Modulation of innate immune responses in the flame scallop Ctenoides scaber (Born, 1778) caused by exposure to used automobile crankcase oils.

The used automobile crankcase oils are potential sources of contaminant elements for the coastal-marine ecosystems, affecting mainly the immunological system of organisms that feed by filtration, e. g. scallops. This study examined the effects of a water-soluble fraction of used automobile crankcase oils (WSF-UACO) on innate cellular- and humoral immune responses of the flame scallop Ctenoides scaber. The scallops were exposed to ascending concentrations of 0, 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 of WSF-UACO under a static system of aquaria during 7 and 13 d. The viability, haemocyte total count (HTC), lysosomal membrane destabilization (LMD), phagocytosis, and protein concentration in hemolymph samples withdrawn taken from the blood sinus as well as lysozyme activity of the digestive gland were measured as immune endpoints. A decrease in cellular immune competence in scallops exposed to WSF-UACO was observed, with significant impairment of viability, HTC, and phagocytosis. LMD index increased about exposure concentrations, and plasma protein concentrations augmented to 0.01 and 0.1% during 13 d. Lysozyme activity increased in scallops exposed to WSF-UVCO during 7 d, to level off in the chronic period. Lysozyme activity and enhanced plasma proteins could act as compensatory responses when cell parameters tend to fall, helping to the regulation of microbial microflora and possible invasion of pathogenic microbes as well as defense against xenobiotics. The results demonstrate that the immunological responses of C. scaber are highly sensitive to the complex chemical mixture of contaminants, and it could be used for evaluating biological risks of hazardous xenobiotics in tropical marine environments. Republic of Ecuador.

Colorless spherule cells and lysozyme contribute to innate immunological responses in the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus, exposed to bacterial challenge.

The sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus is considered a good candidate for aquaculture, but bacterial diseases are a major challenge in culture conditions. The innate immunological defenses of L. variegatus to bacterial challenges were assessed through hematology parameters, in vitro phagocytosis, lysozyme activity and total plasma protein concentrations in cell-free coelomic fluid. Adult sea urchins were inoculated with Microccocus lysodeikticus, Escherichia coli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the cavity coelomic. Filtrated and sterile seawater (FSW) injected and non-injected sea urchins were used as control groups. Righting time, external aspects and behavior of sea urchins were evaluated. Twenty-four hours post-inoculation, we found an increase in the population of colorless spherule cells (CLS), phagocytosis, and humoral responses in sea urchins challenged by bacterial inoculations. Righting time was not affected by the treatments and apparent external signs of disease were not observed at least during 96h post-inoculation. The immunological system of L. variegatus quickly eliminated pathogenic microorganisms. CLS and lysozyme activity cooperate in the immune defenses of L. variegatus, showing an extraordinary efficiency for adjusting the immune defenses under stress caused by microbes. We recommend that the cellular and humoral markers serve as routine tests to monitor health status in sea urchins.

Antioxidant defenses of flame scallop Ctenoides scaber (Born, 1778) exposed to the water-soluble fraction of used vehicle crankcase oils.

Used vehicle crankcase oils are a source of contamination in Caribbean marine environments and may alter the oxidative balance of organism that inhabiting coastal ecosystems. This paper aims to evaluate effects of a water-soluble fraction of used vehicle crankcase oils (WSF-UVCO) on the antioxidant responses of the flame scallop Ctenoides scaber. The organisms were exposed to ascending sublethal concentrations 0, 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 % of WSF-UVCO in a static system of aquaria during one week. Subsequently activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) as well as concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were determined in the digestive gland, adductor muscle and gills. SOD, CAT, GST and TBARS increased in digestive gland of organisms exposed to WSF-UVCO at medium and highest concentrations, with a concomitant decrease in GPX and GR activities. In adductor muscle CAT decreased, but GR rose with exposure to 0.01 and 0.1 % WSF-UVCO; in gills, GST rose through all WSF-UVCO concentrations, and SOD, CAT and GR increased only at 0.1 %. The fluctuations in antioxidant enzymes and GST activities point out possible adjustments to control ROS production and detoxification of xenobiotics. These biochemical responses may guarantee the oxidative balance in flame scallop during short term exposure to low concentrations of WSF-UVCO. C. scaber appears suitable as an experimental organism for evaluating biological risks of sublethal exposure to hazardous xenobiotics in tropical marine environments.

Respuestas inmunológicas y de enzimas antioxidantes en la ostra perla Pinctada imbricata (molusca: pteridae) expuesta a niveles subletales de fuel oil N#6 / Immunologic answers and of anti-rust enzymes in the oyster pearl Pinctada imbricata (molusca pteridae) exposed at levels subletales of fuel oil N#6

Se evaluó las respuestas inmunológicas y de sistemas enzimáticos antioxidantes que participan en el control de toxicidad de oxidoradicales en la ostra perla Pinctada imbricata, después de la exposición aguda (7d) a 25 y 100 por ciento de la fracción soluble de Fuel Oil N#6 (FSA), una fuente de hidrocarburos poliaromáticos y de metales pesados en los ecosistemas marinos. La actividad de lisozimas en glándula digestiva en la fagocitosis en los hemocitos ueron determinadas como respuestas inmunológicas humoral y celular, respectivamente, usando levaduras muertas por calos como antígeno para el ensayo de la fagocitosis. La variabilidad y el número total de hemocitos también fueron determinados. Las enzimas antioxidantes glutationa transferasa (GST), glutationa reductasa (GR), glutationa peroxidasa (GPx) y catalasa (CAT), glutationa reductasa (GR), glutationa de glándula digestiva y manto. En la glándula digestiva, la exposición a FSA incrementó significativamente las actividades de GTS y CAT. En el manto se produjo un aumento en la actividad de GPx y descenso en las actividades de GST y GR, mientras que CAT no fue afectada. A excepción de la viabilidad celular a la exposición del 100 por ciento FSA, los indicadores inmunológicos no fueron afectados por el contaminante. Los resultados muestran la sensibilidad de las enzimas antioxidantes de la glándula digestiva y manto a la exposición subletal aguda de Fuel Oil N#6, sugiriendo un incremento en el flujo de oxiradicales y posibles manifestaciones bioquímicas perjudiciales asociadas con estrés oxidativo en ambos tejidos. Estos parámetros pueden ser utilizados como herramientas potenciales para el estudio de la toxicidad de contaminantes en el medio marino