1. The properties of pyruvate kinase and, if present, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from the muscles of the sea anemone, scallop, oyster, crab, lobster and frog were investigated. 2. In general, the properties of pyruvate kinase from all muscles were similar, except for those of the enzyme from the oyster (adductor muscle); the pH optima were between 7.1 and 7.4, whereas that for oyster was...

Predators can indirectly benefit prey populations by suppressing mid-trophic level consumers, but often the strength and outcome of trophic cascades are uncertain. We manipulated oyster reef communities to test the generality of potential causal factors across a 1000-km region. Densities of oyster consumers were weakly influenced by predators at all sites. In contrast, consumer foraging behavio...

The primary pathogens related to shellfish-borne gastroenteritis outbreaks are noroviruses. These viruses show persistence in oysters, which suggests an active mechanism of virus concentration. We investigated whether Norwalk virus or viruslike particles bind specifically to oyster tissues after bioaccumulation or addition to tissue sections. Since noroviruses attach to carbohydrates of the his...

Many coastal habitat restoration projects are focused on restoring the population of a single foundation species to recover an entire ecological community. Estimates of the ecosystem services provided by the restoration project are used to justify, prioritize, and evaluate such projects. However, estimates of ecosystem services provided by a single species may vastly under-represent true provis...

Apalachicola Bay and St. George Sound contain the largest oyster fishery in Florida, and the growth and distribution of the numerous oyster reefs here are the combined product of modern estuarine conditions in the bay and its late Holocene evolution. Sidescan-sonar imagery, bathymetry, high-resolution seismic profiles, and sediment cores show that oyster beds occupy the crests of a series of sh...

This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of oyster shell extract on the production of pro-inflammatory factors [NO, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2)] and pro-inflammatory cytokines [Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and TNF-α] in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sti...

The ability of oysters to remove large quantities of particulates from the water column, thereby potentially improving water quality, has been cited as one of the reasons for oyster reef restoration. However, this ability has not yet been effectively demonstrated in the field. As part of the Alabama Oyster Reef Restoration Project, this study was designed to assess impacts of restored eastern o...

The native European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) has declined throughout its range, due to over-exploitation, a situation mirrored in oyster stocks globally. There are three remaining oyster fisheries in England (Fal, Solent, and Thames Estuary). The Fal oyster fishery though employs traditional methods, using hand-hauled dredges from rowing punts or under sail and is home to the last commercial...

OBJECTIVE Crassostrea gigas oyster extract has been reported to have antioxidant, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering properties that may be useful for treating cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of C. gigas oyster extract on cardiovascular function in tissues from healthy rats. METHODS Single-cell microelectrode and isolated thoracic aortic organ bath studies we...