Showing papers on "Holothuria published in 2009"

LPS-induced genes in intestinal tissue of the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima.

Abstract: Metazoan immunity is mainly associated with specialized cells that are directly involved with the immune response. Nevertheless, both in vertebrates and invertebrates other organs might respond to immune activation and participate either directly or indirectly in the ongoing immune process. However, most of what is known about invertebrate immunity has been restricted to immune effector cells and little information is available on the immune responses of other tissues or organs. We now focus on the immune reactions of the intestinal tissue of an echinoderm. Our study employs a non-conventional model, the echinoderm Holothuria glaberrima, to identify intestinal molecules expressed after an immune challenge presented by an intra-coelomic injection of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The expression profiles of intestinal genes expressed differentially between LPS-injected animals and control sea water-injected animals were determined using a custom-made Agilent microarray with 7209 sea cucumber intestinal ESTs. Fifty (50) unique sequences were found to be differentially expressed in the intestine of LPS-treated sea cucumbers. Seven (7) of these sequences represented homologues of known proteins, while the remaining (43) had no significant similarity with any protein, EST or RNA database. The known sequences corresponded to cytoskeletal proteins (Actin and alpha-actinin), metabolic enzymes (GAPDH, Ahcy and Gnmt), metal ion transport/metabolism (major yolk protein) and defense/recognition (fibrinogen-like protein). The expression pattern of 11 genes was validated using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Nine of these corroborated the microarray results and the remaining two showed a similar trend but without statistical significance. Our results show some of the molecular events by which the holothurian intestine responds to an immune challenge and provide important information to the study of the evolution of the immune response.

Two new cytotoxic triterpene glycosides from the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra.

Abstract: Two new triterpene glycosides, scabraside A (1) and B (2), and a structurally known compound (3), were isolated from the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra (Holothuriidae) collected from the South China Sea Structure of these compounds was elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods The glycosides 1 and 2 exhibit the same common structural features, i e, the presence of 12- and 17-hydroxy groups in the holostane-type triterpene aglycone with a 9(11)-ene bond, but are different in the side chains of the triterpene aglycone The glycosides 1 and 2 had significant in vitro cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines in comparison to 10-hydroxycamptothecin

Antifungal triterpene glycosides from the sea cucumber Holothuria (Microthele) axiloga.

Abstract: Three new holostan-type triterpene glycosides, arguside F (1), impatienside B (2), and pervicoside D (3), together with a known saponin, holothurin B ( 4) were isolated from the sea cucumber Holothuria (Microthele) axiloga H. L. Clark. On the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical reactions, the structures of the new compounds were elucidated. Compound 2 showed significant antifungal activities against six strains (1 < or = MIC(80) < or = 4 microg/mL). The stereochemistry of holothurin B (4) isolated from the title sea cucumber was also solved through X-ray diffraction analysis.

Holothuria (Cystipus) casoae a new species of sea cucumber (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the central-eastern Pacific Ocean

Abstract: Holothuria (Cystipus) casoae n. sp. is described from the central-eastern Pacific, from depths between 45 and 100 m. The main characters separating H. (C.) casoae from the rest of the species included in the subgenus Cystipus are the presence of a prominent fringe of 10 or more conical papillae along each side of the body and the presence of tables with a spinose rim, the pillars of the spire are short ending in a complex spiny crown with a small central circular opening. This new species is distinctive in the genus Holothuria, subgenus Cystipus, but shows some similarities to H. (C.) cubana Ludwig, 1875, H. (C.) inhabilis Selenka, 1867 and H. (C.) pseudofossor Deichmann, 1930.

Fatty-acid composition of certain species of marine mycelial fungi

Abstract: The fatty-acid composition of seven strains of marine mycelial fungi was studied. GC and GC—MS showed that marine fungi of the genus Penicillium synthesized fatty-acid mixtures of saturated and unsaturated acids of similar compositions with different percent contents. Fatty-acid profiles of fungi associated with holothuria Chiridota ochotensis were characterized for the first time. Producers of branched 15:0 and dichloro- and cyclopropane-containing acids were observed.

Preparation of Sphallerocerpus gracilis polysaccharide

Abstract: The invention discloses a preparation method of polysaccharide from holothuria monacaria. The method comprises the following steps: the holothuria monacaria is crushed into 0.5cm grains, the grains are soaked in water, boiled and extracted, extracting solution is depressurized and condensed in vacuum, added with edible alcohol, kept standing for precipitation and centrifuged to remove supernatant, and a precipitate is collected and is subject to spray drying to obtain a polysaccharide extract from the holothuria monacaria. The yield of the obtained polysaccharide extract from the holothuria monacaria is 15-30% based on raw materials by the method, and the polysaccharide content of the extract is determined as 72-88% by a sulfuric acid-phenol method. The polysaccharide extract from the holothuria monacaria can be made into pills, tablets or capsules.

Defence Mechanisms and Stem Cells in Holothuria polii and Sipunculus nudus

Abstract: Holothuria polii (Phylum Echinodermata) and Sipunculus nudus (Phylum Sipuncula) have been used as model systems for studying invertebrate immunity. In the coelomic fluid of Holothuria polii, coelomocytes (i.e. amoebocytes, Type I, Type II, Type III spherule cells) and stem cells are present. After an injection of formalin-fixed sheep erythrocytes into the coelomic cavity, structural modifications in the animal’s, such as the coelomic cavity, stone canal and periesophageal ring were observed. Cellular events observed within the coelomic cavity include the recruitment of a large number of coelomocytes from the haemopoietic areas, phagocytosis carried out by amoebocytes and the formation of brown masses. The stone canal is not an immunocompetent organ but it is involved in the production and activity of the amoebocytes. The periesophageal ring is an organ which produces spherule cells. Haemerythrocytes, urn cell complexes, brown bodies, Type I and Type II granulocytes and the lamine of connective tissue are all distinguishable in the fluid coelomic of Sipunculus nudus. Clusters of Type II granulocytes at various differentiation stages are also present. The consequences of a cutaneous wound in Holuthuria polii and Spinuculus nudus and the cells involved in healing were studied. Type I granulocytes in Sipunculus nudus are capable of extracellular digestion and they are immunoreactive to antibodies directed against IL-4, IL-10 and EGF. The results obtained regarding the healing of the wound, the presence and location of stem cells are comparable to the results obtained from vertebrates.

Engagement of the periesophageal ring during Holothuria polii response to erythrocyte injection.

Abstract: In Holothuria polii, the periesophageal ring is an important organ supplying spherule cells after stimulation with foreign material. In animals injected with formalinized sheep erythrocytes, in fact, a depletion of spherule cells is observed in the periesophageal ring, whereas in the connective tissue, in the external epithelium and around the antigen-injected site, small, transparent cells can be visualized. It is supposed that the latter are stem cells of spherule cells.