Within minutes of fertilization of clam oocytes, translation of a set of maternal mRNAs is activated. One of the most abundant of these stored mRNAs encodes the small subunit of ribonucleotide reductase (Standart, N. M., S. J. Bray, E. L. George, T. Hunt, and J. V. Ruderman, 1985, J. Cell Biol., 100:1968-1976). Unfertilized oocytes do not contain any ribonucleotide reductase activity; such acti...

Nuclear envelopes of somatic cells have at least two different major proteins in the 60-70(X 10(3] molecular weight range (lamins A(C) and B) that seem to be involved in chromatin attachment. In contrast, nuclear envelopes from clam germinal vesicles have only a single major protein of the same size class (approximately 67 X 10(3) Mr) and have no chromatin attached to them. The data presented i...

The freshwater benthic pearl clam, Hyriopsis schlegeli, was experimentally exposed to Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, and it was verified that the oocysts were eliminated predominantly via the fecal route, retaining their ability to infect cultured cells (HCT-8). The total fecal oocyst elimination rate was more than 90% within 5 days after exposure to the oocysts. H. schlegeli was able to survi...

Haemocytes of bivalve molluscs are known to be responsible for many immunological functions, including recognition, phagocytosis, and killing or elimination of invading microorganisms, such as potentially infective bacteria and parasites. In many bivalves, killing of microorganisms engulfed by haemocytes is accomplished by a sudden release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the haemocytes;...

Clam samples of Liochoncha ornata were collected for a period of one year from July 2009 to June 2010 at monthly interval. The soft tissue of clams was analyzed to detect some potentially toxic metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Accumulation of Hg, Cd and Pb in the clam tissues showed variability with a mean concentration of 0.011±0.009, 1.769±0.942 and 0.015±0.039 μg/g wet wei...

Document Overview Within the CLAM project, we had planned two major real-world experiments, one in a 10 meter deep diving center and another one at few tens of meters deep at sea of Trondheim. Later, we also added an intermediate test to be performed in Horten as the preparation for the final tests in Trondheim. This deliverable describes the results of the diving center tests performed in Marc...

The Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio tapetis is known as the causative agent of Brown Ring Disease (BRD) in the Manila clam Venerupis (=Ruditapes) philippinarum. This bivalve is the second most important species produced in aquaculture and has a high commercial value. In spite of the development of several molecular methods, no survey has been yet achieved to rapidly quantify the bacterium in the...

Removal by fishing of large sharks has reduced predation-pressure on shark prey and, via a trophic cascade, caused clam populations to crash. This indirect response illustrates why fisheries should be managed in a whole-ecosystem context.

objectives: the purpose of this study was to develop and test a new tool for radiographic densitometry by combining periapical films and aluminum step wedge. materials and methods: we reviewed 50 kodak e-speed intraoral films. an aluminum step wedge consisting of 16 steps was constructed. each step was 1mmx3mx10mm. the step wedge was exposed to varying exposure times, ranging from 0.05 second t...

Invasions of exotic invertebrates have greatly altered many aquatic communities, but impacts on the foraging energetics of predators seldom have been assessed. In San Francisco Bay, California (USA), a major community change occurred with introduction of the Asian clam (Potamocorbula amurensis) in 1986. This species now greatly outnumbers the previous clam prey of a variety of sharks, rays, stu...