Isotopic and biochemical trophic markers reveal the complexity of interactions at the base of pelagic food webs (Mediterranean sea).

To gain insight into the impact of bottom-up changes in the plankton community on planktivorous fish in the context of the decline of small pelagic fisheries in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea, we have conducted an extensive year-long study. The investigation combined biochemical analyses (proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) with C and N stable isotope analyses (SIA) to simultaneously study phytoplankton, zooplankton, and eight planktivorous fish species (Engraulis encrasicolus, Sardina pilchardus, Sardinella aurita, Sprattus sprattus, Cepola macrophthalma, Chromis chromis, Boops boops, and Spicara maena). This study is the first to analyze both stable isotope and biochemical compositions in coastal particulate organic matter (POM) size classes (0.

An ecosystem-based approach to assess the status of Mediterranean algae-dominated shallow rocky reefs.

A conceptual model was constructed for the functioning the algae-dominated rocky reef ecosystem of the Mediterranean Sea. The Ecosystem-Based Quality Index (reef-EBQI) is based upon this model. This index meets the objectives of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Effect of the digenean parasites of fish on the fauna of Mediterranean lagoons.

Attention is drawn to the effects of parasites on their hosts, taking as a model the digenean parasites of teleosts (hereafter: fish) from lagoons along the French Mediterranean coast. Because digeneans have a heteroxenic life cycle, their impact is not limited to the definitive host, which harbours the sexual adults, but is extended to the first host (mollusc) and to the second host ("invertebrate" or fish). Adult parasites, in order to ensure efficient sexual reproduction, never cause excessive damage to their definitive host, usually only exploiting the intestinal fluids; however, the host must intensify its search for prey, which results in a diminished fitness.

The status of Lecithochirium grandiporum (Rudolphi, 1819) (Digenea: Hemiuridae), a rarely reported and poorly known species from the Mediterranean moray eel Muraena helena L. in the Western Mediterranean.

A redescription of the poorly known Lecithochirium grandiporum (Rudolphi, 1819) is given based on numerous specimens collected from the stomach of the moray eel Muraena helena in the waters off the Scandola Natural Reserve, Corsica, in the Western Mediterranean. This species, abundant in all specimens of the moray eel studied in this region, is shown to be a valid species and not stunted specimens of L. fusiforme Lühe, 1901, a common parasite of the conger eel Conger conger which has developed in the wrong host.

A revision of Lomasoma Manter 1935 (Digenea: Fellodistomidae), with new data on the type-specimens of four species and the description of L. triglae n. sp. from Chelidonichthys lucernus (L.) (Pisces: Triglidae) in the Western Mediterranean.

Type-specimens of Lomasoma wardi (Manter, 1934), L. monolenei (Manter, 1934), L. gracile (Manter, 1934) (emend.

The occurrence of the Japanese species Dinosoma lophiomi Toman, 1973 (Digenea: Hemiuridae) in Lophius piscatorius (Teleostei) from the western Mediterranean.

Hemiurid worms from the stomach of the angler Lophius piscatorius off Corsica are described and considered to belong to a Japanese species, Dinosoma lophiomi Toman, 1973, which was originally described from an Indo-Pacific lophiid host. The apparent disjunctive distribution of this species and apparent differences in the terminal genitalia between the European and Japanese specimens are discussed. This is the first record of Dinosoma Manter, 1934 from the Mediterranean Sea.

Prosorhynchoides gracilescens (Rudolphi, 1819) (Digenea: Bucephalidae) from Lophius piscatorius L. is a species complex: a redescription of this species (sensu stricto) from the western Mediterranean and the description of P. borealis n. sp. from the northern North-East Atlantic.

The bucephalid digenean Prosorhynchoides gracilescens (Rudolphi, 1819) is a common intestinal parasite of the angler fish Lophius piscatorius in European marine waters. Detailed studies of new material collected off the coasts of both Marseilles and Corsica in the western Mediterranean, and comparison with museum material from the northern North-East Atlantic, indicated that the accepted concept of this species comprises two distinct taxa. The Mediterranean form occurs in relatively small numbers and has small eggs, a large rhynchus and a vitelline distribution that finishes well short of the rhynchus, whereas the NE Atlantic form, which comprises the majority of records, occurs often in large numbers, has larger eggs, a relatively smaller rhynchus and a vitelline distribution that tends to reach the rhynchus.

Four closely related but forgotten species of Rhipidocotyle Diesing, 1858 (Digenea: Bucephalidae) in fishes from European seas.

The following species of Rhipidocotyle are described: R. minima (Wagener, 1852) from Chelidonichthys gurnardus, C. lastoviza and Aspitrigla cuculus at various localities off the British Isles; R.

Three poorly known and rarely reported bucephalid species (Digenea) in fishes from the Western Mediterranean.

Three poorly known bucephalid species are described from off Corsica, in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Bucephalus gorgon (Linton, 1905) (syn. B.

Two species of the fish digenean genus Rhipidocotyle Diesing, 1858 (Bucephalidae) reported for the first time from European seas.

Two species of Rhipidocotyle are described from waters off the Scandola Nature Reserve, Corsica, France: these are the first records of these species from the Mediterranean Sea. R. capitata (Linton, 1940) from Auxis rochei and R.

Redescription of Pleorchis polyorchis (Stossich, 1889) (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae), a rare and poorly known parasite of the intestine of Sciaena umbra l. (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the western Mediterranean Sea.

Pleorchis polyorchis (Stossich, 1889), the type-species of the genus, is described on the basis of new material from Sciaena umbra from off Corsica, France. This is only the second description of this species. The results of this study indicate that there are apparent errors in the original description in relation to the number of testes, the anterior limit of the vitellarium, the extent of the post-testicular field and the shape of the intestinal caeca, and that the type-species is closer to its congeners than previously believed.

Cephalolepidapedon saba Yamaguti, 1970 (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae), the redescription of a species newly reported in European waters.

The lepocreadiid Cephalolepidapedon saba Yamaguti, 1970 is redescribed from Scomber japonicus in the western Mediterranean. The circum-oral spine rings and terminal genitalia are described in detail for the first time and the short excretory vesicle is confirmed. This is the first record of this distinctive parasite from European waters.

Four species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Seriola dumerili (Risso) (Teleostei: Carangidae) in the western Mediterranean, including S. euzeti n. sp.

Four species of Stephanostomum are described from various sites in Seriola dumerili from off Corsica, France. S. ditrematis (Yamaguti, 1939), from the stomach, pyloric caeca and duodenum, has 36 circum-oral spines.

Ancylocoelium typicum Nicoll, 1912 (Digenea: Monorchiidae), a poorly known parasite of Trachurus spp. (Teleostei: Carangidae) from the western Mediterranean and north-eastern Atlantic, and observations on its taxonomic position.

The monorchiid digenean Ancylocoelium typicum Nicoll, 1912, a parasite of the horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus (Carangidae), was essentially known from two descriptions based, respectively, on one and three specimens. It is redescribed and figured in detail based on numerous specimens from the rectum of three Trachurus spp. off Corsica in the western Mediterranean.

Tormopsolus orientalis Yamaguti, 1934 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Seriola dumerili (Risso) (Perciformes: Carangidae) in the western Mediterranean Sea.

Tormopsolus orientalis Yamaguti, 1934, is redescribed from Seriola dumerili from off Corsica, Majorca and Aguilas, SE Spain. The vitellarium is interrupted at the level of the ovary and both testes, and a bipartite seminal vesicle is found in many specimens. Oral sucker papillae are always seen.

First report of a species of Folliculovarium Gu and Shen, 1983 (Bucephalidae: Prosorhynchinae) from European marine waters, with the description of F. mediterraneum n. sp.

Folliculovarium mediterraneum n. sp. is described and figured in detail from the intestine of the Mediterranean moray eel Muraena helena (Muraenidae) in the Scandola Nature Reserve, off Corsica in the Western Mediterranean.

Opecoelidae (Digenea) from western Mediterranean fishes: three rare species.

Three little-known opecoelid digeneans from marine fishes off Corsica, France, are redescribed and their relationships discussed. Plagioporus novella Maillard & Lambert, 1978 from Conger conger is transferred to Podocotyle as P. novella (Maillard & Lambert, 1978) n.

Lecithostaphylus retroflexus (Molin, 1859) (Zoogonidae) and Tergestia acanthocephala (Stossich, 1887) (Fellodistomidae) (Digenea) from the epipelagic teleost Belone belone (L.) in the western Mediterranean.

Numerous individuals of the poorly known species Lecithostaphylus retroflexus (Zoogonidae) and Tergestia acanthocephala (Fellodistomidae) have been recovered from the teleost fish Belone belone gracilis from off the Scandola Nature Reserve, Western Mediterranean. They are redescribed, incorporating previously undescribed features: for L. retroflexus, a post-oral ring, a bipartite seminal vesicle, the shape of the excretory vesicle, the subterminal excretory pore and the flask-shaped gland-cells associated with the distinctly pedunculate ventral sucker; and for T.

A redescription of Homalometron senegalense Fischthal & Thomas, 1972 (Digenea: Apocreadiidae) from Synaptura kleinii (Teleostei) of the western Mediterranean.

The apocreadiid digenean Homalometron senegalense is redescribed from the soleid fish Synaptura kleinii from off Corsica in the western Mediterranean. For the first time, lymphatic vessels are described for this species, and the implications of this in the systematics of the Apocreadiidae discussed. This species is considered closest to H.

Metadena phoceae n. sp. (Digenea: Cryptogonimidae), a rectal parasite of the shore rockling Gaidropsarus mediterraneus (Teleostei: Lotidae) in the western Mediterranean.

Metadena phoceae n. sp. is described and figured in detail from the rectum of the shore rockling Gaidropsarus mediterraneus (Lotidae) in the Gulf of Marseilles and off Corsica.

Contribution to the knowledge of species of the genus Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from teleosts of the Western Mediterranean, with the description of S. gaidropsari n. sp.

Four species of the acanthocolpid genus Stephanostomum are redescribed from the digestive tract of teleosts in the Western Mediterranean: the type-species, S. cesticillum from Lophius piscatorius is described with a ventrally interrupted ring of 35 circum-oral spines and as lacking a uroproct; S. bicoronatum from Sciaena umbra has a ventrally interrupted ring of 31 circum-oral spines and a uroproct; S.

Regulation of T cell function by NK cell receptors for classical MHC class I molecules.

Inhibitory receptors for MHC class I molecules were initially characterised on NK cells. Human and mouse NK cell receptors (NKRs) are also expressed on T cells, predominantly on a subset of memory-phenotype CD8(+) T cells. This review focuses on the precise determination of interactions between NKRs and MHC class I, as well as on the unexpected in vivo function of NKRs on T cells.

A model allowing the design of modified nucleosides as HIV-RT inhibitors.

A chemical, structural, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analysis of modified nucleosides allows the understanding of how nucleosides interact with different receptors. The interaction with kinases is sensitive to base modifications, while the interaction with the reverse transcriptase receptor HIV active site is more affected by ribose modifications. The model herein indicates a geometrical lower limit in the width of the modified sugar that corresponds to the 3' erythro position.

Binding of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) to partially purified membrane vesicles of lymphoblastoid cell line CEM.

Binding of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to membrane of its target cells was studied by a quantitative and non-isotopic method called the viral membrane trapping method (VMTM). Membranes prepared from the CD4 positive lymphoblastoid cell line CEM and adsorbed to a solid support retained the ability to bind HIV-1. Similar results were obtained by Western dot blot and ELISA modification of VMTM, when membrane fraction was bound to nitrocellulose or polystyrene, respectively.