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We previously reported unexpected apoptosis-like cell death induced by nematocyst venom (NV) from Chrysaora helvola Brandt (C. helvola) jellyfish. To assess whether the pore formation mechanism underlay the action of NV, the change in cell membrane permeability was studied in both chicken erythrocytes and human CNE-2 cells. Initially, paradoxical results were derived from osmoprotectant protection assays. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)2000, which completely inhibited the NV induced hemolysis, failed to protect CNE-2 cells. Detailed experiments showed that PEG protection from hemolysis is concentration dependent and indicated caution when estimating the pore size formed by NV with the osmotic protection method. NV-treated CNE-2 cells remained impermeable to dyes with various molecular weights (MWs) (622.6-40,000 Da). Furthermore, membrane depolarization and selective permeability to Na+ other than K+ were induced in CNE-2 cells. No oxidative damage to the cell membrane was detected. Amiloride, an inhibitor of Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE), substantially protected both CNE-2 cells and erythrocytes from NV. Combined with the previously reported increase in intracellular pH, we supposed that NV activated plasma membrane NHE without forming transmembrane pores. Interestingly, glutathione (GSH) showed significant protection to CNE-2 cells while potentiating the hemolytic power of NV. This finding may suggest a key role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cytotoxicity of NV. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that a hemolytic jellyfish venom acts through NHE in a manner other than compromising membrane integrity. The current work provides new insight into the arsenal of toxic jellyfishes.

Silicon plays a significant role in the resistance of rice plants to multiple stresses including diseases and pests. However, there has been little research on the effect of silicon application on plant resistance to brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Stal, (Homoptera: Delphacidae), in rice ( Oryza sativa L.). In the present work, experiments were conducted in greenhouses to study the impact of rice plants grown in hydroponic culture and fed with high concentrations of silicon (240 mg/L SiO 2 ) as a macronutrient on the performance of the phloem-feeding insect, BPH. It appeared that a high silicon concentration had no significant effects on the phenotypic performance of two rice lines. However, the BPH survival rate and settled insect number on one of the rice lines treated with high silicon concentrations decreased significantly from 8 and 4 day points, respectively, after their release. A similar downward trend was observed on the other rice line treated with a high concentration silicon solution from the 24 h time point. Furthermore, BPH insects on both rice lines treated with high silicon concentrations were significantly less fertile and excreted less honeydew compared to controls. In conclusion, high silicon had significant antibiotic and antixenotic effects on BPH in the two rice lines when compared to controls. We conclude that silicon is one of the main factors that restrict BPH performance in rice-BPH interactions, and it is potentially of great benefit for non-pesticide BPH management.