Multifactored accelerated marine corrosion of immersed steels influenced by washed ashore Sargassum rafts.

Since 2011, massive strandings of Sargassum (brown alga) have significantly affected Caribbean islands causing major health, environmental and economic problems. Amongst them, the degradation of algae releases corrosive gases, hydrogen sulphide (HS) and ammonia (NH) which causes an accelerated corrosion of the metallic structures of these coastal areas. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of Sargassum strandings on the corrosion of three types of steels (DC01 carbon steel, 304L and 316L stainless steels) immersed for up to 120 days at various sites in Martinique which were gradually impacted by Sargassum.

Mechanically Enhanced Salmo salar Gelatin by Enzymatic Cross-linking: Premise of a Bioinspired Material for Food Packaging, Cosmetics, and Biomedical Applications.

Marine animal by-products of the food industry are a great source of valuable biomolecules. Skins and bones are rich in collagen, a protein with various applications in food, cosmetic, healthcare, and medical industries in its native form or partially hydrolyzed (gelatin). Salmon gelatin is a candidate of interest due to its high biomass production available through salmon consumption, its biodegradability, and its high biocompatibility.

Antifouling Activity of Halogenated Compounds Derived from the Red Alga : Potential for the Development of Environmentally Friendly Solutions.

Nowadays, biofouling is responsible for enormous economic losses in the maritime sector, and its treatment with conventional antifouling paints is causing significant problems to the environment. Biomimetism and green chemistry approaches are very promising research strategies for the discovery of new antifouling compounds. This study focused on the red alga which is known as a producer of bioactive secondary metabolites.

Antifouling Activity of Meroterpenes Isolated from the Ascidian Aplidium aff. densum.

The settlement and growth of fouling organisms on man-made surfaces can be prevented by the application of antifouling paints containing active compounds (biocides, heavy metals), most of which are toxic to non-target organisms. As part of our research program in chemical ecology and blue biotechnology, we are conducting studies to investigate the natural defence mechanisms of marine organisms that are free from epibionts, with the aim of isolating molecules involved in surface defence that could be good candidates as antifouling agents. Ascidians were selected for our investigation because previous studies have shown that they contain abundant and diverse secondary metabolites, which play a defensive role and have been applied to drug discovery.

Quorum Sensing Inhibitory and Antifouling Activities of New Bromotyrosine Metabolites from the Polynesian Sponge n. sp.

Four new brominated tyrosine metabolites, aplyzanzines C-F (-), were isolated from the French Polynesian sponge n. sp., along with the two known 2-aminoimidazolic derivatives, purealidin A () and previously isolated, respectively, from the sponges and Verongula sp.

The Sponge-Associated Fungus Eurotium chevalieri MUT 2316 and its Bioactive Molecules: Potential Applications in the Field of Antifouling.

The need for new environmentally friendly antifouling and the observation that many marine organisms have developed strategies to keep their surface free of epibionts has stimulated the search for marine natural compounds with antifouling activities. Sponges and in particular fungi associated with them represent one of the most appropriate sources of defence molecules and could represent a promising biomass for the supply of new antifouling compounds. The objective of this work was therefore to evaluate the antifouling potency of 7 compounds isolated from the sponge derived fungus Eurotium chevalieri MUT 2316.

From Ecology to Biotechnology, Study of the Defense Strategies of Algae and Halophytes (from Trapani Saltworks, NW Sicily) with a Focus on Antioxidants and Antimicrobial Properties.

This study aimed at the characterization of the antioxidant power of polyphenol extracts (PE) obtained from the algae (CYS) (Phaeophyta) and from the halophyte (HAL), growing in the solar saltworks of western Sicily (Italy), and at the evaluation of their anti-microfouling properties, in order to correlate these activities to defense strategies in extreme environmental conditions. The antioxidant properties were assessed in the PE based on the total antioxidant activity test and the reducing power test; the anti-microfouling properties of the two PE were evaluated by measuring the growth inhibition of marine fish and shellfish pathogen bacteria as well as marine surface fouling bacteria and microalgae exposed to the fractions. Similar polyphenol content (CYS 5.

Isolation and partial characterization of bacteria (Pseudoalteromonas sp.) with potential antibacterial activity from a marine costal environment from New Caledonia.

Unlabelled: Marine bacteria are a rich source of bioactive metabolites. However, the microbial diversity of marine ecosystem still needs to be explored. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize bacteria with antimicrobial activities from various marine coastal environment of New Caledonia.

Phenolic compounds in the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum: distribution and radical-scavenging activities.

Introduction: Phenolic compounds are metabolites exhibited at high levels in Phaeophyceae. Although several studies have been conducted on total phenol contents, no one to our knowledge has dealt with the contents of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities on purified fractions.

Objective: The purpose of this study was the extraction and purification of phenolic compounds from the brown seaweed Ascophylllum nodosum, to determine both their distribution and their radical-scavenging activities, and to obtain a sufficiently purified oligophenolic fraction to perform an RP-HPLC analysis on molecules with a molecular weight (MW) < 2 kDa.

Representational difference analysis of cDNA identifies novel genes expressed following preconditioning of the heart.

Preconditioning of the myocardium rapidly induces a number of transcription factors, which are likely to be responsible for a cascade of transcriptional changes underlying the development of delayed adaptation. Identifying these changes provides insight into the molecular pathways elicited by sub-lethal ischaemia and the mechanism leading to delayed adaptation. Genes up-regulated in rabbit myocardium in vivo by ischaemic preconditioning following reperfusion for 2 h, 4 h and 6 h post-treatment were identified by representational difference analysis of cDNA (cDNA.

Sulfur sparing in the yeast proteome in response to sulfur demand.

Genome-wide studies have recently revealed the unexpected complexity of the genetic response to apparently simple physiological changes. Here, we show that when yeast cells are exposed to Cd(2+), most of the sulfur assimilated by the cells is converted into glutathione, a thiol-metabolite essential for detoxification. Cells adapt to this vital metabolite requirement by modifying globally their proteome to reduce the production of abundant sulfur-rich proteins.

Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of nucleic acid-based (NAB) libraries.

Combinatorial assembly of nucleotide libraries and their antiviral evaluation against HSV-1 are described.

Association of genetic polymorphisms in the ACE, ApoE, and TGF beta genes with early onset ischemic heart disease.

Background: The genetic factors that contribute to ischemic heart disease (IHD) are poorly understood, and it is likely that multiple genes acting independently or synergistically contribute to the risk of IHD and outcome. The genes for angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) have been implicated independently in the risk of IHD.

Hypothesis: This study examined whether genetic polymorphisms in the ACE and ApoE genes are associated with early onset IHD.

Simple and rapid combined genetic diagnosis of mutation (1691 G-->A) of the factor V gene and (20210 G-->A) of the prothrombin gene.

We have developed a rapid method which allows us simultaneously to determine two genetic variations that are associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis: the 20210 G-->A mutation present in the 3'-UT region of the prothrombin gene and the 1691 G-->A mutation giving rise to factor V Leiden. Our strategy involves the coamplification of exon 10 of the factor V gene and of the region 3' from the prothrombin gene using modified oligonucleotides, permitting the introduction of a single HindIII cleavage site in fragments bearing one of the mutations. As a result of its time- and cost-saving features, this combined method should be considered for screening large numbers of patients.

Inhibition of protein synthesis by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nef gene product.

During productive infection of human T lymphocytes in cell culture, the expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is temporally regulated by virus-encoded regulatory proteins. Among these Nef, whose function has not been clearly elucidated, is thought to alter CD4+ T cells. We examined the possibility that the nef gene interferes with the translation process in a cell-free system.