3 research outputs found
Common Sea Star (<i>Asterias rubens</i>) Coelomic Fluid Changes in Response to Short-Term Exposure to Environmental Stressors
Common sea stars (Asterias rubens) are at risk of physiological stress and decline with projected shifts in oceanic conditions. This study assessed changes in coelomic fluid (CF) blood gases, electrolytes, osmolality, and coelomocyte counts in adult common sea stars after exposure to stressors mimicking effects from climate change for 14 days, including decreased pH (−0.4 units, mean: 7.37), hypoxia (target dissolved oxygen ~1.75 mg O2/L, mean: 1.80 mg O2/L), or increased temperature (+10 °C, mean: 17.2 °C) and compared sea star CF electrolytes and osmolality to tank water. Changes in CF blood gases, electrolytes, and/or coelomocyte counts occurred in all treatment groups after stressor exposures, indicating adverse systemic effects with evidence of increased energy expenditure, respiratory or metabolic derangements, and immunosuppression or inflammation. At baseline, CF potassium and osmolality of all groups combined were significantly higher than tank water, and, after exposures, CF potassium was significantly higher in the hypoxia group as compared to tank water. These findings indicate physiological challenges for A. rubens after stressor exposures and, given increased observations of sea star wasting events globally, this provides evidence that sea stars as a broad group are particularly vulnerable to changing oceans
Seawater carbonate chemistry and common sea star (Asterias rubens) coelomic fluid changes
Common sea stars (Asterias rubens) are at risk of physiological stress and decline with projected shifts in oceanic conditions. This study assessed changes in coelomic fluid (CF) blood gases, electrolytes, osmolality, and coelomocyte counts in adult common sea stars after exposure to stressors mimicking effects from climate change for 14 days, including decreased pH (−0.4 units, mean: 7.37), hypoxia (target dissolved oxygen ~1.75 mg O2/L, mean: 1.80 mg O2/L), or increased temperature (+10 °C, mean: 17.2 °C) and compared sea star CF electrolytes and osmolality to tank water. Changes in CF blood gases, electrolytes, and/or coelomocyte counts occurred in all treatment groups after stressor exposures, indicating adverse systemic effects with evidence of increased energy expenditure, respiratory or metabolic derangements, and immunosuppression or inflammation. At baseline, CF potassium and osmolality of all groups combined were significantly higher than tank water, and, after exposures, CF potassium was significantly higher in the hypoxia group as compared to tank water. These findings indicate physiological challenges for A. rubens after stressor exposures and, given increased observations of sea star wasting events globally, this provides evidence that sea stars as a broad group are particularly vulnerable to changing oceans
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Towards a nanoparticle-based prophylactic for maternal autoantibody-related autism
Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) comprises a range of developmental disorders diagnosed in early childhood, where their ability to communicate and interact are impaired. In the U.S., an estimated 1 in 59 children1 is born with ASD and the economic burden is a staggering $268 billion per year2. Current therapies are post-symptomatic and include behavioral interventions or symptom-derived pharmacological treatments. Recently, the Van De Water group discovered that about a quarter of ASD cases are caused by maternal autoantibodies (autoAbs) that can hinder normal neurodevelopment in the fetus. Moreover, they elucidated the seven proteins targeted by these autoAbs in the fetal brain, including lactate dehydrogenase A and B (LDHA, LDHB)3. Herein, we aim to develop a System for Nanoparticle-based Autoantibody Retention and Entrapment (SNARE) prophylactic as a biomagnetic trap-for sequestration of disease-propagating Maternal Autoantibody-Related (MAR) autoAbs. Our central hypothesis is that upon intravenous injection, the iron oxide NPs surface-conjugated with autoantigens will circulate throughout the maternal vasculature, and specifically ligate MAR autoAbs, thereby limiting antibody (Ab) transport across the placenta and preventing MAR autism. Currently, investigative aims are to synthesize SNAREs, assess Ab binding capacity, cytotoxicity and immunogenicity in vitro, as well as determine in vivo distribution and maximum tolerated dose