyfish is poorly known, with only one published report for Brazilian waters. We add new information about this association, based on field and laboratory observations. Shrimp were collected from three locations on the coast Of Sao Paulo State (Cananeia, Santos and Sao Sebastiao) and from two species of scyphozoan rnedusae: Chrysaora lactea and Lychnorhiza lucerna. We classify the association as facultative commensalism, since the shrimp gain protection and probably feed on mucus produced by the jelly fish. The maximum carapace length of the shrimp collected was 9.2 min. Medusa bel I diameter ranged between about 10 and 19 cm for C. lactea and between 4.5 and 25 cm for L. lucerna. We also provide a list of records of Periclimenes in association with different scyphornedUsae, and additional information on the size and coloration of P. paivai.

Proteomic characterisation of toxins isolated from nematocysts of the South Atlantic jellyfish Olindias sambaquiensis

Surprisingly little is known of the toxic arsenal of cnidarian nematocysts compared to other venomous animals. Here we investigate the toxins of nematocysts isolated from the jellyfish Olindias sambaquiensis. A total of 29 unique ms/ms events were annotated as potential toxins homologous to the toxic proteins from diverse animal phyla, including conesnails, snakes, spiders, scorpions, wasp, bee, parasitic worm and other Cnidaria. Biological activities of these potential toxins include cytolysins, neurotoxins, phospholipases and toxic peptidases. The presence of several toxic enzymes is intriguing, such as sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase B (SMase B) that has only been described in certain spider venoms, and a prepro-haystatin P-IIId snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP) that activates coagulation factor X, which is very rare even in snake venoms. Our annotation reveals sequence orthologs to many representatives of the most important superfamilies of peptide venoms suggesting that their origins in higher organisms arise from deep eumetazoan innovations. Accordingly, cnidarian venoms may possess unique biological properties that might generate new leads in the discovery of novel pharmacologically active drugs.

Desarrollo de galletas tipo snack con perfil lipídico mejorado

Cuando se habla de alimentación saludable, se aconsejan cuatro comidas diarias y dos colaciones en base a frutas o lácteos. Sin embargo, existe una tendencia a limitar el número de comidas, debido al ritmo de vida que se lleva actualmente y, a su vez,a aumentar el número de ocasiones en el día donde se comen pequeñas cantidades de comidas a intervalos irregulares, especialmente “snacks". Convirtiéndose un componente muy importante de la dieta, siendo fuente de calorías adicionales que podrían o no estar indicados en el plan alimentario adecuado. El problema detona a partir de la última década, ya que ha crecido notablemente, en varios países del mundo (tanto en países desarrollados como en aquellos que se encuentran en vías de desarrollo), la prevalencia de sobrepeso y de obesidad, considerándose, por ello, una epidemia global y siendo la enfermedad crónica no transmisible más prevalente en estos tiempos (Archivos Argentinos de Pediatría, 2005). Reconociéndose como un gran problema de salud pública, según la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), que conlleva a otras enfermedades no transmisibles. Por esto, el consumidor comienza a preocuparse por tener una alimentación saludable y se hace necesario el desarrollo de snacks que se adapten a esta necesidad. El objetivo general de este proyecto es desarrollar galletas saladas tipo snack mejorando sus características nutricionales, rediseñando las formulaciones para que sean atractivas al consumo utilizando las propiedades beneficiosas a la salud del aceite de oliva virgen, por el alto contenido de ácidos grasos monoinsaturados, la buena relación de ácido graso linoleico (omega 6) y el ácido graso linolénico (omega 3), y por el contenido de sustancias antioxidantes. (Alonso, 1993). El desarrollo del producto comenzó con la pre-selección de 9 formulaciones de galletas que coincidieran con las características deseadas, estas fueron sometidas a una evaluación sensorial realizada por 20 evaluadores semi entrenados, resultando elegidas, cinco de ellas. Las formulaciones elegidas fueron sometidas a análisis físico-químicos, a fin de obtener el perfil lipídico de cada una de ellas y su composición centesimal. Una vez obtenida esta información, se efectuó una comparación con snacks que se encontraban el circuito comercial, en los años 2010 y 2014. Por otra parte, se realizó una nueva evaluación sensorial con 100 alumnos de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, a fin de determinar el grado de aceptación. Como conclusión, con respecto al perfil lipídico, se observó un mejoramiento destacado en ambas comparaciones, tanto con respecto a las galletas comerciales de la actualidad, y mucho más notorio, en las del año 2010. Además, se obtuvieron mejores características nutricionales, especialmente con respecto al contenido de sodio y de fibra, en relación al snack presente en el mercado. Desde el punto de vista organoléptico, todas las formulaciones tuvieron buena aceptación.

Biogeography of jellyfish in the North Atlantic

In recent years a global increase in jellyfish (i.e. Cnidarians and Ctenophores) abundance and a rise in the recurrence of jellyfish outbreak events have been largely debated, but a general consensus on this matter has not been achieved yet. Within this debate, it has been generally recognised that there is a lack of reliable data that could be analysed and compared to clarify whether indeed jellyfish are increasing throughout the world ocean as a consequence of anthropogenic impact and hydroclimatic variability. Here we describe different jellyfish data sets produced within the EU program EUROBASIN, which have been assembled with the aim of presenting an up to date overview on the diversity and standing stocks of North Atlantic jellyfish. Abundance and species composition were determined in samples collected in the epipelagic layer (0- 200m), using a net well adapted to quantitatively catching gelatinous zooplankton. The samples were collected in spring-summer (April-August) 2010-2013, in inshore and offshore North Atlantic waters, between 59-68LatN and 62W-5ELong. Jellyfish were also identified and counted in samples opportunistically collected by other sampling gears in the same region and in two coastal stations in the Bay of Biscay and in the Gulf of Cadiz. Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) samples collected in 2009-2012 were re-analysed with the aim of identifying the time and location of jellyfish blooms across the North Atlantic basin.

Stable isotope analysis of jellyfish in Kiel Fjord, Western Baltic Sea during POLARFUCHS cruises (June - October 2011)

A temporal change in stable isotope (SI) composition of jellyfish in the Kiel Fjord, Western Baltic Sea, was documented by analyzing delta13C, delta15N and delta34S of bell tissue of Aurelia aurita and Cyanea capillata in the period between June and October 2011. A strong and significant temporal change in all SI values of A. aurita was found, including an increase of ~3permille in delta13C, a decrease of ~4permille in delta15N and sharp decline of ~7permille in delta34S. Sampling from 18 m to surface.

Evolution of paired domains: Isolation and sequencing of jellyfish and hydra Pax genes related to Pax-5 and Pax-6

Pax proteins are a family of transcription factors with a highly conserved paired domain; many members also contain a paired-type homeodomain and/or an octapeptide. Nine mammalian Pax genes are known and classified into four subgroups: Pax-1/9, Pax-2/5/8, Pax-3/7, and Pax-4/6. Most of these genes are involved in nervous system development. In particular, Pax-6 is a key regulator that controls eye development in vertebrates and Drosophila. Although the Pax-4/6 subgroup seems to be more closely related to Pax-2/5/8 than to Pax-3/7 or Pax-1/9, its evolutionary origin is unknown. We therefore searched for a Pax-6 homolog and related genes in Cnidaria, which is the lowest phylum of animals that possess a nervous system and eyes. A sea nettle (a jellyfish) genomic library was constructed and two pax genes (Pax-A and -B) were isolated and partially sequenced. Surprisingly, unlike most known Pax genes, the paired box in these two genes contains no intron. In addition, the complete cDNA sequences of hydra Pax-A and -B were obtained. Hydra Pax-B contains both the homeodomain and the octapeptide, whereas hydra Pax-A contains neither. DNA binding assays showed that sea nettle Pax-A and -B and hydra Pax-A paired domains bound to a Pax-5/6 site and a Pax-5 site, although hydra Pax-B paired domain bound neither. An alignment of all available paired domain sequences revealed two highly conserved regions, which cover the DNA binding contact positions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Pax-A and especially Pax-B were more closely related to Pax-2/5/8 and Pax-4/6 than to Pax-1/9 or Pax-3/7 and that the Pax genes can be classified into two supergroups: Pax-A/Pax-B/Pax-2/5/8/4/6 and Pax-1/9/3/7. From this analysis and the gene structure, we propose that modern Pax-4/6 and Pax-2/5/8 genes evolved from an ancestral gene similar to cnidarian Pax-B, having both the homeodomain and the octapeptide.

Studies on the ecology of Carybdea marsupialis (Cubozoa) and jellyfish sting risk management

Programa LIFE Comisión Europea (LIFE NAT 080064 CUBOMED; Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente; Fundación Biodiversidad; Dirección General del Agua, Generalitat Valenciana; Fundació Baleària; El Portet de Denia.

Use of an Inverse Method for Time Series to Estimate the Dynamics of and Management Strategies for the Box Jellyfish Carybdea marsupialis

Frequently, population ecology of marine organisms uses a descriptive approach in which their sizes and densities are plotted over time. This approach has limited usefulness for design strategies in management or modelling different scenarios. Population projection matrix models are among the most widely used tools in ecology. Unfortunately, for the majority of pelagic marine organisms, it is difficult to mark individuals and follow them over time to determine their vital rates and built a population projection matrix model. Nevertheless, it is possible to get time-series data to calculate size structure and densities of each size, in order to determine the matrix parameters. This approach is known as a “demographic inverse problem” and it is based on quadratic programming methods, but it has rarely been used on aquatic organisms. We used unpublished field data of a population of cubomedusae Carybdea marsupialis to construct a population projection matrix model and compare two different management strategies to lower population to values before year 2008 when there was no significant interaction with bathers. Those strategies were by direct removal of medusae and by reducing prey. Our results showed that removal of jellyfish from all size classes was more effective than removing only juveniles or adults. When reducing prey, the highest efficiency to lower the C. marsupialis population occurred when prey depletion affected prey of all medusae sizes. Our model fit well with the field data and may serve to design an efficient management strategy or build hypothetical scenarios such as removal of individuals or reducing prey. TThis This sdfsdshis method is applicable to other marine or terrestrial species, for which density and population structure over time are available.