Scope for growth and dietary needs of Mediteranean Pinnids maintained in captivity.

Background: The measurement of the energy available for growth (scope of growth, SFG) can be used in bivalves to make a long-term prediction in a short-term experiment of the condition of the individual. In order to tackle the best conditions for captive maintenance of Mediterranean Pinnids, a SFG study was conducted using Pinna rudis as a model species. Three diets were examined to test the viability of live microalgae and commercial products: i) a control diet using 100% of live microalgae based on the species Isochrysis galbana (t-ISO), ii) a 100% of commercial microalgae diet based on the product Shellfish Diet 1800®, and iii) a 50/50% mix diet of I.

Metabolic size scaling reflects growth performance effects on age-size relationships in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis).

Body-size scaling of metabolic rate in animals is typically allometric, with mass exponents that vary to reflect differences in the physiological status of organisms of both endogenous and environmental origin. Regarding the intraspecific analysis of this relationship in bivalve molluscs, one important source of metabolic variation comes from the large inter-individual differences in growth performance characteristic of this group. In the present study, we aimed to address the association of growth rate differences recorded among individual mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) with variable levels of the standard metabolic rate (SMR) resulting in growth-dependent shift in size scaling relationships.

Differential tissue development compromising the growth rate and physiological performances of mussel.

Differences in the food acquisition rates and in the energetic costs of metabolism seem to affect the growth rate variability of mussels. The aim of this study was to analyze if the physiological performances responsible for such growth rate variability are accompanied by structural differences at tissue or cellular level in the main organs involved in energy acquisition (gill) and processing (digestive gland). Fast growers had higher cilia density and metabolic efficiency in their gill, and well-developed digestive tissue with barely no connective tissue or atrophy.

Nature more than nurture affects the growth rate of mussels.

We tested the hypothesis that environmental trophic conditions prominent during the growing period (nurture conditions) can modify the differing physiological profiles between fast (F)- and slow (S)-growing juveniles of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Approximately 200 individuals were fed a high organic content diet dosed below the pseudofaeces threshold (BP), whereas another 200 were fed a low organic content diet dosed above the pseudofaeces threshold (AP), forcing them to maintain a continuous production of pseudofaeces. After 3 months, F and S individuals in each rearing condition were selected and used in feeding experiments.

Mytilus galloprovincialis fast growing phenotypes under different restrictive feeding conditions: Fast feeders and energy savers.

The present study aims to test if the environmental conditions prevailing during the growing period can determine the physiological profiles of specimens differentiated as fast (F) or slow (S) growers in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. We reared mussel spats in the laboratory under two different conditions. In Treatment I (continuous feeding during discontinuous immersion), two mussel groups were submitted to a daily air exposure of 8 h and fed continuously during immersion-time, with either high-quality food dosed below the pseudofaeces threshold (BP group) or low organic content food dosed above the pseudofaeces threshold (AP group).

Digestive selection underlies differential utilization of phytoplankton and sedimentary organics by infaunal bivalves: Experiments with cockles (Cerastoderma edule) using cross-labelled mixed diets.

Differential utilization of phytoplankton and detrital particles present in natural sediments of mud-flats was studied in a series of experiments performed on the infaunal bivalve Cerastoderma edule. In order to assess digestive selection, parameters of food processing (organic ingestion rate: OIR, gross absorption efficiency: GAE and gut passage time: GPT) were recorded for each organic component in different combinations of food particles radio-labelled with (14)C. Experimental design included the use of both labelled diets of a sole organic component and cross-labelled diets; i.

Ingestion and absorption of particles derived from different macrophyta in the cockle Cerastoderma edule: effects of food ration.

We analyzed the capacity of the common cockle Cerastoderma edule to utilize detrital food particles obtained from three different macrophytes: the vascular plant Juncus maritimus and two green macroalgae (Ulva lactuca and Enteromorpha sp.). We measured feeding and digestive parameters at three concentrations of detritus (0.

Thermal dependence of clearance and metabolic rates in slow- and fast-growing spats of manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum.

Thermal dependence of clearance rate (CR: l h(-1)), standard (SMR: J h(-1)) and routine metabolic rates (RMR: J h(-1)), were analyzed in fast (F)- and slow (S)-growing juveniles of the clam Ruditapes philippinarum. Physiological rates were measured at the maintenance temperature (17 °C), and compared with measurements performed at 10 and 24 °C after 16 h and 14 days to analyze acute and acclimated responses, respectively. Metabolic rates (both RMR and SMR) differed significantly between F and S seeds, irrespective of temperature.

The Russian Thistle (Salsola kali) pollen major allergen, Sal k 1, can be quantified in allergenic extracts and airborne pollen.

Background: Russian thistle (Salsola kali) pollen is an important cause of pollinosis in areas where rainfall is not abundant. Our aim was to develop an ELISA for quantification of the major allergen of S. kali extracts, Sal k 1, and to assess the correlation of this allergen content with the allergenic activity of extracts.

Specific sublingual immunotherapy with peach LTP (Pru p 3). One year treatment: a case report.

Introduction: Food allergy is an increasing problem with limited therapeutic approaches apart from to the eviction diet.

Case Presentation: A 40-year-old female patient with food allergy symptoms was polysensitized to almost all vegetable food since the age of 36; the onset of symptoms was during pregnancy. The allergological study demonstrated positive skin prick tests (SPT) to nuts, legumes, cereals, spices, several fresh fruits including peach, and other groups of vegetable foods however, it was negative to common aeroallergens.

Engineering of major house dust mite allergens Der p 1 and Der p 2 for allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Background: Specifically designed recombinant allergens with reduced IgE reactivity are promising candidates for a more defined, effective, and safer specific immunotherapy (SIT).

Objective: We sought to obtain hypoallergenic hybrid molecules which could potentially be applied to house dust mite (HDM) allergy treatment.

Methods: Two hybrid molecules (QM1 and QM2) derived from the two major Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergens, Der p 1 and Der p 2, were engineered by PCR, produced in Escherichia coli, and purified.

Expression of a recombinant protein immunochemically equivalent to the major Anisakis simplex allergen Ani s 1.

Background: Anisakis simplex is a nematode which can parasitize humans, producing anisakiasis and can induce immunoglobulin-(Ig)-E-mediated allergic symptoms. Parasite recombinant proteins, such as the major allergen Ani s 1, may be useful tools to avoid misdiagnosis of A simplex allergy due to cross-reactivity when whole parasite extracts are used.

Objective: To obtain Ani s 1 allergen as a recombinant protein with IgE-binding properties similar to its natural counterpart.

An antibody-based ELISA for quantification of Ani s 1, a major allergen from Anisakis simplex.

Anisakis simplex is a nematode parasite that can infect humans who have eaten raw or undercooked seafood. Larvae invading the gastrointestinal mucosa excrete/secrete proteins that are implicated in the pathogenesis of anisakiasis and can induce IgE-mediated symptoms. Since Ani s 1 is a potent secreted allergen with important clinical relevance, its measurement could assess the quality of allergenic products used in diagnosis/immunotherapy of Anisakis allergy and track the presence of A.

Effects of body-size and season on digestive organ size and the energy balance of cockles fed with a constant diet of phytoplankton.

Seasonal variation in size-dependence of seawater clearance rate, absorption efficiency, oxygen consumption, gill area, length of the crystalline style and dry weight of digestive gland was analyzed in cockles Cerastoderma edule from the Mundaka Estuary, Spain. Experimental determinations were performed monthly (from July 1998 to November 1999) in cockles being fed with Tetraselmis suecica (organic content: 87.84 +/- 1.

Genetically engineered hybrid proteins from Parietaria judaica pollen for allergen-specific immunotherapy.

Background: Despite the use of conventional allergen-specific immunotherapy in clinical practice, more defined, efficient, and safer allergy vaccines are required.

Objective: The aim of the study was to obtain hypoallergenic molecules by deleting B-cell epitopes, which could potentially be applied to Parietaria judaica pollen allergy treatment.

Methods: Three hybrid molecules (Q1, Q2, and Q3) derived from fragments of the 2 major P judaica pollen allergens, Par j 1 and Par j 2, were engineered by means of PCR.

Cloning, expression and characterization of mugwort pollen allergen Art v 2, a pathogenesis-related protein from family group 1.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) belongs to the Compositae family, and is one of the main causes of allergy in late summer and autumn. The aim of the study was to characterize the allergen Art v 2 from mugwort pollen. Skin prick tests, performed in 19 patients allergic to mugwort and 10 control patients, showed an Art v 2 sensitization prevalence of 58%, whereas none false-positives were detected among control patients.

Diagnosis of Parietaria judaica pollen allergy using natural and recombinant Par j 1 and Par j 2 allergens.

Background: Parietaria judaica pollen is one of the main causes of allergic diseases in the Mediterranean area and contains two major allergens, called Par j 1 and Par j 2.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of natural and recombinant forms of Par j 1 and Par j 2 in comparison with standardized P. judaica pollen extract.

Purified allergens vs. complete extract in the diagnosis of plane tree pollen allergy.

Background: Plane tree pollen allergy is a clinical disorder affecting human population in cities of Europe, North America, South Africa, and Australia.

Objective: To compare IgE-reactivity of the natural and recombinant forms of two major plane allergens, Pla a 1 and Pla a 2, with the reactivity of Platanus acerifolia pollen extract.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with P.

Correlation between Olea europaea and Parietaria judaica pollen counts and quantification of their major allergens Ole e 1 and Par j 1-Par j 2.

Background: In patients with pollinosis, allergic symptoms are often correlated with the number of airborne pollen grains, although this correlation is not always close. The direct measurement of the concentration of aeroallergens has only recently been introduced and is an important advance in public health information systems.

Objective: To compare specific quantification of aeroallergens Ole e 1 and Par j 1-Par j 2 Olea and Urticaceae pollen counts.

A sensitive monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantify Parietaria judaica major allergens, Par j 1 and Par j 2.

Background: Parietaria pollen is one of the most important causes of pollinosis in Mediterranean countries. Parietaria judaica pollen extract presents two major allergens, Par j 1 and Par j 2, that belong to the lipid transfer protein family.

Objective: To develop an ELISA for quantification of both major allergens of P.

Development of a sandwich-type ELISA for measuring Pla a 1, the major allergen of Platanus acerifolia pollen.

Background: Platanus acerifolia is an important cause of pollinosis in Western European cities. Pla a 1, a nonglycosylated 18-kDa protein with a prevalence of 80%, is a major allergen in P. acerifolia pollen extracts.

Diagnosis of Alternaria alternata sensitization with natural and recombinant Alt a 1 allergens.

Background: Diagnosis of Alternaria alternata sensitization is hampered by the variability and complexity of fungal extracts, and thus simplification of the diagnostic procedures with purified allergens should be pursued.

Objective: We sought to compare A alternata extract and purified natural Alt a 1 (nAlt a 1) and recombinant Alt a 1 (rAlt a 1) allergens for their diagnostic value.

Methods: Forty-two patients allergic to A alternata , 10 atopic patients with negative skin prick test responses to A alternata extract, and 10 healthy subjects were investigated.

Pho d 2, a major allergen from date palm pollen, is a profilin: cloning, sequencing, and immunoglobulin E cross-reactivity with other profilins.

Background: Up to now, some date palm pollen (DPP) allergens have been described but very few data are available about their molecular nature. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize Pho d 2, a major allergen from this pollen.

Methods: Sera from 25 patients allergic to DPP were analysed by immunoblotting.

IgE reactivity to profilin in Platanus acerifolia pollen-sensitized subjects with plant-derived food allergy.

Background: The presence of profilin-specific IgE antibodies is a cause of cross-reactivity between botanically-unrelated allergen sources. Recently, the association between Platanus acerifolia pollinosis and plant-derived food allergy has been described. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether the P.

Quantification assay for the major allergen of Cupressus sempervirens pollen, Cup s 1, by sandwich ELISA.

Background: The Cupressaceae are an important cause of pollinosis, particularly in Mediterranean countries. Cypress pollen allergenic extracts are difficult to produce since they have a low protein and a high carbohydrate content and consequently accurate standardization of these extracts is essential for diagnosis and immunotherapy.

Method: Natural Cup s 1 was purified by a combination of hydrophobic interaction, gel filtration and ion exchange chromatographies and its enzymatic activity was analyzed.