Growth and Cyclin-E Expression in the Stony Coral Species Orbicella faveolata Post-Microfragmentation.

AbstractCoral growth is critical to reef health, resilience under rapidly changing environmental conditions, and restoration efforts. Although fragmenting coral has been occurring for many years in an effort to restore reefs, recently it was discovered that microfragmenting, the process of cutting one piece of coral into many small pieces (about three to five polyps), induces exponential growth. Our study investigates the process by which microfragments of nine different genotypes from the stony coral species Orbicella faveolata grow and exhibit Cyclin-E expression. Microfragments were examined by using a high-powered dissecting microscope with a camera to document the precise areas of tissue exhibiting exponential growth. We found that new polyp formation occurs only on the microfragment edges and that edge polyp growth rates varied between different genotypes. We then extracted tissue from both the edge and the center of five genotypes for genetic analysis. We chose to analyze Cyclin-E expression because it is involved with stimulating mitotic division and is a conserved signaling pathway that is known to exist in Drosophila, mammals, and Cnidaria. Two primers for Cyclin-E were utilized to examine the level of expression for center and edge tissue. We found that Cyclin-E is expressed differentially between O. faveolata polyps, with a tendency for increased expression of the Cyclin-E in edge versus center tissue in each of five genotypes, although this result was not significant. Despite consistently higher levels of Cyclin-E expression within an organism's edge tissue, genotypes varied significantly in the degree of increased expression. This variation positively correlated with growth rate, suggesting the potential for molecular selection in aid of more rapid reef restoration. Future work will focus on deciphering the specific growth pathways involved in microfragmented coral growth and analyzing expression patterns in injured tissues.

Periodic mass treatment with diethylcarbamazine for the control of filariasis in American Samoa.

Filariasis surveys made during 1962-63 in 5 villages in American Samoa among persons over 5 years of age gave an elephantiasis rate of 3.4%, a microfilarial rate of 26% and a median microfilarial rate (MfD(50)) of 29. These rates were somewhat higher than those found in surveys made in the same villages among villagers of the same ages some 20 years previously. A mass treatment programme with diethylcarbamazine was then decided on.Preliminary treatment with a single total regimen of 72 mg of the drug per kg of body weight, given in 12 doses of 6 mg/kg, was administered in several villages over a period of 6 months. Among villagers of all ages at the end of 3 years, the microfilarial rate was 7.3% and the MfD(50) value was 2. These results appeared to be inadequate for a successful control programme and a periodic mass treatment project of 2 or more regimens of 72 mg/kg to be administered every 2 years was instituted on the Island of Tutuila, to be continued until considered no longer necessary.Surveys made 2 years after the second mass treatment in the villages of Amouli, Amanave, Onenoa, Tula, Alao, Utumea and Alofau, in which 1407 persons were examined, showed that 3 villages were negative for microfilariae, that the average microfilarial rate in all 7 villages was 0.4% and that the MfD(50) was 1. These villages were also negative in intensive mosquito surveys for infective-stage larvae of Wuchereria bancrofti. It is suggested that interruption of transmission has been observed in the 3 villages negative for both microfilariae and infective-stage larvae and that, if favourable surveys continue, eradication programmes should be established.