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The dinoflagellate Karenia brevis is one organism responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs) that severely impact marine life. K. brevis produces a suite of neurotoxins referred to as brevetoxins (PbTx) which bind to voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) in excitable tissues, affecting cellular permeability leading to a suite of symptoms and potentially cell death. Brevetoxicosis is difficult to treat in sea turtles as the physiological impacts have not been investigated and the magnitude and duration of brevetoxin exposure are generally unknown. Due to their threatened and endangered status, experimental exposures cannot be performed to determine the fate of brevetoxin in sea turtle tissues, making it difficult to design appropriate treatments. The freshwater turtle, Trachemys scripta, was utilized as a model for brevetoxin exposure in turtles. Turtles were exposed to intratracheal instillation (10.53μg/kg) or oral dosing (33.48μg/kg) of PbTx-3 3x weekly over a period of 2-4 weeks. Tissues and fluids were collected for ELISA to determine PbTx-3 uptake and distribution, routes of excretion and rates of clearance (1h-1wk post-exposure). Tissues were also preserved for histopathology. Primary turtle neuronal cell cultures were exposed to PbTx-3 in the presence and absence of various agonists and antagonists to determine brevetoxin’s mode of action. PbTx-3 was widely distributed in all tissues and fluids following both intratracheal and oral exposures, but was largely cleared from the system within 24 hours; PbTx-3 moved into the bile and feces over 48h post exposure indicating that this is the main route of excretion. While exposed animals showed clear behavioral symptoms of toxicity including muscle twitching, swimming in circles, and ataxia, there was no evident tissue pathology. Despite the evident behavioral effects, turtle neurons are surprisingly resistant to PbTx-3, with an EC50 significantly higher than is seen in mammalian neurons. While PbTx-3 exposure resulted in significant Ca2+ influx, various antagonists prevented Ca2+ influx when added with PbTx-3 confirming the mechanism of action through VGSCs. Upregulation of Hsp72 in the turtle brain could be enhancing cell survival. Based on results, intralipid treatment post PbTx-3 exposure rapidly decreases symptoms and proves to be a suitable treatment for toxin exposure. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Azaspiracid-1, a novel marine toxin that contains 9 rings and 20 stereogenic centers, has drawn considerable attention from synthetic groups worldwide due to its structural complexity, which includes a unique trioxabisspiroketal fused to a tetrahydrofuran ring (ABCD rings), a piperidine-tetrahydrofuran spiroaminal system fused to a 2,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane system (FGHI rings), a connecting six-membered cyclic hemiketal bridge (E ring) and a ��,��-unsaturated terminal carboxylic acid side chain. Our efforts toward the total synthesis of azaspiracid-1 led to the completion of both C1-C26 northern and C27-C40 southern halves of azaspiracid-1. Herein, our improved and scalable synthetic studies toward the total synthesis of azaspiracid-1 is described. In particular, an improved and scalable synthesis of sulfone 3.6 with a key one-pot ketalization and methylation of ketone 3.22 to methylated hemiketal 3.24 is illustrated. A total 19 mmol of sulfone 3.6 has been prepared by this approach. An improved and scalable synthesis of aldehyde 3.7 utilizing allyl bromide 3.31 to couple with Evans auxiliary 3.33 has been developed. A total of 10 mmol of aldehyde 3.7 has been prepared by this approach. An improved synthesis toward the ABC ring fragment 3.52 with a high yield Julia coupling step is shown. Large scale improved syntheses of the linkage fragment 3.2, the aldehyde fragment 4.9 and the azide fragment 4.10 of the southern portion of (���)-azaspiracid-1 have been described. With an abundant material prepared by this scalable improved approach, we are confident that completing the total synthesis of (���)-azaspiracid-1 will occur in the near future. / Graduation date: 2013

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 36-40)

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2008. / Includes appendixes. Title from PDF title page (viewed May 27, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 96-102)

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves: [52]-58)

Cu is one of the most toxic elements that affect fish populations when the fish are exposed to concentrations exceeding their tolerance. To investigate the effects of elementary Cu on aspects of bioconcentration, histology and behaviour, O. mossambicus were exposed to 0 and 0.75 ± 0.20 mg/l of Cu for 96 hours (short-term study), and 0, 0.11 ± 0.02, 0.29 ± 0.02, and 0.47 ± 0.04 mg/l of Cu for 64 days (longterm study) under controlled conditions in the laboratory. For the long-term study fish were sampled for gills, liver, and kidney Cu accumulation analysis after 1, 32 and 64 days of exposure and after 1, 2, 4, 16, 32, and 64 days for gills, liver and spleen histology analysis. Cu accumulation was concentration-duration dependent with the highest accumulation capacity in the liver. A multifactor linear model was developed for the relationship between exposure dose, exposure duration and Cu accumulation in the organs with the liver model: Log L = 3.35 + 0.85W + 0.31T (r² = 0.892) giving a better fit than the gills: G = −35.09 + 10.58W + 17.58T (r² = 0.632). Where L = Cu accumulation values in the liver, G = Cu accumulation values in the gills (both in μg/g dry mass); W = exposure dose in water (mg/l); and T = exposure time (days). Using this model Cu accumulation in organs can be estimated when exposure concentration and duration is known. This model should be tested under different conditions to determine the potential of the model in monitoring Cu toxicity in the environment. Lesions were observed in the liver, gills and spleen in all Cu treatments at all exposure concentration and exposure durations. However, the incidence and the degree of alteration was related to the concentration of Cu and duration of exposure. The sequential appearance of lesions in the order of, hepatic vacuolar degeneration, fatty degeneration and necrosis indicated a gradual increase in liver damage with larger duration of exposure time and increasing Cu concentration. The initial lesions in the gills were manifested as hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the gill epithelium causing increase in the thickness of the secondary lamellae, mucous cell hypertrophy and proliferation, mucous hypersecretion, proliferation of eosinophilic granule cells and hyperplasia of interlamellar cells. With increase in exposure time, necrosis of the eosinophilic granule cells, lamellar oedema, epithelial desquamation and increase in severity of lamellar hyperplasia were observed. These lesions indicated an initial defence mechanism of the fish against Cu toxicity followed by advanced histological changes that were related to Cu concentration and duration of exposure. Changes in the spleen were haemosiderosis, increase in the white pulp and macrophage centres, reduction in the red pulp, and necrosis suggesting that fish exposed to environmentally relevant levels of Cu may be histopathologically altered leading to anaemia and immunosuppression. Regression analysis was used to quantify the relationship between the total activity of the fish, and duration of exposure. There was a gradual decline in fish activity related to Cu concentration and duration of exposure before introducing food into the tanks. There was a constant activity after introducing food in the tanks at the control and 0.11 ± 0.02 mg/l Cu exposure levels irrespective of exposure time. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test for the difference in slopes between treatments. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between slopes of the control and 0.11 ± 0.02 mg/l Cu, and between 0.29 ± 0.02 and 47 ± 0.04 mg/l Cu before and after introducing food in the tanks. The slopes of both the control and 0.11 ± 0.02 mg/l Cu were significantly different from those of 0.29 ± 0.02 and 0.47 ± 0.04 mg/l Cu (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the mean opercular movements per minute between treatments (p < 0.05). There was hyperventilation at 0.11 ± 0.02 mg/l Cu i.e. 87 ± 18 opercular movements per minute (mean ± standard deviation) and hypoventilation at 0.29 ± 0.02 and 0.47 ± 0.04 mg/l Cu i.e. 37 ± 34 and 13 ± 6 opercular movements per minute compared to the control. Hypo- and hyperventilation were related to the lesser and greater gill damage, respectively. In conclusion Cu accumulation and effects on histology of the liver, gills and were related to the concentration of Cu in the water and duration of exposure showing a gradual increase in incidence and intensity with larger duration of exposure time and increasing Cu concentration. The fish were initially able to homeostatically regulate and detoxify Cu. However, as the exposure continued, the homeostatic mechanism appears to have failed to cope with the increasing metal burden causing advanced histological changes.

Orientadores: Marcos Hikari Toyama, Kléber Luiz de Araújo e Souza / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T12:34:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Moure_MarianaCristinaRodriguez_M.pdf: 1080274 bytes, checksum: a6e3e078955c429c6eb371ccab0b187e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: A anémona do mar Bunodosoma caissarum possui mais de 40 proteínas diferentes, como mostrado através da eletroforese 2-D, o que pode levar a uma variedade de efeitos biológicos. Foram investigados também alguns parâmetros farmacológicos, onde se pode verificar a capacidade desta toxina em interagir com modelos de homeostase sanguínea, no caso em particular das agregações plaquetárias, assim como sua capacidade de indução à inflamação, através do edema de pata de rato, onde se observou um aumento de até 400% de modo proporcional a quantidade de material utilizada, sendo o máximo de 12ug/ml. Nos ensaios antibacterianos foi possível observar que o extrato de B caissarum apresentou diminuição de aproximadamente 97% da bactéria Xanihomonas axonopodis. O efeito toxicológico da Bunodosoma caissarum foi estudado através da utilização duas linhagens celulares pancreáticas tumorais RINm5F e RINm5F-Cat (esta última superexpressando a enzima catalase), onde após o período de exposição ao veneno (até 72 h) foi observado um aumento da morte na células RINm5F de modo dose-tempo depentende de até 60%, enquanto que as células RINm5F- Cat não apresentaram diminuição de sua viabilidade celular em nenhuma dose e tempo utilizada, mostrando que a B caissarum poderia causar a morte celular através do aumento do stress oxidativo. A determinação de espécies reativas de oxigênio no meio intracelular foi medido através da fluorescência do DCFH-DA, formados através da incubação com o extrato de B caissarum, mostrando um aumento na produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio de mais de 100% quando comparadas com as células controle. A análise das principais enzimas antioxidantes mostrou que o extrato de B caissarum causou um aumento da atividade da enzima Cu/ZnSOD, tanto para as células RINm5F controle como para as com superexpressão da enzima catalase (RINm5F. Cat), enquanto que, a atividade da enzima glutationa peroxidase não sofreu nenhuma diferença nas células RINm5F controle ou nas RINm5F.Cat. e a enzima catalase não aumentou na células RINm5F e se manteve alta nas células RINm5F.Cat. Sendo assim, Bc provocou um aumento das espécies reativas de oxigenio, sendo principalmente de oxigênio superóxido. Resumindo, este trabalho visa contribuir de forma modesta ao entendimento da ação de toxinas de anémonas do mar mostrando que a Bunodosoma caissarum possui características antibacteriana, cítotóxica, inflamatório e trombolíticos que podem ser de grande xi interesse biológico e farmacológico, e o possível mecanismo de citotoxicidade B. caissarum em células de mamíferos, que inclui aumento do estresse oxidativo com excessiva produção de peróxido de hidrogênio, pelo menos no caso das células produtoras de insulina / Abstract: Acording to our studies, we could notice that the sea anemone, Bunodosoma caissarum have more than 40 different protein, as showed through the electrophoresis 2-D, what may lead to a variety of biological effects. Also was investigated, some pharmacological parameters where we could confirm the ability of this toxin on interacting with models of blood homeostasis. In particular case of the platelet aggregation, as well as its ability to induce inflammation, trough the edema in rat paw, where we could observe an increased response proportional to the amount of used material. In the antibacterian tests it was possible to observe that the Be extracts presents a decrease in the numbers of severals bacterias in a dose dependent way. The toxicological effect of the Bunodosoma caissarum was studied through the use of two pancreatic tumor cell lines RINm5F and RINm5F-Cat (the last one overexpressing the enzyme catalase), where after the period of exposure to the poison (till 72h), was observed an increase in RINmSF cell death, much greater than when compared with cells RINm5F-Cat, in every doses and administrated time, showing that the Be could cause cell death through the oxidative stress increase. The DCFH-DA test measured the production of reactive oxygen species intracellularly formed by incubation with the Be extract, showing an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species of more than 100% when compared with control cells. The analysis of the main antioxidant enzymes showed that the Be extract caused an increase in enzyme Cu/ZnSOD activities, both cells Rinm5F control and for the overexpression of catalase (RINm5F. Cat), while the glutathione peroxidase did not suffered any difference in RINm5F cell control or in the RINm5F.Cat. and the catalase enzyme did not increase in the RINm5F cells and remained high in cells RINm5F.Cat. So, we could believe that Be caused an increase in the reactive oxygen species, being mainly the oxygen superoxide. Abstracting, this paper aims to contribute modestly to the understanding in molecular level of the sea anemone toxin action, showing that the Bunodosoma caissarum have antibacterial, cytotoxic, inflammatory and thrombolytic characteristics that can be of great biological and pharmacological interest, and the possible mechanism of cytotoxicity of the Bunodosoma caissarum in mammals cell, certainly includes increased oxidative stress with excessive production of hydrogen peroxide, at least in the case of insulin-producing cells / Mestrado / Bioquimica / Mestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

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