Isolation and characterization of a novel protein toxin from the Hawaiian box jellyfish (sea wasp) Carybdea alata.

The box jellyfish (sea wasp) Carybdea alata Reynaud, 1830 (Cubozoa) is distributed widely in the tropics. The sting of C. alata causes severe pain and cutaneous inflammation in humans. We successfully isolated C. alata toxin-A (CaTX-A, 43 kDa) and -B (CaTX-B, 45 kDa) for the first time from the tentacle of C. alata collected at a site along the Hawaiian shore. The experimental results showed that CaTX-A, but not CaTX-B, is present in the nematocyst, the organ responsible for stinging. Both CaTX-A and -B showed potent hemolytic activity, with CaTX-A being lethally toxic to crayfish when administered via intraperitoneal injection. Furthermore, we sequenced the cDNA encoding CaTX-A. The deduced amino acid sequence of CaTX-A (463 amino acids) showed 43.7% homology to Carybdea rastoni toxins (CrTXs) but not with any other known proteins. Therefore, these jellyfish toxins potentially represent a novel class of bioactive proteins. Secondary structure analysis of CaTX-A and CrTXs suggested the presence of amphiphilic alpha-helices, which are also seen in several known hemolytic or cytolytic protein toxins, including peptide toxins.

Serum T(4) and serum T(3) concentrations in immature captive whitetip reef sharks, Triaenodon obesus.

Serum T(3) (3,5,3' triiodothyronine) and serum T(4) (thyroxine) concentrations were repetitively assayed by radioimmunoassay over a three-year period in two male and two female immature captive whitetip reef sharks, Triaenodon obesus. These sharks were maintained at the Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu, Hawaii, in an open system holding pool receiving 568 liters per minute of water from a saltwater well with an iodide concentration of 0.076 mg/liter. No significant male-female difference was observed for either serum T(3) or serum T(4). No seasonal pattern of serum T(3) was detected (P = 0.07). Serum T(3) concentrations ranged (mean +/- SEM) from 0. 52 to 0.83 ng/mL (0.67 +/- 0.01; n = 64). A significant seasonal difference was observed for serum T(4) (P < 0.001). Serum T(4) concentration was higher in winter (October-January) with a mean (range +/- SEM) of 6.58 ng/mL (1.48-8.77 +/- 0.35; n = 24) and lower in summer (May-August) with a mean of 3.62 ng/mL (1.34-5.71 +/- 0. 22; n = 24). The thyroid hormone T(4) has a seasonal rhythm even in immature sharks and may have an important role in physiology. J. Exp. Zool. 284:500-504, 1999.

The business of planning your practice: success is no accident.

Not all businesses succeed. A successful business beings with a well-executed business plan. A business plan is essential for the nurse practitioner who is attempting to open a practice. To finance your practice you need a business plan that identifies your purpose, the market you will service, how the practice will be financed, and the general business structure. The importance of planning your practice cannot be overemphasized. A business plan can lessen the likelihood of failure.

Fusarium solani fungal infection of the lateral line canal system in captive scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) in Hawaii.

Two of five scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) captured May 1987 in Hawaii (USA) developed granulomatous exudative mycotic dermatitis localized in the lateral line canal system. The lesion initially was noted in the cephalic canals, but over a period of months extended into the lateral canal. Fusarium solani and Vibrio spp. were isolated from the canal exudate of both sharks. Bacterial colonies were not observed in the canal walls or surrounding tissues. Fusarium solani infection resulted in a chronic physical and behavioral deterioration of the two sharks; one shark was euthanized in September 1988 and the other in July 1989. This is the first report of Fusarium solani infection in the lateral line canal system and the third account in hammerhead sharks.