Developing an effective marine eDNA monitoring: eDNA detection at pre-outbreak densities of corallivorous seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris).

Outbreaks of the corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Seastar (CoTS) Acanthaster cf. solaris contribute significantly to coral reef loss. Control of outbreaks is hampered because standard monitoring techniques do not detect outbreaks at early (low density) stages, thus preventing early intervention.

DNA-Based Detection and Patterns of Larval Settlement of the Corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star ( sp.).

AbstractPopulation irruptions of the western Pacific crown-of-thorns sea star ( sp.) are a perennial threat to coral reefs and may be initiated by fluctuations in reproductive or settlement success. However, the processes dictating their early life history, particularly larval settlement, remain poorly understood given limitations in sampling larvae and newly settled juveniles in the field.

Knowledge Gaps in the Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Sea Star sp. on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

AbstractCrown-of-thorns sea stars ( sp.) are among the most studied coral reef organisms, owing to their propensity to undergo major population irruptions, which contribute to significant coral loss and reef degradation throughout the Indo-Pacific. However, there are still important knowledge gaps pertaining to the biology, ecology, and management of sp.

Author Correction: DNA-based identification of predators of the corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) from fish faeces and gut contents.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

DNA-based identification of predators of the corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf. solaris) from fish faeces and gut contents.

The corallivorous Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (CoTS, Acanthaster spp.) has been linked with the widespread loss of scleractinian coral cover on Indo-Pacific reefs during periodic population outbreaks. Here, we re-examine CoTS consumption by coral reef fish species by using new DNA technologies to detect Pacific Crown-of-Thorns Starfish (Acanthaster cf.

Eusynstyelamides A, B, and C, nNOS inhibitors, from the ascidian Eusynstyela latericius.

Eusynstyelamides A-C (1-3) were isolated from the Great Barrier Reef ascidian Eusynstyela latericius, together with the known metabolites homarine and trigonelline. The structures of 1-3, with relative configurations, were elucidated by interpretation of their spectroscopic data (NMR, MS, UV, IR, and CD). The NMR data of 1 were found to be virtually identical to that reported for eusynstyelamide (4), isolated from E.

Disulfide-containing peptides from the glandular skin secretions of froglets of the genus Crinia: structure, activity and evolutionary trends.

The skin secretions of Crinia signifera, C. riparia and C. deserticola contain bioactive disulfide-containing peptides.

Comparison of the biological properties of several marine sponge-derived sesquiterpenoid quinones.

Eight naturally occurring marine-sponge derived sesquiterpenoid quinones were evaluated as potential inhibitors of pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK), a C4 plant regulatory enzyme. Of these, the hydroxyquinones ilimaquinone, ethylsmenoquinone and smenoquinone inhibited PPDK activity with IC50's (reported with 95% confidence intervals) of 285.4 (256.

Cupiennin 1a, an antimicrobial peptide from the venom of the neotropical wandering spider Cupiennius salei, also inhibits the formation of nitric oxide by neuronal nitric oxide synthase.

Cupiennin 1a (GFGALFKFLAKKVAKTVAKQAAKQGAKYVVNKQME-NH2) is a potent venom component of the spider Cupiennius salei. Cupiennin 1a shows multifaceted activity. In addition to known antimicrobial and cytolytic properties, cupiennin 1a inhibits the formation of nitric oxide by neuronal nitric oxide synthase at an IC50 concentration of 1.

Screening marine fungi for inhibitors of the C4 plant enzyme pyruvate phosphate dikinase: unguinol as a potential novel herbicide candidate.

A total of 2,245 extracts, derived from 449 marine fungi cultivated in five types of media, were screened against the C(4) plant enzyme pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK), a potential herbicide target. Extracts from several fungal isolates selectively inhibited PPDK. Bioassay-guided fractionation of one isolate led to the isolation of the known compound unguinol, which inhibited PPDK with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 42.

Host-defence peptide profiles of the skin secretions of interspecific hybrid tree frogs and their parents, female Litoria splendida and male Litoria caerulea.

Five healthy adult female first-generation hybrid tree frogs were produced by interspecific breeding of closely related tree frogs Litoria splendida and L. caerulea in a cage containing large numbers of males and females of both species. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences established the female parent to be L.

New caerin antibiotic peptides from the skin secretion of the Dainty Green Tree Frog Litoria gracilenta. Identification using positive and negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry.

The skin secretion of the Dainty Green Tree Frog Litoria gracilenta contains 16 peptides, which protect the animal from predators, both large and small. A combination of negative and positive ion electrospray mass spectrometry together with Lys-C enzymic digest and Edman sequencing identifies three new wide-spectrum caerin 1 antibiotics, namely Caerin 1.17 [GLFSVLGSVAKHLLPHVAPIIAEKL-NH2], Caerin 1.

Translation of in vitro inhibition by marine natural products of the C4 acid cycle enzyme pyruvate P(i) dikinase to in vivo C4 plant tissue death.

Marine organism derived extracts, previously identified as containing compounds that inhibited the C4 acid cycle enzyme pyruvate P(i) dikinase (PPDK), were assessed for their ability to exhibit an effect on the C4 plants Digitaria ciliaris and Echinochloa crus-galli. Oxygen electrode studies revealed that over half of these extracts inhibited C4 acid driven photosynthesis in leaf slices. Seventeen extracts had a deleterious effect on C4 plants in vivo within 24 h, whereas 36 caused an observable phytotoxic response in one or both of the C4 plants used for in vivo testing.

A rapid screening method to detect specific inhibitors of pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase as leads for C4 plant-selective herbicides.

Plants using the C(4) photosynthetic pathway are highly represented among the world's worst weeds, with only 4 C(4) species being agriculturally productive (maize, sorghum, millet, and sugar cane). With the C(4) acid cycle operating as a biochemical appendage of C(3) photosynthesis, the additional enzymes involved in C(4) photosynthesis represent an attractive target for the development of weed-specific herbicides. The rate-limiting enzyme of this metabolic pathway is pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK).