A novel population health approach: Using fish retinoblastoma gene profiles as a surrogate for humans.

Retinoblastoma, a tumor suppressor gene, is frequently mutated in diverse types of human tumors. We have previously shown that two types of fish tumor, eye and liver, also possess mutant Rb genes. Our aim is to determine if the Rb allele status is linked to environmentally-induced cancer and whether this information in fish can be used to predict future phenotype.

Isolation of the retinoblastoma cDNA from the marine flatfish dab (Limanda limanda) and evidence of mutational alterations in liver tumors.

We have isolated a dab (Limanda limanda) homologue of the human retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor gene. The L. limanda partial Rb cDNA encodes a partial predicted protein of 753 amino acids.

Protease inhibitors and haemagglutinins associated with resistance to the protozoan parasite, Perkinsus marinus, in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas.

Perkinsus marinus is a protozoan responsible for dramatic mortality in the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, but not in the Pacific oyster, C. gigas. To understand the host-parasite relationship, we inoculated P.