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Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jan 2021Bivalve mollusks are important aquatic organisms, which are used for biological monitoring because of their abundance, ubiquitous nature, and abilities to adapt to... (Review)
Review
Bivalve mollusks are important aquatic organisms, which are used for biological monitoring because of their abundance, ubiquitous nature, and abilities to adapt to different environments. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs, which typically silence the expression of target genes; however, certain miRNAs directly or indirectly upregulate their target genes. They are rapidly modulated and play an essential role in shaping the response of organisms to stresses. Based on the regulatory function and rapid alteration of miRNAs, they could act as biomarkers for biotic and abiotic stress, including environmental stresses and contaminations. Moreover, mollusk, particularly hemocytes, rapidly respond to environmental changes, such as pollution, salinity changes, and desiccation, which makes them an attractive model for this purpose. Thus, bivalve mollusks could be considered a good animal model to examine a system's response to different environmental conditions and stressors. miRNAs have been reported to adjust the adaptation and physiological functions of bivalves during endogenous and environmental stressors. In this review, we aimed to discuss the potential mechanisms underlying the response of bivalves to stressors and how miRNAs orchestrate this process; however, if necessary, other organisms' response is included to explain specific processes.
Topics: Acclimatization; Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Bivalvia; Hemocytes; MicroRNAs; Salinity; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 33038725
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111442 -
Marine Drugs Nov 2023R-type lectins are a widespread group of sugar-binding proteins found in nearly all domains of life, characterized by the presence of a carbohydrate-binding domain that... (Review)
Review
R-type lectins are a widespread group of sugar-binding proteins found in nearly all domains of life, characterized by the presence of a carbohydrate-binding domain that adopts a β-trefoil fold. Mytilectins represent a recently described subgroup of β-trefoil lectins, which have been functionally characterized in a few mussel species (Mollusca, Bivalvia) and display attractive properties, which may fuel the development of artificial lectins with different biotechnological applications. The detection of different paralogous genes in mussels, together with the description of orthologous sequences in brachiopods, supports the formal description of mytilectins as a gene family. However, to date, an investigation of the taxonomic distribution of these lectins and their molecular diversification and evolution was still lacking. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the evolutionary history of mytilectins, revealing an ancient monophyletic evolutionary origin and a very broad but highly discontinuous taxonomic distribution, ranging from heteroscleromorphan sponges to ophiuroid and crinoid echinoderms. Moreover, the overwhelming majority of mytilectins display a chimera-like architecture, which combines the β-trefoil carbohydrate recognition domain with a C-terminal pore-forming domain, suggesting that the simpler structure of most functionally characterized mytilectins derives from a secondary domain loss.
Topics: Animals; Lectins; Evolution, Molecular; Bivalvia; Carbohydrates
PubMed: 38132935
DOI: 10.3390/md21120614 -
Current Biology : CB Oct 2013
Topics: Animals; Bivalvia; Fossils
PubMed: 24112975
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.07.008 -
The Journal of Experimental Biology Feb 2017Robust adhesion to wet, salt-encrusted, corroded and slimy surfaces has been an essential adaptation in the life histories of sessile marine organisms for hundreds of... (Review)
Review
Robust adhesion to wet, salt-encrusted, corroded and slimy surfaces has been an essential adaptation in the life histories of sessile marine organisms for hundreds of millions of years, but it remains a major impasse for technology. Mussel adhesion has served as one of many model systems providing a fundamental understanding of what is required for attachment to wet surfaces. Most polymer engineers have focused on the use of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-l-alanine (Dopa), a peculiar but abundant catecholic amino acid in mussel adhesive proteins. The premise of this Review is that although Dopa does have the potential for diverse cohesive and adhesive interactions, these will be difficult to achieve in synthetic homologs without a deeper knowledge of mussel biology; that is, how, at different length and time scales, mussels regulate the reactivity of their adhesive proteins. To deposit adhesive proteins onto target surfaces, the mussel foot creates an insulated reaction chamber with extreme reaction conditions such as low pH, low ionic strength and high reducing poise. These conditions enable adhesive proteins to undergo controlled fluid-fluid phase separation, surface adsorption and spreading, microstructure formation and, finally, solidification.
Topics: Adhesiveness; Adhesives; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Bivalvia; Dihydroxyphenylalanine; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Osmolar Concentration; Proteins; Tensile Strength; Wettability
PubMed: 28202646
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.134056 -
Marine Drugs Feb 2022A variety of microalgal species produce lipophilic toxins (LT) that are accumulated by filter-feeding bivalves. Their negative impacts on human health and shellfish... (Review)
Review
A variety of microalgal species produce lipophilic toxins (LT) that are accumulated by filter-feeding bivalves. Their negative impacts on human health and shellfish exploitation are determined by toxic potential of the local strains and toxin biotransformations by exploited bivalve species. Chile has become, in a decade, the world's major exporter of mussels () and scallops () and has implemented toxin testing according to importing countries' demands. Species of the complex and are the most widespread and abundant LT producers in Chile. Dominant strains, notwithstanding, unlike most strains in Europe rich in okadaic acid (OA), produce only pectenotoxins, with no impact on human health. , suspected to be the main cause of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning outbreaks, is found in the two southernmost regions of Chile, and has apparently shifted poleward. Mouse bioassay (MBA) is the official method to control shellfish safety for the national market. Positive results from mouse tests to mixtures of toxins and other compounds only toxic by intraperitoneal injection, including already deregulated toxins (PTXs), force unnecessary harvesting bans, and hinder progress in the identification of emerging toxins. Here, 50 years of LST events in Chile, and current knowledge of their sources, accumulation and effects, are reviewed. Improvements of monitoring practices are suggested, and strategies to face new challenges and answer the main questions are proposed.
Topics: Animals; Biological Assay; Bivalvia; Chile; Humans; Marine Toxins; Mice; Microalgae; Shellfish Poisoning
PubMed: 35200651
DOI: 10.3390/md20020122 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2019Mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) have a unique ability to firmly adhere to different surfaces in aqueous environments via the special amino acid,... (Review)
Review
Mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) have a unique ability to firmly adhere to different surfaces in aqueous environments via the special amino acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). The catechol groups in DOPA are a key group for adhesive proteins, which is highly informative for the biomedical domain. By simulating MAPs, medical products can be developed for tissue adhesion, drug delivery, and wound healing. Hydrogel is a common formulation that is highly adaptable to numerous medical applications. Based on a discussion of the adhesion mechanism of MAPs, this paper reviews the formation and adhesion mechanism of catechol-functionalized hydrogels, types of hydrogels and main factors affecting adhesion, and medical applications of hydrogels, and future the development of catechol-functionalized hydrogels.
Topics: Animals; Bivalvia; Catechols; Dihydroxyphenylalanine; Drug Delivery Systems; Hydrogels; Proteins; Tissue Adhesions; Wound Healing
PubMed: 31315269
DOI: 10.3390/molecules24142586 -
Current Biology : CB Mar 2014
Topics: Animals; Bivalvia; Disorders of Sex Development; Endangered Species; Female; Male; Photography; Reproduction; Self-Fertilization; Sunlight; Tropical Climate
PubMed: 24602879
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.11.062 -
BMC Genomics May 2022Molluscs remain one significantly under-represented taxa amongst available genomic resources, despite being the second-largest animal phylum and the recent advances in...
BACKGROUND
Molluscs remain one significantly under-represented taxa amongst available genomic resources, despite being the second-largest animal phylum and the recent advances in genomes sequencing technologies and genome assembly techniques. With the present work, we want to contribute to the growing efforts by filling this gap, presenting a new high-quality reference genome for Mytilus edulis and investigating the evolutionary history within the Mytilidae family, in relation to other species in the class Bivalvia.
RESULTS
Here we present, for the first time, the discovery of multiple whole genome duplication events in the Mytilidae family and, more generally, in the class Bivalvia. In addition, the calculation of evolution rates for three species of the Mytilinae subfamily sheds new light onto the taxa evolution and highlights key orthologs of interest for the study of Mytilus species divergences.
CONCLUSIONS
The reference genome presented here will enable the correct identification of molecular markers for evolutionary, population genetics, and conservation studies. Mytilidae have the capability to become a model shellfish for climate change adaptation using genome-enabled systems biology and multi-disciplinary studies of interactions between abiotic stressors, pathogen attacks, and aquaculture practises.
Topics: Animals; Gene Duplication; Genome; Genomics; Mytilidae; Mytilus
PubMed: 35501689
DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08575-9 -
Marine Drugs Jun 2017A variety of bivalve mollusks (phylum Mollusca, class Bivalvia) constitute a prominent commodity in fisheries and aquacultures, but are also crucial in order to preserve... (Review)
Review
A variety of bivalve mollusks (phylum Mollusca, class Bivalvia) constitute a prominent commodity in fisheries and aquacultures, but are also crucial in order to preserve our ecosystem's complexity and function. Bivalve mollusks, such as clams, mussels, oysters and scallops, are relevant bred species, and their global farming maintains a high incremental annual growth rate, representing a considerable proportion of the overall fishery activities. Bivalve mollusks are filter feeders; therefore by filtering a great quantity of water, they may bioaccumulate in their tissues a high number of microorganisms that can be considered infectious for humans and higher vertebrates. Moreover, since some pathogens are also able to infect bivalve mollusks, they are a threat for the entire mollusk farming industry. In consideration of the leading role in aquaculture and the growing financial importance of bivalve farming, much interest has been recently devoted to investigate the pathogenesis of infectious diseases of these mollusks in order to be prepared for public health emergencies and to avoid dreadful income losses. Several bacterial and viral pathogens will be described herein. Despite the minor complexity of the organization of the immune system of bivalves, compared to mammalian immune systems, a precise description of the different mechanisms that induce its activation and functioning is still missing. In the present review, a substantial consideration will be devoted in outlining the immune responses of bivalves and their repertoire of immune cells. Finally, we will focus on the description of antimicrobial peptides that have been identified and characterized in bivalve mollusks. Their structural and antimicrobial features are also of great interest for the biotechnology sector as antimicrobial templates to combat the increasing antibiotic-resistance of different pathogenic bacteria that plague the human population all over the world.
Topics: Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Bivalvia; Immune System; Immunity, Innate
PubMed: 28629124
DOI: 10.3390/md15060182 -
BMC Ecology and Evolution Mar 2022Scallops (Bivalvia: Pectinidae) present extraordinary variance in both mitochondrial genome size, structure and content, even when compared to the extreme diversity...
BACKGROUND
Scallops (Bivalvia: Pectinidae) present extraordinary variance in both mitochondrial genome size, structure and content, even when compared to the extreme diversity documented within Mollusca and Bivalvia. In pectinids, mitogenome rearrangements involve protein coding and rRNA genes along with tRNAs, and different genome organization patterns can be observed even at the level of Tribes. Existing pectinid phylogenies fail to resolve some relationships in the family, Chlamydinae being an especially problematic group.
RESULTS
In our study, we sequenced, annotated and characterized the mitochondrial genome of a member of Chlamydinae, Mimachlamys varia-a species of commercial interest and an effective bioindicator-revealing yet another novel gene arrangement in the Pectinidae. The phylogeny based on all mitochondrial protein coding and rRNA genes suggests the paraphyly of the Mimachlamys genus, further commending the taxonomic revision of the classification within the Chlamydinae subfamily. At the scale of the Pectinidae, we found that 15 sequence blocks are involved in mitogenome rearrangements, which behave as separate units.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study reveals incongruities between phylogenies based on mitochondrial protein-coding versus rRNA genes within the Pectinidae, suggesting that locus sampling affects phylogenetic inference at the scale of the family. We also conclude that the available taxon sampling does not allow for understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the high variability of mitogenome architecture observed in the Pectinidae, and that unraveling these processes will require denser taxon sampling.
Topics: Animals; Bivalvia; Genome, Mitochondrial; Mitochondrial Proteins; Pectinidae; Phylogeny
PubMed: 35272625
DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-01976-0