Face Your Fears: Cleaning Gobies Inspect Predators despite Being Stressed by Them

Social stressors typically elicit two distinct behavioural responses in vertebrates: an active response (i.e., “fight or flight”) or behavioural inhibition (i.e., freezing). Here, we report an interesting exception to this dichotomy in a Caribbean cleaner fish, which interacts with a wide variety of reef fish clients, including predatory species. Cleaning gobies appraise predatory clients as potential threat and become stressed in their presence, as evidenced by their higher cortisol levels when exposed to predatory rather than to non-predatory clients. Nevertheless, cleaning gobies neither flee nor freeze in response to dangerous clients but instead approach predators faster (both in captivity and in the wild), and interact longer with these clients than with non-predatory clients (in the wild). We hypothesise that cleaners interrupt the potentially harmful physiological consequences elicited by predatory clients by becoming increasingly proactive and by reducing the time elapsed between client approach and the start of the interaction process. The activation of a stress response may therefore also be responsible for the longer cleaning service provided by these cleaners to predatory clients in the wild. Future experimental studies may reveal similar patterns in other social vertebrate species when, for instance, individuals approach an opponent for reconciliation after a conflict

Overview of phlorotannins’ constituents in Fucales

Fucales are an order within the Phaeophyceae that include most of the common littoral seaweeds in temperate and subtropical coastal regions. Many species of this order have long been a part of human culture with applications as food, feedand remedies in folk medicine. Apart from their high nutritional value, these seaweeds are also a well-known reservoir of multiple bioactive compounds with great industrial interest. Among them, phlorotannins, a unique and diverse class of brown algae-exclusive phenolics, have gathered much attention during the last few years due to their numerous potential health benefits. However, due to their complex structural features, combined with the scarcity of standards, it poses a great challenge to the identification and characterization of these compounds, at least with the technology currently available. Nevertheless, much effort has been taken towards the elucidation of the structural features of phlorotannins, which have resulted in relevant insights into the chemistry of these compounds. In this context, this review addresses the major contributions and technological advances in the field of phlorotannins extraction and characterization, with a particular focus on Fucales.This work received financial support from PT national funds (FCT/MCTES, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior) through the projects UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020. Thanks to PTDC/BAA-AGR/31015/2017, “Algaphlor—Brown algae phlorotannins: From bioavailability to the development of new functional foods”, co-financed by the Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization— POCI, within the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and the Science and Technology Foundation (FCT), through national funds. Silva S. thanks FCT for funding through program DL 57/2016–Norma transitória (Ref. SFRH/BPD/74299/2010)

Mitochondrial Preconditioning: A Potential Neuroprotective Strategy

Mitochondria have long been known as the powerhouse of the cell. However, these organelles are also pivotal players in neuronal cell death. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a prominent feature of chronic brain disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), and cerebral ischemic stroke. Data derived from morphologic, biochemical, and molecular genetic studies indicate that mitochondria constitute a convergence point for neurodegeneration. Conversely, mitochondria have also been implicated in the neuroprotective signaling processes of preconditioning. Despite the precise molecular mechanisms underlying preconditioning-induced brain tolerance are still unclear, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels activation have been shown to be involved in the preconditioning phenomenon. This review intends to discuss how mitochondrial malfunction contributes to the onset and progression of cerebral ischemic stroke and AD and PD, two major neurodegenerative disorders. The role of mitochondrial mechanisms involved in the preconditioning-mediated neuroprotective events will be also discussed. Mitochondrial targeted preconditioning may represent a promising therapeutic weapon to fight neurodegeneration

Indo-Pacific parrotfish exert partner choice in interactions cleanerfish but Caribbean parrotfish do not

Cooperation theory puts a strong emphasis on partner control mechanisms that have evolved to stabilize cooperation against the temptation of cheating. The marine cleaning mutualism between the Indo-Pacific bluestreack cleaner wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus, and its reef fish ‘clients’ has been a model system to study partner control mechanisms and counterstrategies. These cleaners cooperate by eating ectoparasites; however, they can cheat by taking client mucus, which they prefer. Such a conflict may be the exception. For example, Caribbean cleaning gobies, Elacatinus spp., prefer to eat ectoparasites instead of mucus. While partner control mechanisms and counterstrategies seem to be absent in cleaning gobies, no study has directly compared cleaner wrasses and cleaning gobies by using the same methods. We examined systematic differences in cleaning interaction patterns and strategic behaviour exhibited by 12 closely related parrotfish species in the two systems. Parrotfish seeking cleaner wrasses visited them more often and spent more time with their cleaner than parrotfish seeking cleaning gobies. Moreover, the clients of cleaner wrasses returned more often to the same cleaner following a positive interaction, whereas the clients of cleaning gobies were less influenced by the outcome of previous interactions. We hypothesize that the higher frequency and repeated nature of interactions observed in the cleaner wrasse system, combined with the need to resolve conflicts, might have been prerequisites for the development of complex behavioural strategies

Brain levels of nonapeptides in four labrid fish species with different levels of mutualistic behavior

a b s t r a c t There is strong evidence that brain nonapeptides are implicated as modulators of a wide array of social and reproductive behaviors in fishes. However, the question remains, as to whether there is a link between the distribution of active nonapeptides across brain regions and fishes specific behavioral phenotypes. To explore this link we compared the nonapeptides' profile across the brains of fishes representing different degrees of mutualistic behavior (here: cleaning behavior). Herein we studied the quantitative distribution of both nonapeptides, arginine vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT), in the brains of four species of fish belonging to the family Labridae: two are obligatory cleaners throughout their entire life (Labroides dimidiatus and Labroides bicolor), one species is a facultative cleaner (Labropsis australis; juveniles are cleaners and adults are corallivorous), and one is a non-cleaner species, corallivorous throughout its entire life (Labrichthys unilineatus). The biologically available AVT and IT concentrations were measured simultaneously in distinct brain macro-areas: forebrain, optic tectum, cerebellum and brain stem, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We showed that the levels of both AVT and IT varied significantly across species, as measured in the whole brain or in the specific macro-areas. Significantly higher AVT concentrations in the cerebellum which were found in the obligate cleaners seemed to be related to expression of mutualistic behavior. On the other hand, the higher levels of brain IT in the non-cleaner L. unilineatus suggested that these might be linked to the development of sexual dimorphism, which occurs only in this non-cleaner species

A polyalanine peptide derived from polar fish with anti-infectious activities

Due to the growing concern about antibiotic-resistant microbial infections, increasing support has been given to new drug discovery programs. A promising alternative to counter bacterial infections includes the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which have emerged as model molecules for rational design strategies. Here we focused on the study of Pa-MAP 1.9, a rationally designed AMP derived from the polar fish Pleuronectes americanus. Pa-MAP 1.9 was active against Gram-negative planktonic bacteria and biofilms, without being cytotoxic to mammalian cells. By using AFM, leakage assays, CD spectroscopy and in silico tools, we found that Pa-MAP 1.9 may be acting both on intracellular targets and on the bacterial surface, also being more efficient at interacting with anionic LUVs mimicking Gram-negative bacterial surface, where this peptide adopts α-helical conformations, than cholesterol-enriched LUVs mimicking mammalian cells. Thus, as bacteria present varied physiological features that favor antibiotic-resistance, Pa-MAP 1.9 could be a promising candidate in the development of tools against infections caused by pathogenic bacteria.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.) (R21AI098701

Human Paraoxonase Gene Polymorphisms and Coronary Artery Disease Risk

Introdução: As doenças complexas como a doença das artérias coronárias (DAC), a hipertensão e a diabetes, são usualmente causadas pela susceptibilidade individual a múltiplos genes, factores ambientais e pela interacção entre eles. As enzimas da paraoxonase humana (PON), particularmente a PON1, têm sido implicadas na patogenia da aterosclerose e da DAC. Dois polimorfismos comuns na região codificante do gene, com substituição Glutamina (Q) /Arginina (R) na posição 192 e Leucina /Metionina na posição 55 influenciam a actividade da PON1. Vários estudos têm investigado a associação entre os polimorfismos da PON1 e a DAC, com resultados contraditórios. Objectivo: 1- Avaliar a associação dos polimorfismos da PON1 com o risco de DAC. 2-Estudar a interacção destes polimorfismos com outros situados em genes candidatos diferentes, na susceptibilidade para o aparecimento da DAC. Material e Métodos: Estudámos em 298 doentes coronários e 298 controlos saudáveis, através de um estudo caso/controlo, o risco de DAC associado aos polimorfismos da PON1, 192Q/R e 55L/M. Numa segunda fase avaliámos o risco das interacções polimórficas PON1 192 RR + MTHFR 1298 AA; PON1 192 R/R + ECA DD; PON1 192 R/R + ECA 8 GG. Finalmente construímos um modelo de regressão logística (no qual entraram todas as variáveis genéticas, ambientais e bioquímicas, que tinham mostrado significância estatística na análise univariada), para determinar quais as que se relacionavam de forma significativa e independente com DAC. Resultados: Verificámos que o genótipo PON155 MM tinha uma distribuição superior na população doente mas não atingia significância estatística como factor de risco para DAC. O PON1 199 RR apresentou um risco relativo 80% superior relativamente à população que o não possuía (p=0,04). A interacção da PON1 192 RR e da MTHFR 1298 AA, polimorfismos sedeados em genes diferentes, apresentou um risco relativo de DAC de 2,76 (OR=2,76;IC=1,20- 6,47; P=0,009), bastante superior ao risco de cada polimorfismo isolado, assim como a associação da PON1 RR + ECA DD (com polimorfismos também sedeados em genes diferentes), que apresentou um risco 337% superior relativamente aos que não possuíam esta associação (OR=4,37;IC=1,47- 13,87; P=0,002). Da mesma forma a associação entre a PON1 RR e ECA 8 GG, revelou um risco ainda mais elevado (OR=6;23; IC=1,67- 27,37; P<0,001). Após modelo de Regressão Logística as variáveis que ficaram na equação representando factores de risco significativos e independentes para DAC, foram os hábitos tabágicos, doença familiar, diabetes, fibrinogénio, Lp (a) e a associação PON1 192 RR + ECA 8 GG. Esta última associação apresentou, na regressão logística, um OR=14,113; p=0,018 Conclusões: O genótipo PON1 192 RR apresentou, se avaliado isoladamente, um risco relativo de DAC 80% superior relativamente à população que não possuía este genótipo. A associação deste polimorfismo com outros polimorfismos sedeados em genes diferentes, codificando para diferentes enzimas e pertencendo a sistemas fisiopatológicos distintos (MTHFR1298 AA, ECA DD e ECA 8 GG), aumentou sempre o risco de eclosão da DAC. Após correcção para os outros factores de risco clássicos e bioquímicos, a associação PON1 192 RR + ECA 8 GG, continuou a ser um factor de risco significativo e independente para CAD.Background: Complex diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension and diabetes are usually caused by individual susceptibility to multiple genes, environmental factors, and the interaction between them. The paraoxonase 1 (PON1) enzyme has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and CAD. Two common polymorphisms in the coding region of the PON1 gene, which lead to a glutamine (Q)/arginine (R) substitution at position 192 and a leucine (L)/methionine (M) substitution at position 55, influence PON1 activity. Studies have investigated the association between these polymorphisms and CAD, but with conflicting results. Aims: 1) To evaluate the association between PON1 polymorphisms and CAD risk; and 2) to study the interaction between PON1 polymorphisms and others in different candidate genes. Methods: We evaluated the risk of CAD associated with PON1 Q192R and L55M polymorphisms in 298 CAD patients and 298 healthy individuals. We then evaluated the risk associated with the interaction of the PON1 polymorphisms with ACE DD, ACE 8 GG and MTHFR 1298AA. Finally, using a logistic regression model, we evaluated which variables (genetic, biochemical and environmental) were linked significantly and independently with CAD. Results: We found that the PON1 55MM genotype was more common in the CAD population, but this did not reach statistical significance as a risk factor for CAD, while PON1 192RR presented an 80% higher relative risk compared to the population without this polymorphism. The interaction between PON1 192RR and MTHFR 1298AA, sited in different genes, increased the risk for CAD, compared with the polymorphisms in isolation (OR=2.76; 95% CI=1.20-6.47; p=0.009), as did the association of PON1 192RR with ACE DD, which presented a 337% higher risk compared to the population without this polymorphic association (OR=4.37; 95% CI=1.47-13.87; p=0.002). Similarly, the association between PON1 192RR and ACE 8 GG was linked to an even higher risk (OR=6.23; 95% CI=1.67-27.37; p<0.001). After logistic regression, smoking, family history, fibrinogen, diabetes, Lp(a) and the association of PON1 192RR + ACE 8 GG remained in the regression model and proved to be significant and independent risk factors for CAD. In the regression model the latter association had OR=14.113; p=0.018. Conclusion: When analyzed separately, the PON1 192RR genotype presented a relative risk for CAD 80% higher than in the population without this genotype. Its association with other genetic polymorphisms sited in different genes, coding for different enzymes and belonging to different physiological systems, always increased the risk for CAD. After correction for other conventional and biochemical risk factors, the PON1 192RR + ACE 8 GG association remained a significant and independent risk factor for CAD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio