Mediterranean mussel faces ‘imminent extinction’

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 374 (6570) ◽  
pp. 922-923
Author(s):  
Erik Stokstad
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Mussel

scholarly journals A Comparative Assessment of the Chronic Effects of Micro- and Nano-Plastics on the Physiology of the Mediterranean Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 649
Author(s):  
Marco Capolupo ◽  
Paola Valbonesi ◽  
Elena Fabbri
Keyword(s):  
Mytilus Galloprovincialis ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Activity ◽  
Particle Sizes ◽  
Glutathione S Transferase ◽  
Phase Ii Metabolism ◽  
Chronic Effects ◽  
Mediterranean Mussel ◽  
Metabolism Enzyme ◽  
The Mediterranean

The ocean contamination caused by micro- and nano-sized plastics is a matter of increasing concern regarding their potential effects on marine organisms. This study compared the effects of a 21-day exposure to 1.5, 15, and 150 ng/L of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MP, 3-µm) and nanoplastics (PS-NP, 50-nm) on a suite of biomarkers measured in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Endpoints encompassed immunological/lysosomal responses, oxidative stress/detoxification parameters, and neurotoxicological markers. Compared to PS-MP, PS-NP induced higher effects on lysosomal parameters of general stress. Exposures to both particle sizes increased lipid peroxidation and catalase activity in gills; PS-NP elicited greater effects on the phase-II metabolism enzyme glutathione S-transferase and on lysozyme activity, while only PS-MP inhibited the hemocyte phagocytosis, suggesting a major role of PS particle size in modulating immunological/detoxification pathways. A decreased acetylcholinesterase activity was induced by PS-NP, indicating their potential to impair neurological functions in mussels. Biomarker data integration in the Mussel Expert System identified an overall greater health status alteration in mussels exposed to PS-NP compared to PS-MP. This study shows that increasing concentrations of nanoplastics may induce higher effects than microplastics on the mussel’s lysosomal, metabolic, and neurological functions, eventually resulting in a greater impact on their overall fitness.

scholarly journals Tissue-scale microbiota of the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and its relationship with the environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 717 ◽  
pp. 137209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margherita Musella ◽  
Rasika Wathsala ◽  
Teresa Tavella ◽  
Simone Rampelli ◽  
Monica Barone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mytilus Galloprovincialis ◽  
Mediterranean Mussel ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Antiprotozoan and Antiviral Activities of Non-Cytotoxic Truncated and Variant Analogues of Mussel Defensin

2004 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Roch ◽  
Alain Beschin ◽  
Eric Bernard
Keyword(s):  
Leishmania Major ◽  
Marine Invertebrates ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Amino Acid Replacement ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Antibacterial And Antifungal Activities ◽  
Mediterranean Mussel ◽  
Antiviral Activities ◽  
Antibacterial And Antifungal ◽  
Dose Dependent

We previously reported the crucial role displayed by loop 3 of defensin isolated from the Mediterranean mussel,Mytilus galloprovincialis, in antibacterial and antifungal activities. We now investigated antiprotozoan and antiviral activities of some previously reported fragments B, D, E, P and Q. Two fragments (D and P) efficiently killedTrypanosoma brucei(ID50 4–12 μM) andLeishmania major(ID50 12–45 μM) in a time/dose-dependent manner. Killing ofT. bruceistarted as early as 1 h after initiation of contact with fragment D and reached 55% mortality after 6 h. Killing was temperature dependent and a temperature of 4°C efficiently impaired the ability to killT. brucei. Fragments bound to the entire external epithelium ofT. brucei. Prevention of HIV-1 infestation was obtained only with fragments P and Q at 20 μM. Even if fragment P was active on both targets, the specificity of fragments D and Q suggest that antiprotozoan and antiviral activities are mediated by different mechanisms. Truncated sequences of mussel defensin, including amino acid replacement to maintain 3D structure and increased positive net charge, also possess antiprotozoan and antiviral capabilities. New alternative and/or complementary antibiotics can be derived from the vast reservoir of natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) contained in marine invertebrates.

Hourly-resolution Analysis of a Mussel Shell: Influence of Normal Tide and the Great Tsunami

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuji Sano ◽  
Tomoyo Okumura ◽  
Naoko Murakami-Sugihara ◽  
Kentaro Tanaka ◽  
Takanori Kagoshima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tohoku Earthquake ◽  
Growth Line ◽  
Mussel Shell ◽  
The 2011 Tohoku Earthquake ◽  
Northeastern Japan ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Endogenous Clock ◽  
Mediterranean Mussel ◽  
Resolution Analysis ◽  
Cyclic Changes

Abstract We report here hourly variations of Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios in a Mediterranean mussel shell (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected at the Otsuchi bay, on the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan. This bivalve was living in the intertidal zone, where such organisms are known to form a daily or bidaily growth line comprised of abundant organic matter. Mg/Ca ratios of the inner surface of the outer shell layer, corresponding to the most recent date, show cyclic changes at 25-90 mm intervals, while no valuable variations are observed in Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios. High Mg/Ca ratios were probably established when the bivalve was located at low tide with a reduced supply of Ca from seawater. Immediately following the great tsunami induced by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, Mg/Ca enrichment occurred, up to 10 times that of normal low tide, while apparent Ba/Ca enrichment was observed for only a few days following the event, implementing a proxy of the past tsunami. Following the tsunami, periodic peaks and troughs in Mg/Ca continued, perhaps due to a biological memory effect as an endogenous clock.

Styrene impairs normal embryo development in the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

2018 ◽  
Vol 201 ◽  
pp. 58-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajapaksha Haddokara Gedara Rasika Wathsala ◽  
Silvia Franzellitti ◽  
Morena Scaglione ◽  
Elena Fabbri
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Mytilus Galloprovincialis ◽  
Normal Embryo ◽  
Mediterranean Mussel ◽  
The Mediterranean
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