scholarly journals Natural chemical control of marine associated microbial communities by sessile Antarctic invertebrates

2020 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 197-210
Author(s):  
C Angulo-Preckler ◽  
E García-Lopez ◽  
B Figuerola ◽  
C Avila ◽  
C Cid

Organisms living in the sea are exposed to fouling by other organisms. Many benthic marine invertebrates, including sponges and bryozoans, contain natural products with antimicrobial properties, since microbes usually constitute the first stages of fouling. Extracts from 4 Antarctic sponges (Myxilla (Myxilla) mollis, Mycale tylotornota, Rossella nuda, and Anoxycalyx (Scolymastra) joubini) and 2 bryozoan species (Cornucopina pectogemma and Nematoflustra flagellata) were tested separately for antifouling properties in field experiments. The different crude extracts from these invertebrates were incorporated into a substratum gel at natural concentrations for an ecological approach. Treatments were tested by submerging plates covered by these substratum gels under water in situ during 1 lunar cycle (28 d) at Deception Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). Remarkably, the butanolic extracts of M. tylotornota and C. pectogemma showed complete growth inhibition of microscopic eukaryotic organisms, one of the succession stages involved in biofouling. Our results suggest that different chemical strategies may exist to avoid fouling, although the role of chemical defenses is often species-specific. Thus, the high specificity of the microbial community attached to the coated plates seems to be modulated by the chemical cues of the crude extracts of the invertebrates tested.

2002 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C PEREIRA ◽  
A. G. V. CARVALHO ◽  
B. A. P. GAMA ◽  
R. COUTINHO

The crude organic extracts of the endemic gorgonian Phyllogorgia dilatata and two sponge species Aplysina fulva and Mycale microsigmatosa were evaluated for anti-fouling properties through field experiments. To investigate this property in ecologically meaningful conditions, crude extracts from these invertebrates were incorporated at concentrations naturally found in these marine organisms into a stable gel used as a substratum for fouling settlement. Crude extract from A. fulva showed no significant anti-fouling property at the natural concentrations used in the field experiments. In fact, fouling organisms settled significantly more on gels treated with A. fulva extract than on the control gel. On the other hand, both M. microsigmatosa and P. dilatata yielded crude extracts that exhibited a selective action inhibiting only the settlement of barnacles. The evidences obtained here by means of field experiments can provide a basis for future development of one kind of natural antifoulant technology to prevent marine biofouling.


2013 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Višnja Besendorfer ◽  
Jelena Mlinarec

Abstract Satellite DNAis a genomic component present in virtually all eukaryotic organisms. The turnover of highly repetitive satellite DNAis an important element in genome organization and evolution in plants. Here we study the presence, physical distribution and abundance of the satellite DNAfamily AhTR1 in Anemone. Twenty-two Anemone accessions were analyzed by PCR to assess the presence of AhTR1, while fluorescence in situ hybridization and Southern hybridization were used to determine the abundance and genomic distribution of AhTR1. The AhTR1 repeat unit was PCR-amplified only in eight phylogenetically related European Anemone taxa of the Anemone section. FISH signal with AhTR1 probe was visible only in A. hortensis and A. pavonina, showing localization of AhTR1 in the regions of interstitial heterochromatin in both species. The absence of a FISH signal in the six other taxa as well as weak signal after Southern hybridization suggest that in these species AhTR1 family appears as relict sequences. Thus, the data presented here support the »library hypothesis« for AhTR1 satellite evolution in Anemone. Similar species-specific satellite DNAprofiles in A. hortensis and A. pavonina support the treatment of A. hortensis and A. pavonina as one species, i.e. A. hortensis s.l.


Behaviour ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 76 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 223-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas G. Richards

AbstractIn numerous species of passerine birds the initial few notes of the song have a narrow frequency range and wide temporal spacing when compared with the rest of the song. This structure is well adapted for high detectability when the song is acoustically degraded during passage through the environment. The song of the rufous-sided towhee (Pipilo eythrophtalmus) consists of relatively tonal introductory syllables followed by a complex rapid trill. The trill is capable of carrying more information than the introduction, but is inherently less detectable at a distance owing to degradation by reverberation, amplitude fluctuation, and frequency-dependent attenuation. Signal detection theory predicts that the detectability of the trill will be increased when it is preceded by the introductory syllables, owing to the removal of uncertainty concerning the time of arrival of the signal. This is alerted detection. I performed field experiments using playback of recorded song to towhees to test the hypothesis that these introductory syllables facilitate detection of conspecific song at a distance. Tape recordings of normal and artificially degraded full songs, introduction, and trills were played to territorial male towhees. Normal songs, degraded songs, and normal trills elicited strong territorial defense responses, indicating recognition as adequate species-specific song, and confirming that sufficient information is contained in the trill for species recognition. Degraded trills alone elicited little response. Both normal and degraded introductions also elicited little response, demonstrating that the increased response to a degraded full song over that to a degraded trill is not due to any species-specific characteristics of the introduction, but rather to its function as an alerting stimulus.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 222-225
Author(s):  
K. G. Li ◽  
G. P. Pogossian ◽  
A. K. Moldagulova ◽  
E. E. Bekenova ◽  
A. Abdikadirova ◽  
...  

  Lactobacilli are essential and important biological objects used in food pro-duction and medicine. One of the sufficient problems is fast, reliable and highly specific identification of lactobacilli in the scientific research and cur-rent production control. We represent two species-specific real-time PCR in the present study to discriminate L. rhamnosus and L. casei basing on the unique peptidoglycan-hydrolase genes p40 and p75 respectively. PCR pri-mers and probes were designed to provide high specificity discrimination via high temperature of PCR annealing stage. High efficiency of the reactions is provided by the size of amplified DNA fragments minimization. Reliable re-producibility of the target sequences amplification and fluorescence detec-tion provide a basis for the future creation of industrial test-systems for op-erational control in the production of fermented dairy products.


2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Freitas Siqueira Júnior ◽  
Isabela das Neves Rôças

The aim of this study was to describe a 16S rDNA-based nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) assay to investigate the occurrence of Campylobacter gracilis in oral infections. Samples were collected from ten infected root canals, ten cases of acute periradicular abscesses and eight cases of adult marginal periodontitis. DNA extracted from the samples was initially amplified using universal 16S rDNA primers. A second round of amplification used the first PCR products to detect C. gracilis using oligonucleotide primers designed from species-specific 16S rDNA signature sequences. The nPCR assay used in this study showed a detection limit of 10 C. gracilis cells and no cross-reactivity was observed with nontarget bacteria. C. gracilis was detected in the three types of oral infections investigated - 4/10 infected root canals; 2/10 acute periradicular abscesses; and 1/8 subgingival specimens from adult periodontitis. The method proposed in this study showed both high sensitivity and high specificity to directly detect C. gracilis in samples from root canal infections, abscesses, and subgingival plaque. Our findings confirmed that C. gracilis may be a member of the microbiota associated with distinct oral infections, and its specific role in such diseases requires further clarification.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Homayun Mehrabani ◽  
Neil Ray ◽  
Kyle Tse ◽  
Dennis Evangelista

Growth of ice on surfaces poses a challenge for both organisms and for devices that come into contact with liquids below the freezing point. Resistance of some organisms to ice formation and growth, either in subtidal environments (e.g. Antarctic anchor ice), or in environments with moisture and cold air (e.g.vplants, intertidal) begs examination of how this is accomplished. Several factors may be important in promoting or mitigating ice formation. As a start, here we examine the effect of surface texture alone. We tested four candidate surfaces, inspired by hard-shelled marine invertebrates and constructed using a three-dimensional printing process. We screened biological and artifical samples for ice formation and accretion in submerged conditions using previous methods, and developed a new test to examine ice formation from surface droplets as might be encountered in environments with moist, cold air. It appears surface texture plays only a small role in delaying the onset of ice formation: a stripe feature (corresponding to patterning found on valves of blue mussels,Crassostrea gigas, or on the spines of the Antarctic sea urchinSterechinus neumayeri) slowed ice formation an average of 25% compared to a grid feature (corresponding to patterning found on sub-polar butterclams,Saxidomas nuttali). The geometric dimensions of the features have only a small (~6%) effect on ice formation. Surface texture affects ice formation, but does not explain by itself the large variation in ice formation and species-specific ice resistance observed in other work. This suggests future examination of other factors, such as material elastic properties and coatings, and their interaction with surface pattern.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Dubuc ◽  
N. Waltham ◽  
R. Baker ◽  
C. Marchand ◽  
M. Sheaves

AbstractMangrove forests are important habitats for fish. However, their utilisation by fish, and the specific values they confer, are still not fully understood. This study describes how fish use mangrove forests in an Indo-Pacific mangrove-coral reef seascape. Sampling was conducted using underwater video cameras (UVCs) to describe spatial and temporal variations in fish assemblages across a small-scale (~ 2.5 km2) system, and over the tidal and lunar cycle. UVCs were deployed in the two main component habitats of mangrove forests: at the mangrove forest edge, and inside the forest (5 m from the forest edge), to establish patterns of utilisation of fish across the tidal and lunar cycle. Proximity to coral reefs had a strong influence on the mangrove fish community, as most fish recorded were reef-associated. Juveniles of 12 reef species were observed, including two species classified as vulnerable on the IUCN list, and one endemic species. Fish assemblages on the mangrove edge differed significantly from those inside the forest. Most fish utilised the forest edge, with few species making regular use of in-forest habitats, supporting the contention that most fish species remain on the edge and potentially retreat into the forest for opportunistic feeding, or when threatened by larger predators. Species-specific patterns of utilisation varied across the tidal and lunar cycle. Small differences in depth profiles and substrate across the small-scale system had a significant effect on fish assemblages, highlighting the importance of accounting for spatial heterogeneity in these factors. These data provide important information for managers to implement adequate conservation strategies that include broader interconnected habitat mosaics.


eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héctor Vicente Ramírez-Gómez ◽  
Vilma Jimenez Sabinina ◽  
Martín Velázquez Pérez ◽  
Carmen Beltran ◽  
Jorge Carneiro ◽  
...  

Spermatozoa of marine invertebrates are attracted to their conspecific female gamete by diffusive molecules, called chemoattractants, released from the egg investments in a process known as chemotaxis. The information from the egg chemoattractant concentration field is decoded into intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) changes that regulate the internal motors that shape the flagellum as it beats. By studying sea urchin species-specific differences in sperm chemoattractant-receptor characteristics we show that receptor density constrains the steepness of the chemoattractant concentration gradient detectable by spermatozoa. Through analyzing different chemoattractant gradient forms, we demonstrate for the first time that Strongylocentrotus purpuratus sperm are chemotactic and this response is consistent with frequency entrainment of two coupled physiological oscillators: i) the stimulus function and ii) the [Ca2+]i changes. We demonstrate that the slope of the chemoattractant gradients provides the coupling force between both oscillators, arising as a fundamental requirement for sperm chemotaxis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin M. King ◽  
Gavin J. Eyres ◽  
Jon West ◽  
Clara Siraf ◽  
Pavel Matusinsky ◽  
...  

Eyespot, caused by the related fungal pathogens Oculimacula acuformis (OA) and O. yallundae (OY), is an important cereal stem-base disease in temperate parts of the world. Both species are dispersed mainly by splash-dispersed conidia but are also known to undergo sexual reproduction yielding apothecia containing ascospores. Field diagnosis of eyespot can be challenging with other pathogens causing similar symptoms, which complicates eyespot management strategies. Differences between OA and OY (e.g. host pathogenicity and fungicide sensitivity) require that both be targeted for effective disease management. Here, we develop and apply two molecular methods for species-specific and mating-type (MAT1-1 or MAT1-2) discrimination of OA and OY isolates. First, a multiplex PCR-based diagnostic assay targeting the MAT idiomorph region was developed allowing simultaneous determination of both species and mating type. This multiplex-PCR assay was successfully applied to type a global collection of isolates. Second, the development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays targeting beta-tubulin sequences is described, which allow fast (<9 min) species-specific discrimination of global OA and OY isolates. The LAMP assay can detect very small amounts of target DNA (1 pg) and was successfully applied in planta. In addition, mating-type specific LAMP assays were also developed for rapid (<12 min) genotyping of OA and OY isolates. Finally, the multiplex PCR-based diagnostic was applied, in conjunction with spore trapping in field experiments, to provide evidence of the wind dispersal of ascospores from a diseased crop. The results indicate an important role of the sexual cycle in the dispersal of eyespot.


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