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Turtle Fibropapillomatosis
Turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a disease of sea turtles. The condition is characterized by benign but ultimately debilitating epithelial tumours on the surface of biological tissues. FP exists all over the world, but it is most prominent in warmer climates, affecting up to 50–70% of some populations. The causative agent of the disease is believed to be ''Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5'' (ChHV-5), a species of virus in the genus ''Scutavirus'', subfamily ''Alphaherpesvirinae'', family ''Herpesviridae'', and order ''Herpesvirales''. Turtle leeches are suspected mechanical vectors, transmitting the disease to other individuals. The disease is thought to have a multifactorial cause, including a tumour-promoting phase that is possibly caused by biotoxins or contaminants. Description Fibropapillomatosis is a benign tumour disease of marine turtles, predominantly in the green sea turtle, ''Chelonia mydas'', but it has also been reported in the loggerhead sea turtle ''Caret ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wrasse
The wrasses are a family, Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 81 genera, which are divided into 9 subgroups or tribes. They are typically small, most of them less than long, although the largest, the humphead wrasse, can measure up to . They are efficient carnivores, feeding on a wide range of small invertebrates. Many smaller wrasses follow the feeding trails of larger fish, picking up invertebrates disturbed by their passing. Juveniles of some representatives of the genera ''Bodianus'', ''Epibulus'', ''Cirrhilabrus'', ''Oxycheilinus'', and ''Paracheilinus'' hide among the tentacles of the free-living mushroom corals & ''Heliofungia actiniformis''. The word "wrasse" comes from the Cornish word ''wragh'', a lenited form of ''gwragh'', meaning an old woman or hag, via Cornish dialect ''wrath''. It is related to the Welsh ''gwrach'' and Breton ''gwrac'h''. Distribution Most wrasses inhabit the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hyperplasia
Hyperplasia (from ancient Greek ὑπέρ ''huper'' 'over' + πλάσις ''plasis'' 'formation'), or hypergenesis, is an enlargement of an organ or tissue caused by an increase in the amount of organic tissue that results from cell proliferation. It may lead to the gross enlargement of an organ, and the term is sometimes confused with benign neoplasia or benign tumor. Hyperplasia is a common preneoplastic response to stimulus. Microscopically, cells resemble normal cells but are increased in numbers. Sometimes cells may also be increased in size (hypertrophy). Hyperplasia is different from hypertrophy in that the adaptive cell change in hypertrophy is an increase in the ''size'' of cells, whereas hyperplasia involves an increase in the ''number'' of cells. Causes Hyperplasia may be due to any number of causes, including proliferation of basal layer of epidermis to compensate skin loss, chronic inflammatory response, hormonal dysfunctions, or compensation for damage o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heterophil
Neutrophils (also known as neutrocytes or heterophils) are the most abundant type of granulocytes and make up 40% to 70% of all white blood cells in humans. They form an essential part of the innate immune system, with their functions varying in different animals. They are formed from stem cells in the bone marrow and differentiated into subpopulations of neutrophil-killers and neutrophil-cagers. They are short-lived and highly mobile, as they can enter parts of tissue where other cells/molecules cannot. Neutrophils may be subdivided into segmented neutrophils and banded neutrophils (or bands). They form part of the polymorphonuclear cells family (PMNs) together with basophils and eosinophils. The name ''neutrophil'' derives from staining characteristics on hematoxylin and eosin ( H&E) histological or cytological preparations. Whereas basophilic white blood cells stain dark blue and eosinophilic white blood cells stain bright red, neutrophils stain a neutral pink. Normally, n ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Prorocentrum
The Prorocentrales are a small order of dinoflagellates. They are distinguished by having their two flagella inserted apically, rather than ventrally as in other groups. One flagellum extends forward and the other circles its base, and there are no flagellar grooves. This arrangement is called desmokont, in contrast to the dinokont arrangement found in other groups. Accordingly, the Prorocentrales may be called desmoflagellates, and in some classifications were treated as a separate class Desmophyceae. All members have chloroplasts and a theca, which is composed of two large plates joined by a sagittal suture. This structure is shared with the Dinophysiales, and they are probably sister groups. This does not show up on rRNA trees, which also show two separate groups of ''Prorocentrum The Prorocentrales are a small order of dinoflagellates. They are distinguished by having their two flagella inserted apically, rather than ventrally as in other groups. One flagellum exte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Okadaic Acid
Okadaic acid, C44H68O13, is a toxin produced by several species of dinoflagellates, and is known to accumulate in both marine sponges and shellfish. One of the primary causes of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, okadaic acid is a potent inhibitor of specific protein phosphatases and is known to have a variety of negative effects on cells. A polyketide, polyether derivative of a C38 fatty acid, okadaic acid and other members of its family have shined light upon many biological processes both with respect to dinoflagellete polyketide synthesis as well as the role of protein phosphatases in cell growth. History As early as 1961, reports of gastrointestinal disorders following the consumption of cooked mussels appeared in both the Netherlands and Los Lagos. Attempts were made to determine the source of the symptoms, however they failed to elucidate the true culprit, instead implicating a species of microplanctonic dinoflagellates. In the summers of the late 1970s, a series of food po ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lyngbyatoxin
Lyngbyatoxin-a is a cyanotoxin produced by certain cyanobacteria species, most notably '' Moorea producens'' (formerly ''Lyngbya majuscula''). It is produced as defense mechanism to ward off any would-be predators of the bacterium, being a potent blister agent A blister agent (or vesicant), is a chemical compound that causes severe skin, eye and mucosal pain and irritation. They are named for their ability to cause severe chemical burns, resulting in painful water blisters on the bodies of those affec ... as well as carcinogen. Low concentrations cause a common skin condition known as seaweed dermatitis. Biosynthesis Lyngbyatoxin is a terpenoid indole alkaloid that belongs to the class of non-ribosomal peptides (NRP). Lyngbyatoxin contains a nucleophilic indole ring that takes part in the activation of protein kinases. Figure 1, shows the biosynthesis of Lyngbyatoxin reported by Neilan et al. and Gerwick et al. The non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) LtxA protein conden ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Parasitism
Parasitism is a Symbiosis, close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the Host (biology), host, causing it some harm, and is Adaptation, adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has characterised parasites as "predators that eat prey in units of less than one". Parasites include single-celled protozoans such as the agents of malaria, sleeping sickness, and amoebic dysentery; animals such as hookworms, lice, mosquitoes, and vampire bats; fungi such as Armillaria mellea, honey fungus and the agents of ringworm; and plants such as mistletoe, dodder, and the Orobanchaceae, broomrapes. There are six major parasitic Behavioral ecology#Evolutionarily stable strategy, strategies of exploitation of animal hosts, namely parasitic castration, directly transmitted parasitism (by contact), wikt:trophic, trophicallytransmitted parasitism (by being eaten), Disease vector, vector-transmitted paras ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ozobranchus
Turtle leeches are a genus, ''Ozobranchus'', of leeches (Hirudinea) that feed exclusively on the blood of turtles.Hutchins, Michael, ed., et al. ''Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia''. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 978-0-7876-5362-0. pp. 75-83. Only two species – ''Ozobranchus margoi'' and ''Ozobranchus branchiatus'' – are found in the Atlantic coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico. Little is known about these leeches due to difficulties in studying their sea turtle hosts.McGowin, Audrey E., et al. "Genetic barcoding of marine leeches (''Ozobranchus'' spp.) from Florida sea turtles and their divergence in host specificity." ''Molecular Ecology Resources'' 11.2 (2011): 271-278. Physiology Species of ''Ozobranchus'' spp. can be very small (down to a few millimeters in length), making them morphologically difficult to distinguish. ''Ozobranchus margoi'' and ''Ozobranchus branchiatus'' are the most anatomically documented. According to researchers from the University ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Horizontal Transmission
Horizontal transmission is the transmission of organisms between biotic and/or abiotic members of an ecosystem that are not in a parent-progeny relationship. This concept has been generalized to include transmissions of infectious agents, symbionts, and cultural traits between humans. Because the evolutionary fate of the agent is not tied to reproductive success of the host, horizontal transmission tends to evolve virulence. It is therefore a critical concept for evolutionary medicine. Biological Pathogen transmission In biological, but not cultural, transmissions the carriers (also known as vectors) may include other species. The two main biological modes of transmission are ''anterior station'' and ''posterior station''. In anterior station, transmission occurs via the bite of an infected organism (the vector), like in malaria, dengue fever, and bubonic plague. Posterior station is transmission via contact with infected feces. Examples are rickettsiae driven diseases (l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ozobranchus Margoi
Turtle leeches are a genus, ''Ozobranchus'', of leeches (Hirudinea) that feed exclusively on the blood of turtles.Hutchins, Michael, ed., et al. ''Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia''. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 978-0-7876-5362-0. pp. 75-83. Only two species – ''Ozobranchus margoi'' and ''Ozobranchus branchiatus'' – are found in the Atlantic coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico. Little is known about these leeches due to difficulties in studying their sea turtle hosts.McGowin, Audrey E., et al. "Genetic barcoding of marine leeches (''Ozobranchus'' spp.) from Florida sea turtles and their divergence in host specificity." ''Molecular Ecology Resources'' 11.2 (2011): 271-278. Physiology Species of ''Ozobranchus'' spp. can be very small (down to a few millimeters in length), making them morphologically difficult to distinguish. ''Ozobranchus margoi'' and ''Ozobranchus branchiatus'' are the most anatomically documented. According to researchers from the University ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bovine Papillomavirus
Bovine papillomaviruses (BPV) are a paraphyletic group of DNA viruses of the subfamily ''Firstpapillomavirinae'' of ''Papillomaviridae'' that are common in cattle. All BPVs have a circular genome, circular double-stranded DNA genome. Infection causes warts (papillomas and fibropapillomas) of the skin and alimentary tract, and more rarely cancers of the alimentary tract and urinary bladder. They are also thought to cause the skin tumour equine sarcoid in horses and donkeys. BPVs have been used as a model for studying papillomavirus molecular biology and for dissecting the mechanisms by which this group of viruses cause cancer. Structure and genetic organisation Like other papillomaviruses, BPVs are small non-enveloped viruses with an icosahedral capsid around 50–60 nm in diameter. The capsid is formed of the L1 and L2 structural proteins, with the L1 C-terminus exposed. All BPVs have a circular genome, circular double-stranded DNA genome of 7.3–8.0 kb. The genetic organ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Emaciation
Emaciation is defined as the state of extreme thinness from absence of body fat and muscle wasting usually resulting from malnutrition. Characteristics In humans, the physical appearance of emaciation includes thinned limbs, pronounced and protruding bones, sunken eyes, dry skin, thinning hair, a bloated stomach, and a dry or coated tongue. Emaciation is often accompanied by halitosis, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, anemia, improper function of lymph and the lymphatic system, and pleurisy and edema. Causes Emaciation can be caused by undernutrition, malaria and cholera, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases with prolonged fever, parasitic infections, many forms of cancer and their treatments, lead poisoning, and eating disorders like anorexia nervosa. Emaciation is widespread in least developed countries and was a major cause of death in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. Animals A lack of resources in the habitat, disease, or neglect and cruelty from humans in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
