Detection of Diarrheic Shellfish Poisoning and Azaspiracid Toxins in Moroccan Mussels: Comparison of the LC-MS Method with the Commercial Immunoassay Kit

Diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) is a recurrent gastrointestinal illness in Morocco, resulting from consumption of contaminated shellfish. In order to develop a rapid and reliable technique for toxins detection, we have compared the results obtained by a commercial immunoassay-“DSP-Check” kit” with those obtained by LC-MS. Both techniques are capable of detecting the toxins in the whole flesh extract which was subjected to prior alkaline hydrolysis in order to detect simultaneously the esterified and non esterified toxin forms. The LC-MS method was found to be able to detect a high level of okadaic acid (OA), low level of dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX2), and surprisingly, traces of azaspiracids 2 (AZA2) in mussels. This is the first report of a survey carried out for azaspiracid (AZP) contamination of shellfish harvested in the coastal areas of Morocco. The “DSP-Check” kit was found to detect quantitatively DSP toxins in all contaminated samples containing only OA, provided that the parent toxins were within the range of detection and was not in an ester form. A good correlation was observed between the two methods when appropriate dilutions were performed. The immunoassay kit appeared to be more sensitive, specific and faster than LC-MS for determination of DSP in total shellfish extract

Antimicrobial Activity of Untenospongin B, a Metabolite from the Marine Sponge Hippospongia communis collected from the Atlantic Coast of Morocco

(-)-Untenospongin B isolated from the marine sponge Hippospongia communis has been tested for its antimicrobial activity against bacteria and human pathogenic fungi using agar disk method and was found to possess a broad and strong activity toward the test organisms. Its antifungal activity was further characterized by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against five fungal species using broth microdilution method

Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference of Economics and Management (CIREG 2016) Volume I

This book brings together papers presented at the 3rd Conference of Research in Economics and Management (CIREG) held in Morocco in May 2016. With a focus on the challenges of SMEs and innovative solutions, they highlight the contribution of researchers in the fields of business and management, with all their micro and macro-economic aspects. They shed light on the universal scientific vision of the importance of SMEs with answers relevant to their local context and adapted to their specific national situation. The relevance of SME research lies in its heuristic value of analyzing change, rather than in constructing a category, a particularly useful empirical concept. This first volume is focused on economic issues

Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference of Economics and Management (CIREG 2016) Volume I

This book brings together papers presented at the 3rd Conference of Research in Economics and Management (CIREG) held in Morocco in May 2016. With a focus on the challenges of SMEs and innovative solutions, they highlight the contribution of researchers in the fields of business and management, with all their micro and macro-economic aspects. They shed light on the universal scientific vision of the importance of SMEs with answers relevant to their local context and adapted to their specific national situation. The relevance of SME research lies in its heuristic value of analyzing change, rather than in constructing a category, a particularly useful empirical concept. This first volume is focused on economic issues

Antimicrobial Activity of Untenospongin B, a Metabolite from the Marine Sponge Hippospongia communis collected from the Atlantic Coast of Morocco

Abstract: (-)-Untenospongin B isolated from the marine sponge Hippospongia communis has been tested for its antimicrobial activity against bacteria and human pathogenic fungi using agar disk method and was found to possess a broad and strong activity toward the test organisms. Its antifungal activity was further characterized by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against five fungal species using broth microdilution method

Effects of eutypiosis on free and conjugated polyamines content in internodes of grapevine (<em>Vitis vinifera</em> l. cv. Cabernet Sauvignon) during their active phase of growth

Development of polyamines levels [Putrescine (Put), Spermidine (Spd), and Spermine (Spm)] was investigated in internodes of grapevine infected by eutypiosis fungus, Eutypa lata. The study was performed using (1) internodes from healthy vines, (2) apparently healthy internodes from vines with one arm symptomless and one diseased arm and (3) diseased internodes. Free polyamines (PAs: hydrochloric acid soluble fraction), conjugated polyamines (PAs-fpm: PAs covalently linked to molecules with low molecular weight like hydroxycinnamic acids) and bound polyamines (PAs-mm: covalently linked to macromolecules) were analysed in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Cabernet sauvignon, which is sensitive to eutypiosis. The internodes stunting induced by eutypiosis was accompanied by a decrease of free Put and free Spm contents between flower buds separated and fruit set stages. The same results were observed for PAs-mm but more slightly than free PAs. The Put-fpm and Spd-fpm levels increased in the apparently healthy internodes and decreased in diseased organs by Eutypa lata effect. The relationship between free PAs contents in the diseased internodes and their growth reduction, as well as the involvement of PAs-fpm on the grapevine response to Eutypa lata infection are discussed

Cytotoxicity and Inhibition of Lymphocyte Proliferation of Fasciculatin, a Linear Furanosesterterpene Isolated from Ircinia variabilis Collected from the Atlantic Coast of Morocco

Fasciculatin, a furanosesterterpene isolated from the marine sponge Ircinia variabilis from the Atlantic Coast of Morocco, has been evaluated for its influence on a mitogen-induced proliferation of human lymphocytes and growth of human tumor cell lines