Akirins in sea lice: first steps towards a deeper understanding.

Sea lice (Copepoda, Caligidae) are the most widely distributed marine pathogens in the salmon industry. Vaccination could be an environmentally friendly alternative for sea lice control; however, research on the development of such vaccines is still at an early stage of development. Recent results have suggested that subolesin/akirin/my32 are good candidate antigens for the control of arthropod infestations, including sea lice, but background knowledge about these genes in crustaceans is limited. Herein, we characterize the my32 gene/protein from two important sea lice species, Caligus rogercresseyi and Lepeophtheirus salmonis, based on cDNA sequence isolation, phylogenetic relationships, three dimensional structure prediction and expression analysis. The results show that these genes/proteins have the main characteristics of akirins from invertebrates. In addition, immunization with purified recombinant my32 from L. salmonis elicited a specific antibody response in mice and fish. These results provide an improvement to our current knowledge about my32 proteins and their potential use as vaccine candidates against sea lice in fish.

Lead concentrations in zooplankton, water, and particulate matter of a southwestern Atlantic temperate estuary (Argentina).

This study presents for the first time valuable results of lead (Pb) accumulation in zooplankton from a southwestern Atlantic temperate estuary, the Bahía Blanca estuary, one of the most important and industrialized coastal environments of Argentina. It considers Pb concentrations in zooplankton organisms as well as in the dissolved and particulate phases. These fractions were analyzed on account of their important role in the biogeochemical cycles of trace elements in estuarine environments. In addition, the major physicochemical variables, i.e., nutrients, and pigment concentrations, and zooplankton composition and abundance, were also considered to understand Pb levels in the above-mentioned fractions. Samplings were performed from March to December 2005 with a bimonthly frequency and comprised a study area with stations located near industrial settlements and other stations a few kilometers far from these points. The results of the physicochemical variables and nutrients and pigments agreed with historic values for the estuary and did not present any evidence of abnormalities. Dissolved Pb presented a mean concentration of 2.15 ± 0.46 µg L(-1), whereas particulate Pb presented a mean concentration of 13.52 ± 3.07 µg g(-1) dry weight (dw). In the mesozooplankton, represented by copepods, the mean concentration was similar to the particulate fraction (13.38 ± 4.41 µg g(-1) dw), whereas in the macrozooplankton, represented by mysids, it was lower (9.81 ± 1.89 µg g(-1) dw). Thus, Pb concentrations were relatively high in the dissolved and particulate phases. Moreover, zooplankton accumulated important concentrations of this metal, which was mainly incorporated through suspended particulate matter (SPM). The source of Pb in all of these fractions is related to the industry discharges as well domestic sewage located near the sampling stations. Finally, through these results, it was possible to show the importance of zooplankton and SPM in the biogeochemical cycle of Pb as well as the interaction between these fractions in an estuarine and anthropogenic environment, such as the Bahía Blanca estuary.

Mechanism of acute silver toxicity in the euryhaline copepod Acartia tonsa.

Acute silver effects on whole-body ion regulation and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity were evaluated in the euryhaline copepod Acartia tonsa. Experiments were run at 20 degrees C, three different salinities (5, 15 and 30 ppt), in either the absence or the presence of food (diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii; 2 x 10(4)cells/mL). Standard static-renewal procedures were used. Copepods were acutely (48 h) exposed to silver (AgNO(3)) concentrations equivalent to the 48-h EC10 (dissolved Ag=3, 49, and 94 microg/L), 48-h EC30 (dissolved Ag=5, 71, and 125 microg/L) or 48-h EC50 (dissolved Ag=7, 83, and 173 microg/L) values in the absence of food or to the 48-h EC50 (dissolved Ag=35, 90, and 178 microg/L) values in the presence of food. These values were previously determined under the same experimental conditions at salinities 5, 15 and 30 ppt, respectively. Endpoints analyzed were whole-body ion concentrations (Na(+), Cl(-), and Mg(2+)) and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. In starved copepods, lower whole-body Na(+) and Mg(2+) concentrations were observed in salinities 5 and 30 ppt, respectively. Also a higher whole-body Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity was observed in all salinities tested. Data from fed copepods indicate that all these salinity effects were completely associated with starvation. Silver exposure induced a decrease in the whole-body Mg(2+) concentration in starved copepods in salinities 5 and 30 ppt and a Na(+),K(+)-ATPase inhibition in both starved and fed copepods in all salinities tested. Thus, food addition in the experimental media completely protected against silver effects on Mg(2+) concentration, but not against those on Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. In starved copepods, enzyme inhibition was dependent on silver concentration and a relationship between this parameter and mortality was observed in all salinities tested. Therefore, Na(+),K(+)-ATPase molecules seem to be a key site for acute silver toxicity in marine invertebrates, as reported for freshwater fish and crustaceans.

Composition, abundance and distribution of macrozooplankton in Culebra Bay, Gulf of Papagayo, Pacific coast of Costa Rica and its value as bioindicator of pollution

La abundancia, distribución y composición del macrozooplancton fue estudiada en bahía Culebra Costa Rica (10º 38’ N and 85º 40’ W) en cuatro estaciones durante la época seca (Febrero-Mayo) y lluviosa (Setiembre – Noviembre) del año 2000. Las muestras fueron colectadas en intervalos de dos semanas usando una red de 500µm de poro y 0.50-m de diámetro. Copépodos (23-31%) y ostrácodos (20-34%) fueron predominantes através del año, seguidos por los cladóceros (2.5-14%), zoea (6.6-9.5%), y sifonóforos (2.5-7.2%). Altas densidades de zooplancton fueron obtenidas en Febrero y Marzo, con un pico el 18 de Marzo. Las más bajas densidades fueron observadas el 3 de Septiembre y 5 de Noviembre. Se observaron diferencias significativas en las abundancias en cada estación para los copépodos de la especie Acartia tonsa, los grupos Ctenophora, medusae, Ostracoda, zoea y Amphipoda. Comparando las estaciones seca y lluviosa, significativamente más altas densidades fueron obtenidas en todas las estaciones en la época seca; durante la época lluviosa los ostrácodos dominaron las áreas externas. La abundancia y distribución del macrozooplancton son influenciadas por el afloramiento, el cual ocurre durante la época seca en Bahía Culebra

The abundance, distribution and composition of the macrozooplankton of Culebra Bay, Costa Rica (10º 38’ N - 85º 40’ W) were studied at four stations throughout the dry (February - May) and rainy (September - November) seasons of 2000. The samples were collected at two-week intervals using a 500µm mesh net with a 0.5 m diameter opening. Copepods (23-31%) and ostracods (20-34%) were predominant throughout the year, followed by cladocerans (2.5-14%), zoea (6.6-9.5%), and siphonophores (2.5-7.2%). High densities of zooplankton were obtained in February and March with peak abundance on March 18. The lowest densities were observed on September 3 and November 5. Significant differences in abundances at each station were observed for the groups Acartia tonsa (Copepoda), Ctenophora, Medusae, Ostracoda, Zoea, and Amphipoda. Comparison of the dry and rainy seasons revealed significantly higher zooplankton abundance in the dry season and copepod domination of all stations; during the rainy season ostracods dominated the off-shore areas. Zooplankton abundance and distribution are influenced by upwelling, which occurs during the dry season in Culebra Bay

Composition, abundance and distribution of macrozooplankton in Culebra Bay, Gulf of Papagayo, Pacific coast of Costa Rica and its value as bioindicator of pollution.

The abundance, distribution and composition of the macrozooplankton of Culebra Bay, Costa Rica (10 degrees 38' N - 85 degrees 40' W) were studied at four stations throughout the dry (February-May) and rainy (September-November) seasons of 2000. The samples were collected at two-week intervals using a 500 microm mesh net with a 0.5 m diameter opening. Copepods (23-31%) and ostracods (20-34%) were predominant throughout the year, followed by cladocerans (2.5-14%), zoea (6.6-9.5%), and siphonophores (2.5-7.2%). High densities of zooplankton were obtained in February and March with peak abundance on March 18. The lowest densities were observed on September 3 and November 5. Significant differences in abundances at each station were observed for the groups Acartia tonsa (Copepoda), Ctenophora, Medusae, Ostracoda, Zoea, and Amphipoda. Comparison of the dry and rainy seasons revealed significantly higher zooplankton abundance in the dry season and copepod domination of all stations; during the rainy season ostracods dominated the off-shore areas. Zooplankton abundance and distribution are influenced by upwelling, which occurs during the dry season in Culebra Bay.