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Human activity exposes organisms in marine ecosystems to numerous stressors, including rising seawater temperatures and antibiotic contamination. The present study investigated the impacts of environmentally relevant concentrations of the fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENR), specifically 5 and 500 ng/L, in Mytilus galloprovincialis under ambient (20 °C) and predicted warming (25 °C) conditions after 14 days of exposure, followed by a 14-day recovery period in the absence of ENR. The chemical analyses revealed significant variability in bioaccumulation in mussel tissues. Physiological assessments showed decreased respiration and filtration rates post-exposure, with temperature-dependent recovery dynamics. Biochemical parameters indicated an increased metabolic capacity and energy reserves at higher temperatures, with a significant increase in energy expenditure. Notably, ENR induced significant DNA single-strand breaks in mussel gills and digestive glands, with temperature influencing DNA repair mechanisms. The combination of ENR and elevated temperatures exhibited additive or even synergistic effects on certain physiological and biochemical parameters, indicating a higher risk when these stressors act together. The Indipendent Action model (IA) results highlighted that the majority of observed effects in combined stressors were consistent with predicted values, with notable synergistic interactions in energy reserves and antagonistic responses in metabolic and physiological functions. These findings suggest that both stressors, acting alone and especially in combination, may pose a risk to marine bivalves such as mussels. Further research is needed to assess the impacts of FQs and ocean warming on ecosystem stability and non-target organisms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) are emerging pollutants frequently detected in aquatic environments. However, their impact on marine invertebrates remains underexplored. This study investigated the responses at subcellular level in the Mediterranean mussel ( Mytilus galloprovincialis ) exposed to three veterinary FQs, marbofloxacin (MARB), sarafloxacin (SARA), and difloxacin (DI), at concentrations considered relevant to environmental conditions. The assessment focused on the digestive gland and gills, employing in vitro assays to evaluate antioxidant defenses, biotransformation, and neurotransmission enzyme activities, as well as their effects on membrane lipids, proteins, and DNA integrity. Results revealed a general decline in antioxidant defenses and compromised DNA integrity in both tissues. Additionally, exposure to MARB and DI led to an alteration in detoxification capacity in the gills, along with an increased content of carbonylated proteins. Conversely, the digestive gland exhibited a significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. These findings suggest potential neurotoxic and genotoxic impacts of these antibiotics on non-target species, as well as an associated oxidative effect., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The progressive increase of marine macro-litter on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea is an urgent problem that needs accurate information and guidance to identify those areas most at risk of accumulation. In the absence of dedicated monitoring programs, an important source of opportunistic data is fishery-independent monitoring campaigns of demersal resources. These data have long been used but not yet extensively. In this paper, MEDiterranean International Trawl Survey (MEDITS) data was supplemented with 18 layers of information related to major environmental (e.g. depth, sea water and wind velocity, sea waves) and anthropogenic (e.g. river inputs, shipping lanes, urban areas and ports, fishing effort) forcings that influence seafloor macro-litter distribution. The Random Forest (RF), a machine learning approach, was applied to: i) model the distribution of several litter categories at a high spatial resolution (i.e. 1 km 2 ); ii) identify major accumulation hot spots and their temporal trends. Results indicate that RF is a very effective approach to model the distribution of marine macro-litter and provides a consistent picture of the heterogeneous distribution of different macro-litter categories. The most critical situation in the study area was observed in the north-eastern part of the western basin. In addition, the combined analysis of weight and density data identified a tendency for lighter items to accumulate in areas (such as the northern part of the Tyrrhenian Sea) with more stagnant currents. This approach, based on georeferenced information widely available in public databases, seems a natural candidate to be applied in other basins as a support and complement tool to field monitoring activities and strategies for protection and remediation of the most impacted areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The study aimed to investigate the in vitro effects of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) Ciprofloxacin (CIP), Enrofloxacin (ENR) and Danofloxacin (DAN) on the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations. In vitro exposure was performed on subcellular fractions of the digestive gland and gills through a multi-biomarker approach, which included the assessment of cellular damage, antioxidant and biotransformation enzyme activities, neurotoxicity, and DNA single-strand breaks (DNAssb). Results showed a decrease in protein carbonyl content in the gills when exposed to all concentrations of ENR. A significant overall decrease in the enzymatic activity of antioxidant defences was observed in the digestive gland exposed to the highest concentration of DAN and CIP, with a similar trend observed in the gills. Neurotoxicity was observed in the digestive gland at all tested concentrations of all FQs, but no effects were detected in the gills. DNAssb was evident in both tissues at all higher FQ concentrations., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Environmental pollution, particularly in the marine environment, has become a significant concern due to the increasing presence of pollutants and their adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. This study focuses on the bioaccumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of the blackmouth catshark ( Galeus melastomus ) from different areas in the Mediterranean Sea. Trace elements are of interest due to their persistence, toxicity, and potential for bioaccumulation. This research aims to assess the distribution and accumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of G. melastomus and investigate their potential impact on the deep-sea environment of the Mediterranean. The focused areas include the Ligurian Sea, the northern and central Tyrrhenian Sea, the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ionian Sea, the Pantelleria Waters, and the Gela Waters. Samples were collected following established protocols, and trace element analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The study provides data on the concentrations of 17 trace elements, namely aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, zinc, selenium, strontium, lead, chromium, iron, barium, bismuth, and uranium. The findings contribute to a better understanding of trace element bioaccumulation patterns in elasmobranch species, specifically G. melastomus , and highlight the potential risks associated with chemical contamination in the Mediterranean Sea. This research emphasizes the importance of studying the impacts of pollutants on marine organisms, particularly those occupying key ecological roles, like sharks, to support effective conservation and management strategies.

Non-chemical sources of anthropogenic environmental stress, such as artificial lights, noise and magnetic fields, are still an underestimate factor that may affect the wildlife. Marine environments are constantly subjected to these kinds of stress, especially nearby to urbanized coastal areas. In the present work, the effect of static magnetic fields, associated with submerged electric cables, was evaluated in gametes and early life stages of a serpulid polychaete, namely Ficopomatus enigmaticus. Specifically, biochemical/physiological impairments of sperm, fertilization rate inhibition and incorrect larval development were assessed. We evaluated differences between two selected magnetic field induction values (0.5 and 1 mT) along a range of exposure times (30 min-48 h), for a sound evaluation on this species. We found that a magnetic induction of 1 mT, a typical value that can be found at distance of tens of cm from a submerged cable, may be considered a biologically and ecologically relevant for sessile organisms and for coastal environments more generally. This value exerted statistically significant effects on membranes, DNA integrity, kinetic parameters and mitochondrial activity of sperm cells. Moreover, a significant reduction in fertilization rate was observed in sperm exposed to the same magnetic induction level (1 mT) for 3 h, compared to controls. Regarding early larval stages, 48-h exposure did not affect the correct development. Our results represent a starting point for a future focus of research on magnetic field effects on early life stages of aquatic invertebrates, using model species as representative for reef-forming/encrusting organisms and ecological indicators of soft sediment quality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Galeus melastomus is the most common Pentanchidae in the Mediterranean Sea. A scavenger and opportunistic feeder, and despite the wide distribution, little is known about its feeding habits in Italian waters. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the diet of the blackmouth catshark by analysing the stomach contents. The specimens analysed were obtained from five populations of the Tyrrhenian and of the Ionian Seas, collected from a depth between 40 and 700 m. A total of 259 stomachs were analysed. The stomach contents were grouped into macro-categories and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Crustaceans such as Parapenaeus longirostris , the Cephalopods Heteroteuthis dispar and Onychoteuthis banksii , and Osteichthyes, mostly Myctophidae, were identified. Plastic debris was also found among the stomach contents and classified according to its colour and shape. Osteichthyes represent the most abundant item (44%), above all the Myctophidae family, except for the catshark population from Tuscany, in which the most frequent species were Cephalopods, such as Abralia veranyi and Heteroteuthis dispar . Differences in the plastic debris contents were also observed between the Tuscany population and other populations. These could be explained as a probable consequence of the different depths at which the blackmouth catshark populations were sampled.

Metabolic disorders characterized by elevated blood glucose levels are a recognized risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Lipid dysregulation is critically involved in the HCC progression, regulating energy storage, metabolism, and cell signaling. There is a clear link between de novo lipogenesis in the liver and activation of the NF-κB pathway, which is involved in cancer metastasis via regulation of metalloproteinases MMP-2/9. As conventional therapies for HCC reach their limits, new effective and safe drugs need to be found for the prevention and/or adjuvant therapy of HCC. The marine plant Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is endemic to the Mediterranean and has traditionally been used to treat diabetes and other health disorders. The phenol-rich leaf extract of Posidonia oceanica (POE) is known to have cell-safe bioactivities. Here, high glucose (HG) conditions were used to study lipid accumulation and fatty acid synthase (FASN) expression in human HepG2 hepatoma cells using Oil Red O and Western blot assays. Under HG conditions, the activation status of MAPKs/NF-κB axis and MMP-2/9 activity were determined by Western blot and gelatin zymography assays. The potential ameliorative role of POE against HG-related stress in HepG2 cells was then investigated. POE reduced lipid accumulation and FASN expression with an impact on de novo lipogenesis. Moreover, POE inhibited the MAPKs/NF-κB axis and, consequently, MMP-2/9 activity. Overall, these results suggest that P. oceanica may be a potential weapon in the HCC additional treatment.

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of public health concern. Its prevalence in stray animals in the South of Italy is unknown. This study aimed to investigate Leptospira spp. prevalence in 1009 stray animals. Out of them, 749 were alive animals, including 358 dogs (316 from Palermo and 42 from Ragusa) and 391 cats (359 from Palermo and 32 from Ragusa), and 260 were corpses (216 dogs and 44 cats) randomly collected in Sicily. Dogs and cats underwent a serological screening by Microscopic Agglutination Test and a molecular investigation by Real-Time PCR targeting lipL32 . Corpses were subjected to Real-Time PCR. Serological analyses showed a prevalence of 1.12% (4/358) for dogs and 0.26% (1/391) for cats, with the only positive cat coming from Palermo. Serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae or Copenhageni, followed by Canicola and Bratislava, were the most spread among dogs, while the serological positive cat reacted with Hardjo serogroup. Two urine (2/32, 6.25%) and one blood (1/391, 0.26%) samples of cats, all from Ragusa, were positive at Real-Time PCR for pathogenic Leptospira spp. Sequencing analyses showed the presence of L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae or Copenhageni in one of the positive urine samples and in the positive blood sample. Analyses on corpses showed a prevalence of 1.85% (4/216) in Sicilian dog kidney samples, while all corpses of cats resulted in negative. Genotyping analysis showed a genetic relatedness between cat and human isolates. Results show Leptospira spp. circulation among Sicilian stray animals. The genetic relatedness between cat and human isolates suggests a possible common infection source.

The establishment of marine protected areas is considered the main global strategy to halt the loss of marine biodiversity. Since most of marine areas are open systems, this form of habitat protection cannot prevent their contamination due to human activities performed outside of their borders. Innovative approaches to assess the health status of protected marine habitats are therefore needed. Here we developed a multidisciplinary approach that combines ecological characteristics, bioaccumulation of inorganic and organic pollutants, cell damage (micronuclei frequency, nuclear alterations and LPO) and enzymatic (AChE, CAT, IDH, LDH, GST and CAT) markers focused on an intertidal brachyuran crab, Pachygrapsus marmoratus, to assess the impacts of contaminant exposure on Mediterranean coastal habitats. As study sites we selected two protected areas and two sites within industrial ports of the Ligurian Sea. Our results showed that the selected crab species is an excellent bioindicator. Individuals collected in sites with the highest levels of heavy metal pollution showed the highest signals of stress responses at both cellular and enzymatic levels, coupled with a high incidence of the parasite Sacculina carcini, a signal of impairment of their standard development and reproduction cycle. We could also prove that one of the selected marine protected areas showed the same intensity of impact as its adjacent port site. Our multidisciplinary approach proved to be a valuable tool to assess the environmental quality and health of protected and disturbed Mediterranean coastal environments and to inform efficient management and protection schemes for such habitats., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Fungi are an essential component of marine ecosystems, although little is known about their global distribution and underwater diversity, especially in sediments. Microplastics (MPs) are widespread contaminants worldwide and threaten the organisms present in the oceans. In this study, we investigated the fungal abundance and diversity in sediments, as well as the MPs, of three sites with different anthropogenic impacts in the Mediterranean Sea: the harbor of Livorno, the marine protected area "Secche della Meloria"; and an intermediate point, respectively. A total of 1526 isolates were cultured and identified using a polyphasic approach. For many of the fungal species this is the first record in a marine environment. A comparison with the mycobiota associated with the sediments and MPs underlined a "substrate specificity", highlighting the complexity of MP-associated fungal assemblages, potentially leading to altered microbial activities and hence changes in ecosystem functions. A further driving force that acts on the fungal communities associated with sediments and MPs is sampling sites with different anthropogenic impacts.

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is an endemic Mediterranean marine plant of extreme ecological importance. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the potential antidiabetic properties of P. oceanica leaf extract. Intestinal glucose transporters play a key role in glucose homeostasis and represent novel targets for the management of diabetes. In this study, the ability of a hydroalcoholic P. oceanica leaf extract (POE) to modulate intestinal glucose transporters was investigated using Caco-2 cells as a model of an intestinal barrier. The incubation of cells with POE significantly decreased glucose uptake by decreasing the GLUT2 glucose transporter levels. Moreover, POE had a positive effect on the barrier integrity by increasing the Zonulin-1 levels. A protective effect exerted by POE against oxidative stress induced by chronic exposure to high glucose concentrations or tert-butyl hydroperoxide was also demonstrated. This study highlights for the first time the effect of POE on glucose transport, intestinal barrier integrity, and its protective antioxidant effect in Caco-2 cells. These findings suggest that the P. oceanica phytocomplex may have a positive impact by preventing the intestinal cell dysfunction involved in the development of inflammation-related disease associated with oxidative stress.

Metastasis is responsible for the bad prognosis in cancer patients. Advances in research on metastasis prevention focus attention on the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell motility and invasion to improve therapies for long-term survival in cancer patients. The so-called "migrastatics" could help block cancer cell invasion and lead to the rapid development of antimetastatic therapies, improving conventional cancer therapies. In the relentless search for migrastatics, the marine environment represents an important source of natural compounds due to its enormous biodiversity. Thus, this review is a selection of scientific research that has pointed out in a broad spectrum of in vitro and in vivo models the anti-cancer power of marine-derived products against cancer cell migration and invasion over the past five years. Overall, this review might provide a useful up-to-date guide about marine-derived compounds with potential interest for pharmaceutical and scientific research on antimetastatic drug endpoints.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a common cancer in childhood, and lethal in its high-risk form, primarily because of its high metastatic potential. Targeting cancer cell migration, and thus preventing metastasis formation, is the rationale for more effective cancer therapy against NB. Previous studies have described the leaf extract from Posidonia oceanica marine plant (POE) as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory agent and inhibitor of cancer cell migration. This study aims to examine the POE anti-migratory role in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and the underlying mechanisms of action. Wound healing and gelatin zymography assays showed that POE at early times inhibits cell migration and reduces pro-MMP-2 release into culture medium. By monitoring expression level of key autophagy markers by Western blot assay, a correlation between POE-induced cell migration inhibition and autophagy activation was demonstrated. Cell morphology and immunofluorescence analyses showed that POE induces neurite formation and neuronal differentiation at later times. These results suggest POE might act against cell migration by triggering early nontoxic autophagy. The POE-induced cellular morphological change toward cell differentiation might contribute to prolonging the phytocomplex anti-migratory effect to later times. Overall, these results encourage future in vivo studies to test POE applicability in neuroblastoma treatment.

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is a marine plant traditionally used as an herbal medicine for various health disorders. P. oceanica leaf extract (POE) has been shown to be a phytocomplex with cell-safe bioactivities, including the ability to trigger autophagy. Autophagy is a key pathway to counteract non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by controlling the breakdown of lipid droplets in the liver. The aim of this study was to explore the ability of POE to trigger autophagy and reduce lipid accumulation in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells and then verify the possible link between the effect of POE on lipid reduction and autophagy activation. Expression levels of autophagy markers were monitored by the Western blot technique in POE-treated HepG2 cells, whereas the extent of lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells was assessed by Oil red O staining. Chloroquine (CQ), an autophagy inhibitor, was used to study the relationship between POE-induced autophagy and intracellular lipid accumulation. POE was found to stimulate an autophagy flux over time in HepG2 cells by lowering the phosphorylation state of ribosomal protein S6, increasing Beclin-1 and LC3-II levels, and decreasing p62 levels. By blocking autophagy with CQ, the effect of POE on intracellular lipid accumulation was clearly reversed, suggesting that the POE phytocomplex may reduce lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells by activating the autophagic process. This work indicates that P. oceanica may be considered as a promising molecule supplier to discover new natural approaches for the management of NAFLD.

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is a Mediterranean-endemic angiosperm often described for its great ecological importance. Despite evidence of a millennia-old relationship between P. oceanica and humans, as well as traditional medicine applications, the potential benefits of P. oceanica for human health have been documented only recently. This review aims to compile newly acquired knowledge on P. oceanica bioactive properties that allow the scientific community to look at this plant as a promising source of natural therapeutical products for human health. Experimental investigations conducted in both in vitro cellular-based and in vivo animal models pave the way for new research projects aiming at the development of alternative and complementary therapeutic strategies based on P. oceanica against a wide range of pathological conditions.

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is traditionally used for its beneficial properties. Recently, promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biological properties emerged through studying the in vitro activity of the ethanolic leaves extract (POE). The present study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic role of POE in mice. Inflammatory pain was modeled in CD-1 mice by the intraplantar injection of carrageenan, interleukin IL-1β and formalin. Pain threshold was measured by von Frey and paw pressure tests. Nociceptive pain was studied by the hot-plate test. POE (10-100 mg kg -1 ) was administered per os. The paw soft tissue of carrageenan-treated animals was analyzed to measure anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. POE exerted a dose-dependent, acute anti-inflammatory effect able to counteract carrageenan-induced pain and paw oedema. Similar anti-hyperalgesic and anti-allodynic results were obtained when inflammation was induced by IL-1β. In the formalin test, the pre-treatment with POE significantly reduced the nocifensive behavior. Moreover, POE was able to evoke an analgesic effect in naïve animals. Ex vivo, POE reduced the myeloperoxidase activity as well as TNF-α and IL-1β levels; further antioxidant properties were highlighted as a reduction in NO concentration. POE is the candidate for a new valid strategy against inflammation and pain.

Background: Studies on marine community dynamics and population structures are limited by the lack of exhaustive knowledge on the larval dispersal component of connectivity. Genetic data represents a powerful tool in understanding such processes in the marine realm. When dealing with dispersion and connectivity in marine ecosystems, many evidences show patterns of genetic structure that cannot be explained by any clear geographic trend and may show temporal instability. This scenario is usually referred to as chaotic genetic patchiness, whose driving mechanisms are recognized to be selection, temporal shifts in local population dynamics, sweepstakes reproductive success and collective dispersal. In this study we focused on the marbled crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus that inhabits the rocky shores of the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and East Atlantic Ocean, and disperses through planktonic larvae for about 1 month. P. marmoratus exhibits unexpectedly low connectivity levels at local scale, although well-defined phylogeographic patterns across the species' distribution range were described. This has been explained as an effect of subtle geographic barriers or due to sweepstake reproductive success. In order to verify a chaotic genetic patchiness scenario, and to explore mechanisms underlying it, we planned our investigation within the Ligurian Sea, an isolated basin of the western Mediterranean Sea, and we genotyped 321 individuals at 11 microsatellite loci., Results: We recorded genetic heterogeneity among our Ligurian Sea samples with the occurrence of genetic clusters not matching the original populations and a slight inter-population divergence, with the geographically most distant populations being the genetically most similar ones. Moreover, individuals from each site were assigned to all the genetic clusters. We also recorded evidences of self-recruitment and a higher than expected within-site kinship., Conclusions: Overall, our results suggest that the chaotic genetic patchiness we found in P. marmoratus Ligurian Sea populations is the result of a combination of differences in reproductive success, en masse larval dispersion and local larval retention. This study defines P. marmoratus as an example of marine spawner whose genetic pool is not homogenous at population level, but rather split in a chaotic mosaic of slightly differentiated genetic patches derived from complex and dynamic ecological processes.

Neurodegenerative diseases are generally characterized by the presence of neurotoxic amyloid aggregates underlying progressive neuronal death. Since ancient times, natural compounds have been used as curative agents for human health. Amyloid research is constantly looking for safe natural molecules capable of blocking toxic amyloid aggregates' formation. From the marine environment, seaweeds are recognized as rich reservoirs of molecules with multiple bioactivities, including the anti-amyloidogenic activity. Here, hydroalcoholic extracts of two seasonal samples of the Mediterranean red seaweed Halophytis incurva (HIEs) were characterized by the HPLC-DAD-MS analysis. The H. incurva anti-amyloidogenic role was explored by incubating both HIEs with hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL), a well-known protein model widely used in amyloid aggregation experiments. The aggregation kinetics and morphological analysis of amyloid aggregates were performed by ThT and AFM analysis, respectively, while their cytotoxicity on SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells was examined by MTT assay. HIEs showed a different efficacy, probably dependent on their metabolic composition, both in inhibiting amyloid fibrillation and in obtaining short and less toxic pre-fibrillary aggregates. Overall, this work sheds light, for the first time, on a Mediterranean red seaweed as a promising renewable resource of bioactive compounds, potentially useful in preventing the formation of toxic amyloid aggregates.

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is a marine plant with interesting biological properties potentially ascribed to the synergistic combination of bioactive compounds. Our previously described extract, obtained from the leaves of P. oceanica , showed the ability to impair HT1080 cell migration by targeting both expression and activity of gelatinases. Commonly, the lack of knowledge about the mechanism of action of phytocomplexes may be an obstacle regarding their therapeutic use and development. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the molecular signaling through which such bioactive compounds impact on malignant cell migration and gelatinolytic activity. The increase in autophagic vacuoles detected by confocal microscopy suggested an enhancement of autophagy in a time and dose dependent manner. This autophagy activation was further confirmed by monitoring pivotal markers of autophagy signaling as well as by evidencing an increase in IGF-1R accumulation on cell membranes. Taken together, our results confirm that the P. oceanica phytocomplex is a promising reservoir of potent and cell safe molecules able to defend against malignancies and other diseases in which gelatinases play a major role in progression. In conclusion, the attractive properties of this phytocomplex may be of industrial interest in regard to the development of novel health-promoting and pharmacological products for the treatment or prevention of several diseases.

The study falls within the framework of a wider research programme aimed at investigating the gastrotrich diversity of the Tropical North-Western Atlantic (TNWA). A new macrodasyidan gastrotrich is described from fine-medium sand collected at Duncans Bay, Jamaica. The description is based on observations carried out on living specimens using differential interference contrast microscopy. Paraturbanella xaymacana sp. n. , the third gastrotrich taxon reported from Jamaica, is a mid-sized species, up to 564 μm long, with a feeble peribuccal swelling. The most obvious autapomorphic traits pertain to the testes and the male pore, both of which are located approximately at mid body, rather than at- or near the pharyngo-intestinal junction as occur in the other species of the genus. Additional differences with congeners are discussed and a key to the Paraturbanella species is provided, in the hope it will be useful to both gastrotrich experts and marine ecologists who discover these microscopic metazoans during their research.

Despite being characterized by some of the most threatened forest ecosystems of Mesoamerica, the Nicoya Peninsula is among the least known regions of neotropical Costa Rica in terms of its birdlife. Within this region, in the framework of an ongoing international cooperation program between Italy and Costa Rica, we had the opportunity to investigate the Karen Mogensen Reserve, a protected area distinguished by the presence of a variety of habitats, including tropical dry forest and moist forest. Species richness in the Reserve was relatively high compared with similar areas in northwestern Costa Rica. A series of surveys carried out over a 20-year period documented an avian community consisting of 207 species, of which 115 were breeding in the zone and another 14 were potentially breeding. We recorded five IUCN globally Vulnerable or Near-Threatened species, along with six species reported for the first time from the Nicoya Peninsula, each representing range extension of more than 100 km. Twenty-six species, mostly breeding in the area, are at their southernmost range borders, and are likely susceptible to global environmental alterations, such as the effects of climate change. Furthermore, our study revealed the presence of two species endemic to a restricted area of Central America and four subspecies endemic to Costa Rica, along with breeding populations of two species that are geographically isolated from the main ones. The present analysis led to the ecological characterization of the resident avian community, showing that 65% of the species are strictly associated with forested environments, and especially with the understory or middle tree level, hence more vulnerable to environmental change (climatic, anthropogenic, etc.) and susceptible to local extinction. These results underscore the importance of the Karen Mogensen Reserve for bird conservation within a vulnerable environmental context, and warrant the continuation of periodic bird surveys, taxonomic study of isolated populations or endemic taxa, and improvement of local conservation measures. The data collected will be an important tool for future studies aimed at evaluating the consequences of habitat fragmentation and to monitor the effects of climate change on the resident avifauna. We exhort the creation of programs that integrate bird monitoring, ecological research, conservation initiatives, and the involvement of the local communities, by promoting environmental education, capacity-building, and income generation. To this purpose, the Karen Mogensen Reserve may represent a convincing model and valuable example to apply in similar neotropical contexts.