Antimicrobial Activity in the Pallial Cavity Fluids of the Oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) from a Highly Impacted Harbor in Western Long Island Sound

Authors

Diane J. Brousseau, Fairfield UniversityFollow
Phyllis C. Braun, Fairfield UniversityFollow
Amanda S. Harper-Leatherman, Fairfield UniversityFollow
Erin Sullivan
Jenny A. Baglivo

Document Type

Article

Article Version

Publisher's PDF

Publication Date

2014

Abstract

Fluid and its associatedmucus from the pallial (mantle) cavity of eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) from Black RockHarbor, Bridgeport, Connecticut, inhibited growth of both Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) bacteria in antimicrobial assays. In the presence of oyster fluid, E. coli resulted in significant reduction in growth after 26 h. Soluble lysozyme activity in pallial cavity fluid of oysters collected in the fall was 3 times greater than that measured in combined winter—spring—summer samples (P = 0.0008). During the course of the study, copper concentrations in pallial cavity fluid ranged from 0.60–2.49 ppm and zinc concentrations ranged from 9.7–61.0 ppm. Copper concentrations remained relatively constant throughout the study; the highest zinc concentrations were recorded in the fall. Fall antimicrobial assays showed heightened antimicrobial activity compared with the spring, which may be the result of increased lysozyme activity and higher zinc concentrations present in the pallial cavity fluid at that time of year. Results of this study suggest that pallial cavity fluid and its associated mucus likely serve an important role in defense-related functions as the first line of defense against infections from environmental pathogens in Crassostrea virginica.

Comments

Copyright 2014 National Shellfisheries Association

Archived here with permission from the copyright holder.

Publication Title

Journal of Shellfish Research

Repository Citation

Brousseau, Diane J.; Braun, Phyllis C.; Harper-Leatherman, Amanda S.; Sullivan, Erin; and Baglivo, Jenny A., "Antimicrobial Activity in the Pallial Cavity Fluids of the Oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) from a Highly Impacted Harbor in Western Long Island Sound" (2014). Biology Faculty Publications. 30.
https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/biology-facultypubs/30

Published Citation

Brousseau, Diane J., Phyllis C. Braun, Amanda S. Harper-Leatherman, Erin Sullivan, and Jenny A Baglivo. (2014) "Antimicrobial Activity in the Pallial Cavity Fluids of the Oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) from a Highly Impacted Harbor in Western Long Island Sound." Journal of Shellfish Research 33(3):719-725. 2014

DOI

10.2983/035.033.0306

Peer Reviewed