From Natural Xanthones to Synthetic C-1 Aminated 3,4-Dioxygenated Xanthones as Optimized Antifouling Agents

Biofouling, which occurs when certain marine species attach and accumulate in artificial submerged structures, represents a serious economic and environmental issue worldwide. The discovery of new non-toxic and eco-friendly antifouling systems to control or prevent biofouling is, therefore, a practical and urgent need. In this work, the antifouling activity of a series of 24 xanthones, with chemical similarities to natural products, was exploited. Nine (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 19, 21, and 23) of the tested xanthones presented highly significant anti-settlement responses at 50 μM against the settlement of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis larvae and low toxicity to this macrofouling species. Xanthones 21 and 23 emerged as the most effective larval settlement inhibitors (EC₅₀ = 7.28 and 3.57 µM, respectively). Additionally, xanthone 23 exhibited a therapeutic ratio (LC₅₀/EC₅₀) > 15, as required by the US Navy program attesting its suitability as natural antifouling agents. From the nine tested xanthones, none of the compounds were found to significantly inhibit the growth of the marine biofilm-forming bacterial strains tested. Xanthones 4, 6, 8, 16, 19, 21, and 23 were found to be non-toxic to the marine non-target species Artemia salina (<10% mortality at 50 μM). Insights on the antifouling mode of action of the hit xanthones 21 and 23 suggest that these two compounds affected similar molecular targets and cellular processes in mussel larvae, including that related to mussel adhesion capacity. This work exposes for the first time the relevance of C-1 aminated xanthones with a 3,4-dioxygenated pattern of substitution as new non-toxic products to prevent marine biofouling.     

Effects of three culture densities on growth and survival of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Octopus vulgaris</Emphasis> (Cuvier, 1797)

The purpoase of this research was to test the effects of three culture densities on the growth and survival of Octopus vulgaris. A total of 141 sub-adult octopuses (1,175.4 ± 194.9 g) were randomly distributed in nine tanks of 2,000 l each (3.6 m × 1.1 m, and 50 cm water depth). Three tanks were stocked with a low initial density of 4 kg/m³, while three other tanks were stocked with an initial density of 8 kg/m³, and the remaining three tanks were stocked at an initial density of 15 kg/m³. Octopuses were all fed frozen squid (Loligo gahi) at 5% body weight per day (%BW/day). The experiment lasted for 70 days. Water temperature varied between 20 ± 2°C, and salinity varied between 36 ± 1 ppt. During the entire experiment, dissolved oxygen was always >75%, and ammonia was always lower than 0.1 mg/l. No differences in growth or growth rates (between 0.9 and 1.1%BW/day for the three densities) were found. Nevertheless, mortality was significantly lower for the low density compared to the other two densities tested. Maximum densities in the culture tanks (>25 kg/m³) were attained in the higher culture densities after 56 days of the experiment.     

Amino acid changes in the capsid protein of a reassortant betanodavirus strain: Effect on viral replication in vitro and in vivo

Betanodavirus reassortant strains (RGNNV/SJNNV) isolated from Senegalese sole harbour an SJNNV capsid featuring several changes with respect to the SJNNV‐type strain, sharing three hallmark substitutions. Here, we have employed recombinant strains harbouring mutations in these positions (r20 and r20 + 247 + 270) and have demonstrated that the three substitutions affect different steps of the viral replication process. Adsorption ability and efficiency of viral attachment were only affected by substitutions in the C‐terminal side of the capsid. However, the concurrent mutation in the N‐terminal side seems to slightly decrease these properties, suggesting that this region could also be involved in viral binding. Differences in the intracellular and extracellular production of the mutant strains suggest that both the C‐terminal and N‐terminal regions of the capsid protein may be involved in the particle budding. Furthermore, viral replication in sole brain tissue of the mutant strains, and especially double‐ and triple‐mutant strains, is clearly delayed with respect to the wt strain. These data support previous findings indicating that the C‐terminal side plays a role in virulence because of a slower spread in the fish host brain and suggest that the concurrent participation of the N‐terminal side is also important for viral replication in vivo.     

Upstream migration of the anadromous sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus, 1758) in a highly impounded river: Impact of low‐head obstacles and fisheries

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Toward a Resource‐Based View of City Quality: A New Framework

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Recirculation nursery systems for bivalves

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Dissolved and colloidal phosphorus fluxes in forest ecosystems—an almost blind spot in ecosystem research

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Influence of stage of development in the efficiency of nitrogen fertilization on poplar

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