An investigation into the toxicity of tissue extracts from two distinct marine Polychaeta
Mariaelena D'Ambrosio,
Íris Ramos,
Carla Martins,
Pedro M. Costa
Affiliations
Mariaelena D'Ambrosio
Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; Corresponding author. UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit; Associate Laboratory i4HB - Insitute for Health and Bioeconomy, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
Íris Ramos
Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Carla Martins
Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Pedro M. Costa
Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal; Corresponding author. UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit; Associate Laboratory i4HB - Insitute for Health and Bioeconomy, Department of Life Sciences, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
The present study investigated the potential toxicity of venomous secretions of two polychaetes, Hediste diversicolor and Glycera alba (Annelida: Phyllodocida). Toxic activity of putative toxins, measured on mussel gills through the Comet assay, revealed higher effects caused by extracts from H. diversicolor skin and G. alba specialised, jawed proboscis, when compared to control. The results suggest that H. diversicolor secretes toxins via skin for protection against predators, contrarily to G. alba, who secretes toxins for predation.
