scholarly journals Asparagopsis armata Exudate Cocktail: The Quest for the Mechanisms of Toxic Action of an Invasive Seaweed on Marine Invertebrates

Author(s):  
Carla Silva ◽  
Tiago Simões ◽  
Rafael Félix ◽  
Amadeu Soares ◽  
Carlos Barata ◽  
...  

The red seaweed Asparagopsis armata exhibits a strong invasive behaviour and is included in the list of the “Worst invasive alien species threatening biodiversity in Europe”. This seaweed has been shown to produce a large diversity of halogenated compounds with effective biological effects, deeply affecting rockpool species. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the biochemical responses to sublethal concentrations of Asparagopsis armata exudate on two coastal organisms, the marine snail Gibbula umbilicalis and the rockpool shrimp Palaemon elegans. Antioxidant defences superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), oxidative damage endpoints lipid peroxidation (LPO) and DNA damage, the neuronal parameter acetylcholinesterase (AChE), as well as the fatty acid profile were evaluated. Results revealed different metabolic responses between species, indicating that A. armata exudate affected the organisms through different pathways. Despite previous studies indicating that the exudate effected G. umbilicalis’ survival and behaviour, this does not seem to result from oxidative stress or addressed neurotoxicity. On the other hand, for P. elegans, an inhibition of AChE and the decrease of antioxidant capacity concomitant with the increase of LPO, suggests neurotoxicity and oxidative stress as mechanisms of exudate toxicity for this species. For fatty acids, there were different profile changes between species, also more pronounced for P. elegans with a general increase in PUFA with exudate exposure, which commonly means a defence mechanism protecting from membrane disruption. Nonetheless, the omega-3 PUFAs ARA and DPA were increased in both invertebrates, indicating a common mechanism regulation of inflammation and immunity responses to this stress. This work provides further insight on the mechanisms of invertebrate response and tolerance to an expanding coastal environmental stress as is the marine invader A. armata.

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
Carla O. Silva ◽  
Tiago Simões ◽  
Rafael Félix ◽  
Amadeu M.V.M. Soares ◽  
Carlos Barata ◽  
...  

The seaweed Asparagopsis armata exhibits a strong invasive behavior, producing halogenated compounds with effective biological effects. This study addresses the biochemical responses to sublethal concentrations of A. armata exudate on the marine snail Gibbula umbilicalis whole body and the shrimp Palaemon elegans eyes and hepatopancreas. Antioxidant defenses superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), oxidative damage endpoints lipid peroxidation (LPO) and DNA damage, the neuronal parameter acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and the fatty acid profile were evaluated. Results revealed different metabolic responses in both species. Despite previous studies indicating that the exudate affected G. umbilicalis’ survival and behavior, this does not seem to result from oxidative stress or neurotoxicity. For P. elegans, the inhibition of AChE and the decrease of antioxidant capacity is concomitant with the increase of LPO, suggesting neurotoxicity and oxidative stress as contributor mechanisms of toxicity for this species. Fatty acid profile changes were more pronounced for P. elegans with a general increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with the exudate exposure, which commonly means a defense mechanism protecting from membrane disruption. Nonetheless, the omega-3 PUFAs arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) increased in both invertebrates, indicating a common regulation mechanism of inflammation and immunity responses.


2013 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Navnath M. Pise ◽  
Dattatry K. Gaikwad ◽  
Tanaji G. Jagtap

Abstract -Oxidative stress and antioxidant defence systems were assessed in a marine red alga Porphyra vietnamensis Tanaka et Pham-Hoang Ho, from India. Lipid peroxidation (LPX) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were measured as oxidative stress markers. Antioxidant defences were measured as catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and ascorbic acid (AsA), in order to understand their dissimilarity with respect to environmental conditions (pollution levels) from selective locations along the central west coast of India. Levels of LPX, H2O2, CAT and GST were significantly higher in samples collected from Dona Paula than in samples from Malvan and Kunkeshwar, while a lower concentration of AsA was found in samples from Dona Paula. Heavy metals such as Cd, Pb and Hg in higher concentrations in these areas than in other sites were also observed. Variation of oxidative stress indices in response to the accumulation of heavy metals within P. vietnamensis could be used as molecular biomarkers for the assessment and monitoring of environmental quality in ecologically sensitive marine habitats.


Author(s):  
Carla O. Silva ◽  
Sara C. Novais ◽  
Amadeu M.V.M. Soares ◽  
Carlos Barata ◽  
Marco F.L. Lemos

The marine red algae Asparagopsis armata is an invasive species which competitive advantage arises from the production and release of large amounts of toxic compounds to the surrounding invaded area, reducing the abundance of native species. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of this invasive seaweed on marine invertebrates by exposing the common prawn Palaemon elegans and the marine snail Gibbula umbilicalis to the exudate of this macroalgae. The seaweed was collected and placed in tanks, for 12 hours, in the dark in a 1:10 ratio. Afterwards the media containing its secondary metabolites was collected for further testing. Lethal and sublethal effects of A. armata were investigated. Biochemical biomarkers responses associated with energy metabolism (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH; electron transport system activity, ETS; content in lipids, proteins and carbohydrates) were analysed. The biomarker responses showed invertebrates’ physiological status impairment after exposure to low concentrations of this algae exudate. Highest concentrations of exudate significantly increased lipid content in both organisms. In the shrimp, protein content, ETS, and LDH were also significantly increased. On the contrary, these parameters were significantly decreased in G. umbilicalis. A behavioural impairment was also observed in G. umbilicalis exposed to A. armata exudate, with reduction in feeding consumption. These results represent an important step in the research of natural toxic exudates released to the environment and prospective effects of this seaweed in invaded communities under increasing global change scenarios.


Reproduction ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 146 (6) ◽  
pp. 539-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan L Jones ◽  
Peter J Mark ◽  
Brendan J Waddell

Placental oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathophysiology of several placenta-related disorders. Oxidative stress occurs when excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) damages cellular components, an outcome limited by antioxidant enzymes; mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) also limits ROS production. We recently reported that maternal dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation reduced placental oxidative damage and enhanced fetal and placental growth in the rats. Here, we examined the effect of n-3 PUFAs on placental antioxidant defences and whether n-3 PUFA supplementation could prevent growth restriction induced by placental ischaemia–reperfusion (IR), a known inducer of oxidative stress. Rats were fed either standard or high-n-3 PUFA diets from day 1 of pregnancy. Placentas were collected on days 17 and 22 in untreated pregnancies (term=day 23) and at day 22 following IR treatment on day 17. Expression of several antioxidant enzyme genes (Sod1,Sod2,Sod3,Cat,Txn1andGpx3) andUcp2was measured by quantitative RT-PCR in the placental labyrinth zone (LZ) and junctional zone (JZ). Cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD), mitochondrial SOD and catalase (CAT) activities were also analyzed. Maternal n-3 PUFA supplementation increased LZ mRNA expression ofCatat both gestational days (2- and 1.5-fold respectively;P<0.01) and femaleSod2at day 22 (1.4-fold,P<0.01). Cytosolic SOD activity increased with n-3 PUFA supplementation at day 22 (1.3-fold,P<0.05).Sod1andTxn1expression decreased marginally (30 and 22%,P<0.05). JZ antioxidant defences were largely unaffected by diet. Despite increased LZ antioxidant defences, maternal n-3 PUFA supplementation did not protect against placental IR-induced growth restriction of the fetus and placental LZ.


Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Carla O. Silva ◽  
Sara C. Novais ◽  
Amadeu M. V. M. Soares ◽  
Carlos Barata ◽  
Marco F. L. Lemos

The marine red algae Asparagopsis armata is an invasive species gaining competitive advantage by releasing large amounts of toxic compounds to the surrounding invaded area. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of this invasive seaweed on marine invertebrates by exposing the common prawn Palaemon elegans and the marine snail Gibbula umbilicalis to the exudate of this seaweed. The seaweed was collected and placed in a tank for 12 h in the dark in a 1:10 ratio. Afterwards the seawater medium containing the released secondary metabolites was collected for further testing. Lethal and sublethal effects of A. armata were investigated. Biochemical biomarker responses associated with energy metabolism (lactate dehydrogenase, LDH; electron transport system activity, ETS; lipid, protein and carbohydrate content) were analysed. The biomarker responses showed physiological status impairment of invertebrates after exposure to low concentrations of this algal exudate. The highest concentrations of exudate significantly increased lipid content in both organisms. In the shrimp, protein content, ETS, and LDH were also significantly increased. By contrast, these parameters were significantly decreased in G. umbilicalis. A behavioural impairment was also observed in G. umbilicalis exposed to A. armata exudate, reducing feeding consumption. These results represent an important step in the research of natural toxic exudates released to the environment and prospective effects of this seaweed in invaded communities under increasing global change scenarios.


2021 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-435
Author(s):  
Marinko Vilić ◽  
◽  
Ivona Žura Žaja ◽  
Mirta Tkalec ◽  
Anamaria Štambuk ◽  
...  

Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) at the operating frequencies of different communication devices can cause various biological effects. However, there is a lack of studies on the oxidative stress response and genotoxicity in the honey bee (Apis mellifera) after exposure to RF-EMF. In this study, we investigated the oxidative stress and DNA damage in honey bee larvae situated in waxcomb cells, exposed to modulated RF-EMF 23 Vm-1. The glutathione S-transferase activity decreased, whereas the catalase activity increased significantly in the honey bee larvae upon RF-EMF exposure. Superoxide dismutase activity, the level of lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage were not statistically altered in exposed honey bee larvae when compared to the control group. These results suggest that the biological effects of modulated RF-EMF in honey bee larvae depend on the exposure design.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanos Roumeliotis ◽  
Athanasios Roumeliotis ◽  
Xenia Gorny ◽  
Peter R. Mertens

In end-stage renal disease patients, the leading causes of mortality are of cardiovascular (CV) origin. The underlying mechanisms are complex, given that sudden heart failure is more common than acute myocardial infarction. A contributing role of oxidative stress is postulated, which is increased even at early stages of chronic kidney disease, is gradually augmented in parallel to progression to endstage renal disease and is further accelerated by renal replacement therapy. Oxidative stress ensues when there is an imbalance between reactive pro-oxidants and physiologically occurring electron donating antioxidant defence systems. During the last decade, a close association of oxidative stress with accelerated atherosclerosis and increased risk for CV and all-cause mortality has been established. Lipid peroxidation has been identified as a trigger for endothelial dysfunction, the first step towards atherogenesis. In order to counteract the deleterious effects of free radicals and thereby ameliorate, or delay, CV disease, exogenous administration of antioxidants has been proposed. Here, we attempt to summarize existing data from studies that test antioxidants for CV protection, such as vitamins E and C, statins, omega-3 fatty acids and N-acetylcysteine.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-199
Author(s):  
Seval Yilmaz ◽  
Fatih Mehmet Kandemir ◽  
Emre Kaya ◽  
Mustafa Ozkaraca

Objective: This study aimed to detect hepatic oxidative damage caused by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), as well as to examine how propolis protects against hepatotoxic effects of AFB1. Method: Rats were split into four groups as control group, AFB1 group, propolis group, AFB1+ propolis group. Results: There was significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) level and tumor suppressor protein (TP53) gene expression, Glutathione (GSH) level, Catalase (CAT) activity, CAT gene expression decreased in AFB1 group in blood. MDA level and Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) activity, GST and TP53 gene expressions increased in AFB1 group, whereas GSH level and CAT activity alongside CAT gene expression decreased in liver. AFB1+propolis group showed significant decrease in MDA level, GST activity, TP53 and GST gene expressions, GSH level and CAT activity and CAT gene expression increased in liver compared to AFB1 group. Conclusion: These results suggest that propolis may potentially be natural agent that prevents AFB1- induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 519-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara M. Gomes ◽  
Milena Carvalho-Silva ◽  
Letícia J. Teixeira ◽  
Joyce Rebelo ◽  
Isabella T. Mota ◽  
...  

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