87 research outputs found
First assessment of the comparative toxicity of ivermectin and moxidectin in adult dung beetles: Sub-lethal symptoms and pre-lethal consequences
Among macrocyclic lactones (ML), ivermectin (IVM) and moxidectin (MOX) potentially affect all
Ecdysozoan species, with dung beetles being particularly sensitive. The comparative effects of IVM
and MOX on adult dung beetles were assessed for the first time to determine both the physiological
sub-lethal symptoms and pre-lethal consequences. Inhibition of antennal response and ataxia
were tested as two intuitive and ecologically relevant parameters by obtaining the lowest observed
effect concentration (LOEC) values and interpolating other relevant toxicity thresholds derived from
concentration-response curves (IC50, as the concentration of each ML where the antennal response is
inhibited by half; and pLC50, as the quantity of ingested ML where partial paralysis was observed by half
of treated individuals) from concentration-response curves. Both sub-lethal and pre-lethal symptoms
obtained in this study coincided in that IVM was six times more toxic than MOX for adult dung beetles.
Values of LOEC, IC50 and pLC50 obtained for IVM and MOX evaluated in an environmental context
indicate that MOX, despite needing more time for its elimination in the faeces, would be half as harmful
to dung beetles as IVM. This approach will be valuable to clarify the real impact of MLs on dung beetle
health and to avoid the subsequent environmental consequences
The marine actinomycete genus Salinispora: a model organism for secondary metabolite discovery
This review covers the initial discovery of the marine actinomycete genus Salinispora through its development as a model for natural product research. A focus is placed on the novel chemical structures reported with reference to their biological activities and the synthetic and biosynthetic studies they have inspired. The time line of discoveries progresses from more traditional bioassay-guided approaches through the application of genome mining and genetic engineering techniques that target the products of specific biosynthetic gene clusters. This overview exemplifies the extraordinary biosynthetic diversity that can emanate from a narrowly defined genus and supports future efforts to explore marine taxa in the search for novel natural products
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