Dinoflagellate resting cysts from surface sediments of the Adriatic Ports: distribution and potential spreading patterns

The ability of microalgae to preserve viable in coastal sediments as resting forms provides a reservoir of biodiversity and a useful tool to determine species spreadings. This study represents the first port baseline survey on dinoflagellate cysts, investigated in nine Adriatic ports during a cross border project. 40 dinoflagellate taxa were detected. The assemblages resulted in all ports dominated by Lingulodinium polyedra and Alexandrium minutum/affine/tamutum group. General separation to the western and eastern side of the Adriatic regarding cysts assemblage composition, partially abundance, was observed. Seven taxa were detected as non-indigenous species for the Adriatic. Two taxa are included in the list of harmful aquatic organisms, indicating the potential threat of ballast waters in the Adriatic. Potential spreading of taxa by general circulation and ballast waters, intra- and extra-Adriatic was investigated. The entering in to force of the ballast waters management regulations should enhance prospects to minimize future harmful impacts

Status of faecal pollution in ports: A basin-wide investigation in the Adriatic Sea

Ports are subject to a variety of anthropogenic impacts, and there is mounting evidence of faecal contamination through several routes. Yet, little is known about pollution in ports by faecal indicator bacteria (FIB). FIB spatio-temporal dynamics were assessed in 12 ports of the Adriatic Sea, a semi-enclosed basin under strong anthropogenic pressure, and their relationships with environmental variables were explored to gain insight into pollution sources. FIB were abundant in ports, often more so than in adjacent areas ; their abundance patterns were related to salinity, oxygen, and nutrient levels. In addition, a molecular method, quantitative (q)PCR, was used to quantify FIB. qPCR enabled faster FIB determination and water quality monitoring that culture-based methods. These data provide robust baseline evidence of faecal contamination in ports and can be used to improve the management of routine port activities (dredging and ballast water exchange), having potential to spread pathogens in the sea

Biochemical changes during goiter induction by methylmercaptoimidazol and inhibition by δ-iodolactone in rat

Background: We have demonstrated that the administration of δ-iodolactone (i.e., 5-iodo-delta lactone) of arachidonic acid (IL-δ), a mediator in thyroid autoregulation, prevents goiter induction by methylmercaptoimidazol (MMI) in rats. Other studies have shown that transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) mimics some of the actions of excess iodide, but its participation in autoregulation is disputed. The present studies were performed to test the hypotheses that IL-δ decreases thyroid growth by inhibition of cell proliferation and/or by stimulation of apoptosis due to oxidative stress, that TGF-β is stimulated by an excess of iodide and by IL-δ, and that c-Myc and c-Fos expression are upregulated during goiter induction and downregulated during goiter inhibition. Methods: Rats were treated with MMI alone or together with iodide or IL-δ. Thyroid weight, cell number, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress were determined. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), TGF-β1, TGF-β3, c-Myc, and c-Fos were measured by Western blot. Results: MMI caused a progressive increase in thyroid weight accompanied by an increase in cell number, asymmetry of the ploidy histograms, and PCNA, c-Fos, and c-Myc expression. In addition, an early increase of apoptosis was observed. Peroxides as well as glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were also increased in goitrous animals. The inhibitory action of IL-δ on goiter formation was accompanied by the inhibition of cell proliferation evidenced by a significant decrease in cell number, PCNA expression, and asymmetry of the ploidy histograms. A transient stimulation of apoptosis after 7 days of treatment was also observed. MMI administration stimulated TGF-β1 but not TGF-β3 synthesis. IL-δ alone caused a slight increase of TGF-β3 but not TGF-β1, whereas potassium iodide (KI) stimulated both isoforms and MMI reversed KI effect on TGF-β1 expression but not on TGF-β3. Conclusions: The goiter inhibitory action of IL-δ is due to the inhibition of cell proliferation and the transient stimulation of apoptosis. This latter action does not involve oxidative stress. TGF-β1 does not play a role in the autoregulatory pathway mediated by IL-δ. Iodide stimulates TGF-β3 without the need of being organified. These results suggest that there may be more than one pathway involved in the autoregulatory mechanism.Fil: Thomasz, Lisa. Comision Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. División Bioquímica Nuclear; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Oglio, Andrea Romina. Comision Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. División Bioquímica Nuclear; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Randi, Andrea Silvana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Marina Olga. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Dagrosa, Maria Alejandra. Comision Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. División Bioquímica Nuclear; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cabrini, Romulo L.. Comision Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. División Bioquímica Nuclear; ArgentinaFil: Juvenal, Guillermo Juan. Comision Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. División Bioquímica Nuclear; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pisarev, Mario Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentina. Comision Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Aplicaciones de la Tecnología Nuclear. División Bioquímica Nuclear; Argentin

Dinoflagellate resting cysts from surface sediments of the Adriatic Ports: Distribution and potential spreading patterns

The ability of microalgae to preserve viable in coastal sediments as resting forms provides a reservoir of biodiversity and a useful tool to determine species spreadings. This study represents the first port baseline survey on dinoflagellate cysts, investigated in nine Adriatic ports during a cross border project. 40 dinoflagellate taxa were detected. The assemblages resulted in all ports dominated by Lingulodinium polyedra and Alexandrium minutum/ affine/tamutum group. General separation to the western and eastern side of the Adriatic regarding cysts assemblage composition, partially abundance, was observed. Six taxa were detected as non-indigenous species for the Adriatic. Two taxa are included in the list of harmful aquatic organisms, indicating the potential threat of ballast waters in the Adriatic. Potential spreading of taxa by general circulation and ballast waters, intra- and extra-Adriatic was investigated. The entering in to force of the ballast waters management regulations should enhance prospects to minimize future harmful impacts

Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 Channels Modulate Inflammatory Response in Respiratory Cells from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, prominent inflammation with massive expression of the neutrophil chemokine IL-8 and luminal infiltrates of neutrophils are hallmarks of chronic lung disease in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. The nociceptive Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) calcium channels have been recently found involved in non-neurogenic inflammation. Here, we investigated the role of TRPA1 in CF respiratory inflammatory models in vitro. Expression of TRPA1 was evaluated in CF lung tissue sections and cells by immunohistochemistry and by immunofluorescence. Epithelial cell lines (A549, IB3-1, CuFi-1, CFBE41o-) and primary cells from CF patients were utilized to a) check TRPA1 function modulation, by Fura-2 calcium imaging, b) down-modulate TRPA1 function and expression, by pharmacological inhibitors (HC-030031 and A-967079) and siRNA silencing, and c) assess the effect of TRPA1 down-modulation on expression and release of cytokines upon exposure to pro-inflammatory challenges, by qRT-PCR and 27-protein Bioplex assay. TRPA1 channels are expressed in the CF pseudostratified columnar epithelium facing the bronchial lumina exposed to bacteria, where IL-8 is co-expressed. Inhibition of TRPA1 expression results in a relevant reduction of release of several cytokines, including IL-8 and the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1\u3b2 and TNF-\u3b1, in CF primary bronchial epithelial cells exposed to P. aeruginosa and to the supernatant of mucopurulent material derived from the chronically infected airways of CF patients. In conclusion, TRPA1 channels are involved in regulating the extent of airway inflammation driven by CF bronchial epithelial cells