Dea Rabbito

Reactive oxygen species and glutathione antioxidants in the testis of the soil biosentinel Podarcis sicula (Rafinesque 1810)

Important toxicological achievements have been made during the last decades using reptiles. We focus our investigation on gonadal reproductive health of the soil biosentinel Podarcis sicula which is very sensitive to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The aim of this study is to quantitatively detect, by sensitive microassays, reactive oxygen species and the glutathione antioxidants in the testis and investigate if they are differentially expressed before and after remediation of a site of the “Land of Fires” (Campania, Italy) subject to illicit dumping of unknown material. The oxidative stress level was evaluated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy applying a spin-trapping procedure able to detect products of lipid peroxidation, DNA damage and repair by relative mobility shift, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase enzymatic activity, respectively, the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 transcript by real-time quantitative PCR analysis, the antioxidant glutathione S-transferase, a well-assessed pollution index, by enzymatic assay and the total soluble antioxidant capacity. Experimental evidences from the different techniques qualitatively agree, thus confirming the robustness of the combined experimental approach. Collected data, compared to those from a reference unpolluted site constitute evidence that the reproductive health of this lizard is impacted by pollution exposure. Remediation caused significant reduction of reactive oxygen species and downregulation of glutathione peroxidase 4 mRNAs in correspondence of reduced levels of glutathione S-transferase, increase of antioxidant capacity, and repair of DNA integrity. Taken together, our results indicate directions to define new screening approaches in remediation assessment.

Blue Economy and Biodiversity Surveillance: Fish Caviar Substitute Rapid Discrimination

The species identification is a key problem throughout the life cycle of fishes: from eggs and larvae to adults in ecosystem and fisheries research and control, as well as processed fish products labelling in consumer protection. Here, we report a rapid blue biotechnological method applied for egg and fish species discrimination. The amplification of a region of the mitochondrial genome, the cytochrome b, by using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) permits seafood products species identification. The obtained PCR-products were cut with different restriction endonucleases resulting in species-specific Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP), which allowed to discriminate, in one step, between different types of caviar substitute species. The following analysis of mitochondrial DNA to control the labelling between caviar substitute species of Cyclopterus lumpus, Mallotus villosus, Trisopterus minutus minutus and the caviar, Acipenser baerii and their monitoring and surveillance is suitable with only one restriction enzyme, MboII. This blue method, applied to a very significant number of samples, retrieved online, allowed a rapid and economic identification of the species, with high percentage of correct identification for fish caviar substitute.

Fisheries and biodiversity along Mediterranean Sea: Italian and Egyptian coast overview

Mediterranean fish species living along Italian (Gaeta) and Egyptian (Alexandria) coasts were analyzed using DNA barcodes for molecular identification. Mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene was sequenced from 31 different marine species to test whether the morphology-based assignment of individuals into 19 families, 6 orders was supported by DNA-based species delimitation and Neighbour Joining cladogram. All COI rRNA gene barcodes were matched with reference sequences of expected species, according to morphological identification. Neighbour joining tree was drawn based on COI rRNA gene and the majority of specimens clustered in agreement with their taxonomic classification. Our results updated Mediterranean edible fish knowledge providing graphical resources, taxonomical and bioinformatics references, improving the genetic fish database and the basic molecular information to strengthen the science–policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services as conservation, blue economy, and long-term human well-being.

Reproductive expression dynamics and comparative toxicological perspective of beta estrogen receptor gene in the male wall lizard, Podarcis sicula Rafinesque, 1810 (Chordata: Reptilia)

Abstract Over the last few decades, due to its relevant function in male reproduction assessment, important molecular achievements have been made in the molecular characterization of estrogen receptor genes in various species. Our work focuses on a male seasonal breeder, the bioindicator Podarcis sicula, because of its peculiar gonadal anatomy, similar to that of humans. Based on the cloned lizard’s gene sequence fragment of estrogen receptor beta, esr2 (GenBank JN705543.1), we found DNA binding domain identity of 99% as well as a homologous sequence with humans. Furthermore, in order to better illustrate how this gene is regulated in the lizard’s reproductive system organs, we investigated the transcriptional activity of esr2 in brain and testis tissues during mating and winter stasis phases of the reproductive cycle. Quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses performed on male gonadal tissues demonstrate a significant increase in esr2 expression during mating compared to the winter stasis period, while in the brain, esr2 shows the opposite trend. Next, we provide morphological evidence of the detrimental effect on spermatogenesis of a pure anti-estrogen treatment (ICI 182,780) and the corresponding effect on esr2 expression in lizard specimens during the mating period which, upon treatment, was found to be no different from the expression levels in winter stasis both in the brain and in the testis. In this study, we explore the potential use of Podarcis sicula as a model for human testis development and maturation, as well as esr2 expression for toxicological screening in one-testis gonadectomy.

Caves Biodiversity in the Marine Area of Riviera d'Ulisse Regional Park, Italy: Grotta del Maresciallo Overview

The caves have a significant economic importance in their role as tourist attraction and are of great importance for the presence of some rare species. The fauna identification in the “Grotta del Maresciallo” cave, situated in the Riviera di Ulisse Regional Park, started in march 2013 by a visual census and molecular approach. The studies allowed to detect 12 classes, 46 families, 47 species with their ecological niches, and the percentage contribution of each group to the Mediterranean marine cave diversity. Furthermore, we report the presence of two thermophilic species, as the star coral, Astroides calycularis (Pallas, 1766) and the goldblotch grouper, Epinephelus costae (Steindachner, 1878); the tropical species, the ringneck blenny Parablennius pilicornis (Cuvier, 1829); the endangered species, the dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus (Lowe, 1834) included in the IUCN Red List; the rare species, the black brotula Grammonus ater (Risso, 1810), and some uncommon species such as the golden coral shrimp, Stenopus spinosus (Risso, 1826) and the spotted bumblebee shrimp, Gnatophillum elegans (Risso, 1816). Species of economic and medical interest were also recorded. In a DNA barcoding approach, Neighbour Joining (NJ) phylogenetic tree of 25 mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I species sequences, indicates that COI gene is suitable for an unambiguous identification. This first geological and biological attempt at the Marine Area of the “Grotta del Maresciallo” provides useful indications to focus future investigations, and may become a potential management tool for local administrations to protect these habitats.