Les dernières décennies ont été marquées par l’intensification et l’expansion des efflorescences de micro-algues toxiques (HAB). Connues pour perturber les écosystèmes côtiers et pour leur toxicité sur les organismes marins, les HAB sont suspectées d’être à l’origine de défauts de recrutement de bivalves. Cette thèse avait pour objectif d’étudier les conséquences des efflorescences du dinoflagellé toxique Alexandrium minutum, producteur de toxines paralysantes (PST) et des composés bioactifs extracellulaires (BEC), sur la reproduction, le développement et le recrutement de l’huître Crassostrea gigas, une espèce à l’importance économique majeure. Les gamètes libres et les jeunes stades de développement se révèlent être les plus sensibles, en particulier aux BEC produits par A. minutum qui inhibent la fécondation et l’embryogenèse. A. minutum modifie le comportement des larves véligères, provoque une diminution de leur filtration, de leur croissance et du taux de fixation. Une exposition des adultes, pendant la gamétogenèse, affecte le développement des descendants, traduisant des altérations du contenu gamétique et/ou un transfert vertical des PST. Les modalités d’action des PST et des BEC devront être précisées. Nos expérimentations, réalisées à des concentrations de micro-algues rencontrées dans l’environnement, suggèrent que des efflorescences récurrentes d’A. minutum lors des périodes de reproduction et de développement larvaire pourraient, sur le long terme, affecter la structure des populations naturelles et cultivées de C. gigas. / Recent decades have witnessed the intensification and spread of harmful algal blooms (HAB). HAB are known to disrupt coastal ecosystems and to be toxic for marine organisms. These phenomena are also suspected to be responsible for recruitment failures of bivalves. The aim of this PhD was to study the consequences of blooms of toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum on the reproduction, development and recruitment of the oyster Crassostrea gigas, a species of major economic importance. A. minutum is known to produce paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) and bioactive extracellular compounds (BEC). Gametes and early life stages were the most sensitive, particularly to the bioactive extracellular compounds (BEC) produced by A. minutum, which inhibited fertilization and embryogenesis. A. minutum modified the behaviour of veliger larvae, decreased their filtration, growth and settlement. Exposure of adult oysters during gametogenesis affected the development of offspring, reflecting alterations in gamete content and/or vertical transfer of PST. Mode of action of PST and BEC are to further investigate. These oyster exposures, conducted at environmentally relevant concentrations of microalgae, suggest that recurrent blooms of A. minutum during oyster spawning and larval development could have long-term consequences on the structure of wild and cultured populations of C. gigas.

As toxinas do envenenamento paralisante por moluscos (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning – PSP) são compostos naturais bioativos conhecidos devido ao consumo acidental de frutos do mar contaminados. Estas moléculas, das quais a mais potente é a saxitoxina (STX), são uma classe de alcalóides neurotóxicos que possuem diferentes análogos e diferentes toxicidades, e são produzidas por algumas cianobactérias e algumas espécies de dinoflagelados do gênero Alexandrium, Gymnodinium e Pyrodinium. As toxinas paralisantes são neurotoxinas solúveis em água que agem sobre células nervosas e musculares através do bloqueio dos canais de sódio dependentes de voltagem, desta maneira, impedindo a condução do sinal no neurônio o que leva a uma paralisia muscular. Em casos graves, pode ocorrer morte por insuficiência respiratória. O envenenamento diarréico por moluscos (Diarrhetic Shelfish Poisoning – DSP) é caracterizado por problemas gastrointestinais com sintomas como diarréia, náusea, vômito, dor de cabeça, calafrios e dores abdominais. DSP é conseqüência do consumo de mariscos contaminados que ingeriram dinoflagelados do gênero Dynophysis e Prorocentrun através de sua alimentação por filtração da água. Contaminação de frutos do mar por toxinas PSP ou DSP coloca-se como sério problema para a indústria pesqueira e para a saúde pública. Neste estudo, estabeleceu-se um programa de monitoração para mexilhões (Perna perna) e para peixes (Sardinella brasiliensis, Anchoviella lepidentostole e Brevoortia aurea) coletados em peixarias e entrepostos de pesca no municípios de Caraguatatuba e São Sebastião, São Paulo. Os extratos para PSP foram preparados de duas maneiras: de acordo com a AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists), através do aquecimento por 5 min de uma mistura de 100 g de tecidos homogeneizados com ácido acético 0,1 N; ou a partir da concentração de extratos etanólicos de músculo + pele dos peixes. Os bioensaios com camundongos para PSP consistem na injeção intraperitonial de 1 mL do extrato ácido em cada um dos três camundongos (~ 20 g). O animal é observado quanto aos sintomas clássicos de PSP e o tempo de morte é anotado e então a toxicidade é determinada (em mouse units, MU) pela tabela de Sommer. Para as toxinas causadoras de DSP, os extratos foram preparados pela extração com acetona do homogeneizado das glândulas digestivas, e a determinação da presença destas toxinas é feita através da injeção intraperitonial em camundongos. Nos bioensaios com os extratos preparados segundo o método da AOAC, não houve casos positivos. Para o bioensaio realizado com extratos etanólicos obtiveram-se resultados positivos para 77,8% dos extratos testados. A média de MU de todas as amostras, neste caso, foi de 0,147 MU/g. Nos bioensaios para DSP, três amostras resultaram em sinais que evidenciam a presença destas toxinas, pois os camundongos injetados apresentaram quadro diarréico. Os extratos etanólicos, com positividade para as toxinas de PSP, foram fracionados usando-se colunas Sep-Pak C18. A primeira eluição, com ácido acético 0,1 M, foi analisada usando-se o método de préderivatização e cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com detecção de fluorescência. As analises em CLAE indicaram a presença de compostos semelhantes às toxinas paralisantes de PSP, confirmando os bioensaios. Portanto, pela primeira vez no Brasil demonstrou-se que as espécies S. brasiliensis, A. lepidentostole e B. aurea são portadoras de toxinas paralisantes, semelhantes às PSP, em pequenas concentrações e que um programa de monitoração é necessário em nosso país para verificação da presença dessas toxinas em organismos que são usados como alimento pela população. / The Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins are well-known natural bioactive compounds due to their accidental consumption in contaminated seafood. These molecules, of which the most potent representative is saxitoxin (STX), are a class of neurotoxic alkaloids, having different isoforms and varied toxicities, that are produced by some cyanobacteria and some species of dinoflagellates from the genus Alexandrium, Gymnodinium and Pyrodinium. PSP toxins are water-soluble neurotoxins that act on nerve and muscle cells by blocking sodium channels voltage-dependent, thus preventing the conductance of neuron signal leading to muscular paralysis. In severe cases, death may result due to respiratory failure. Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) is a gastrointestinal illness with symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, chills and moderate to severe abdominal pain. DSP is usually a consequence of consuming contaminated shellfish that have ingested dinoflagellates of the genera Dinophysis and Prorocentrun through their filter feeding activities. Contamination of seafood by PSP and DSP toxins has posed serious problems to the fisheries industry as well to public health. In this study, was stabilized a monitoring program to shellfish (Perna perna) and finfish (Sardinella brasiliensis, Anchoviella lepidentostole and Brevoortia aurea) collected in fish markets in Caraguatatuba and São Sebastião cities, São Paulo state. The extracts for PSP were prepared by two ways: according to AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists), through the heating for 5 min of blend of 100 g of well mixed sample with 0.1 N HCl; or through of the concentration of ethanolic extracts from finfish’s muscle + skin. The PSP mouse bioassay for PSP toxins involves intraperitonial injection (i.p.) of 1 mL of the acid extract into each of three mice (~ 20 g). The mice were observed for classical PSP symptoms and the time to mouse death was recorded and the toxicity was determinate (in mouse units, MU) from the Sommer’s table. To DSP toxins, the extracts was prepared trough the extraction of digestive glands with acetone, and i.p injection in mice was used to determine the presence of theses toxins. In the mouse bioassay for the extracts prepared by AOAC method no positive results was obtained. For the mouse bioassay with ehtanolic extracts was obtained positive results to 77.8 % of the tested extracts. The media of MU of all samples, in this case, was 0,147 MU/g. To the mouse bioassay for the DSP toxins, three samples gives evidence of presence of the diarrhetic toxins, because the mice showed signal like diarrhea. The ethanolic extracts, that was positive to the PSP toxins, was fractionated by a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. The first elution, with 0.1 M acetic acid, was analyzed by using prechromatographic oxidation and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The HPLC analysis indicated the presence of the PSP toxins, confirming the bioassays. Therefore, in the first time in Brazil was demonstrated that the species S. brasiliensis, A. lepidentostole and B. aurea are carriers of toxins like PSP in little concentrations and that a monitoring program is necessary in our country to verify the presence of these toxins in organisms that are used as food by the population.

As toxinas do envenenamento paralisante por moluscos (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning – PSP) são compostos naturais bioativos conhecidos devido ao consumo acidental de frutos do mar contaminados. Estas moléculas, das quais a mais potente é a saxitoxina (STX), são uma classe de alcalóides neurotóxicos que possuem diferentes análogos e diferentes toxicidades, e são produzidas por algumas cianobactérias e algumas espécies de dinoflagelados do gênero Alexandrium, Gymnodinium e Pyrodinium. As toxinas paralisantes são neurotoxinas solúveis em água que agem sobre células nervosas e musculares através do bloqueio dos canais de sódio dependentes de voltagem, desta maneira, impedindo a condução do sinal no neurônio o que leva a uma paralisia muscular. Em casos graves, pode ocorrer morte por insuficiência respiratória. O envenenamento diarréico por moluscos (Diarrhetic Shelfish Poisoning – DSP) é caracterizado por problemas gastrointestinais com sintomas como diarréia, náusea, vômito, dor de cabeça, calafrios e dores abdominais. DSP é conseqüência do consumo de mariscos contaminados que ingeriram dinoflagelados do gênero Dynophysis e Prorocentrun através de sua alimentação por filtração da água. Contaminação de frutos do mar por toxinas PSP ou DSP coloca-se como sério problema para a indústria pesqueira e para a saúde pública. Neste estudo, estabeleceu-se um programa de monitoração para mexilhões (Perna perna) e para peixes (Sardinella brasiliensis, Anchoviella lepidentostole e Brevoortia aurea) coletados em peixarias e entrepostos de pesca no municípios de Caraguatatuba e São Sebastião, São Paulo. Os extratos para PSP foram preparados de duas maneiras: de acordo com a AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists), através do aquecimento por 5 min de uma mistura de 100 g de tecidos homogeneizados com ácido acético 0,1 N; ou a partir da concentração de extratos etanólicos de músculo + pele dos peixes. Os bioensaios com camundongos para PSP consistem na injeção intraperitonial de 1 mL do extrato ácido em cada um dos três camundongos (~ 20 g). O animal é observado quanto aos sintomas clássicos de PSP e o tempo de morte é anotado e então a toxicidade é determinada (em mouse units, MU) pela tabela de Sommer. Para as toxinas causadoras de DSP, os extratos foram preparados pela extração com acetona do homogeneizado das glândulas digestivas, e a determinação da presença destas toxinas é feita através da injeção intraperitonial em camundongos. Nos bioensaios com os extratos preparados segundo o método da AOAC, não houve casos positivos. Para o bioensaio realizado com extratos etanólicos obtiveram-se resultados positivos para 77,8% dos extratos testados. A média de MU de todas as amostras, neste caso, foi de 0,147 MU/g. Nos bioensaios para DSP, três amostras resultaram em sinais que evidenciam a presença destas toxinas, pois os camundongos injetados apresentaram quadro diarréico. Os extratos etanólicos, com positividade para as toxinas de PSP, foram fracionados usando-se colunas Sep-Pak C18. A primeira eluição, com ácido acético 0,1 M, foi analisada usando-se o método de préderivatização e cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com detecção de fluorescência. As analises em CLAE indicaram a presença de compostos semelhantes às toxinas paralisantes de PSP, confirmando os bioensaios. Portanto, pela primeira vez no Brasil demonstrou-se que as espécies S. brasiliensis, A. lepidentostole e B. aurea são portadoras de toxinas paralisantes, semelhantes às PSP, em pequenas concentrações e que um programa de monitoração é necessário em nosso país para verificação da presença dessas toxinas em organismos que são usados como alimento pela população. / The Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins are well-known natural bioactive compounds due to their accidental consumption in contaminated seafood. These molecules, of which the most potent representative is saxitoxin (STX), are a class of neurotoxic alkaloids, having different isoforms and varied toxicities, that are produced by some cyanobacteria and some species of dinoflagellates from the genus Alexandrium, Gymnodinium and Pyrodinium. PSP toxins are water-soluble neurotoxins that act on nerve and muscle cells by blocking sodium channels voltage-dependent, thus preventing the conductance of neuron signal leading to muscular paralysis. In severe cases, death may result due to respiratory failure. Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) is a gastrointestinal illness with symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, chills and moderate to severe abdominal pain. DSP is usually a consequence of consuming contaminated shellfish that have ingested dinoflagellates of the genera Dinophysis and Prorocentrun through their filter feeding activities. Contamination of seafood by PSP and DSP toxins has posed serious problems to the fisheries industry as well to public health. In this study, was stabilized a monitoring program to shellfish (Perna perna) and finfish (Sardinella brasiliensis, Anchoviella lepidentostole and Brevoortia aurea) collected in fish markets in Caraguatatuba and São Sebastião cities, São Paulo state. The extracts for PSP were prepared by two ways: according to AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists), through the heating for 5 min of blend of 100 g of well mixed sample with 0.1 N HCl; or through of the concentration of ethanolic extracts from finfish’s muscle + skin. The PSP mouse bioassay for PSP toxins involves intraperitonial injection (i.p.) of 1 mL of the acid extract into each of three mice (~ 20 g). The mice were observed for classical PSP symptoms and the time to mouse death was recorded and the toxicity was determinate (in mouse units, MU) from the Sommer’s table. To DSP toxins, the extracts was prepared trough the extraction of digestive glands with acetone, and i.p injection in mice was used to determine the presence of theses toxins. In the mouse bioassay for the extracts prepared by AOAC method no positive results was obtained. For the mouse bioassay with ehtanolic extracts was obtained positive results to 77.8 % of the tested extracts. The media of MU of all samples, in this case, was 0,147 MU/g. To the mouse bioassay for the DSP toxins, three samples gives evidence of presence of the diarrhetic toxins, because the mice showed signal like diarrhea. The ethanolic extracts, that was positive to the PSP toxins, was fractionated by a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. The first elution, with 0.1 M acetic acid, was analyzed by using prechromatographic oxidation and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The HPLC analysis indicated the presence of the PSP toxins, confirming the bioassays. Therefore, in the first time in Brazil was demonstrated that the species S. brasiliensis, A. lepidentostole and B. aurea are carriers of toxins like PSP in little concentrations and that a monitoring program is necessary in our country to verify the presence of these toxins in organisms that are used as food by the population.

Lors des efflorescences de micro-algues productrices de toxines paralysantes (PST), les bivalves filtreurs peuvent bioaccumuler une grande quantité de toxines et devenir à leur tour toxiques, notamment pour l’homme. La quantité de toxines PST accumulée d’un individu à l’autre s’avère être très variable au sein même d’une population de bivalves. Ainsi, dans nos conditions expérimentales, la quantité de PST accumulées par des huîtres creuses, Crassostrea gigas, d’un même lot, exposées au dinoflagellé toxique Alexandrium minutum, variait d’un facteur 450. L’origine de cette variabilité est inconnue jusqu’alors mais l’une des hypothèses pour l’expliquer serait l’existence de plusieurs formes de canaux sodium voltage-dépendant (NaV), cible des PST, qui confèreraient aux bivalves des sensibilités différentes aux PST. L’objectif principal de cette thèse était de comprendre s’il existe une sensibilité individuelle aux PST différente entre les huîtres et si cette variabilité pouvait être due à des formes différentes de NaV.Une première partie a permis de caractériser le NaV chez C. gigas par une approche de biologie moléculaire. Deux gènes NaV ont été mis en évidence chez C. gigas : CgNaV1, codant un canal sodium et CgNaV2 codant un canal potentiellement sélectif du sodium et du calcium. L’épissage alternatif de CgNaV1 produits trois variants (A, B et C) avec des profils d’expression différents : au niveau des jonctions neuromusculaires pour CgNaV1A, dans les cellules nerveuses pour CgNaV1B et dans les deux pour CgNaV1C. L'acide aminé Q, observé dans le site de liaison aux PST (domaine II) de la séquence CgNaV1 pour les 3 variants et chez tous les individus des 4 populations étudiées, pourrait conférer aux huîtres une certaine résistance aux PST. Ainsi, les variants issus du génotypage/épissage de CgNaV1 ne seraient donc pas le point déterminant du niveau de bioaccumulation des huîtres.Une deuxième partie a permis d’étudier la sensibilité aux PST des nerfs de l’huître creuse C.gigas en relation avec l’accumulation de PST par une approche d’électrophysiologie. La sensibilité à la STX des nerfs cérébroviscéraux d'huîtres a été évaluée en étudiant leur potentiel d'action (CNAP).Il a été montré que les nerfs de C. gigas possédaient une sensibilité à la STX de l’ordre du micromolaire, ce qui leur confère une sensibilité intermédiaire parmi les bivalves. Cette sensibilité des nerfs peut varier selon la période à laquelle les huîtres ont été prélevées et potentiellement selon leur condition physiologique. Une pré-exposition des huîtres à A. minutum semble augmenter la résistance des nerfs à la STX. Cependant, aucune corrélation significative n'a été observée entre la sensibilité nerveuse à la STX et la charge en PST dans la glande digestive des huîtres.Il apparait donc que la variabilité de l’accumulation des PST par les huîtres résulterait plutôt d’une plasticité physiologique, en terme de filtration, d’ingestion et d’assimilation, que d’une sensibilité différentielle des NaV. / During bloom of microalgae producing paralytic shellfish toxins (PST), filtering bivalves can bio-accumulate a large quantity of toxins and become toxic for human consumption. The amount of accumulated PST can greatly vary from one individual to another within a bivalve population. Indeed, under our experimental conditions, the amount of accumulated PST by Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, exposed to the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum, varied by a factor of 450. To explain such variability we hypothesized the existence of several forms of voltage-gated sodium channel (NaV), target of the PST, resulting in different sensitivities to PST. The main objective of this thesis was to understand whether there are relationships between nerve sensitivity to PST, the different forms of NaV and the amount of accumulated PST.The NaV was first characterized in C. gigas by a molecular biology approach. Two NaV genes were reported in C. gigas: CgNaV1, encoding a sodium channel and CgNaV2 encoding a channel potentially selective for sodium and calcium. Alternative splicing of CgNaV1 produced three variants (A, B and C) with different expression profiles: at the neuromuscular junctions for CgNaV1A, in the nerve cells for CgNaV1B and in both for CgNaV1C. The amino acid Q observed in the binding site of PST (domain II), of the sequence CgNaV1 for the 3 variants and in all individuals from the 4 studied populations possibly provide some PST resistance to oysters. Thus, the variants resulting from the genotyping/splicing of CgNaV1 would not therefore be the determining factor of the level of bioaccumulation in oysters.A second part allowed studying the nerve sensitivity to PST of C. gigas oyster in relation to the accumulation of PST by an electrophysiology approach. The sensitivity to saxitoxin (STX, a PST) of the cerebro-visceral nerves from oysters was assessed by studying their action potential (CNAP). C.gigas nerves have been shown to have sensitivity to STX of the micromolar range, which gives them intermediate sensitivity among bivalves. This nerve sensitivity may vary depending on the period at which the oysters were collected and potentially according to their physiological condition. A preexposure of oysters to A. minutum appears to increase nerve resistance to STX. However, there was no significant correlation between STX nerve sensitivity and PST content in the oyster digestive gland.Overall, it appears that the variability of the PST accumulation by oysters would result rather from a physiological plasticity, in terms of filtration, ingestion and assimilation, than from a differential sensitivity of the NaV.