Marine Invertebrates

Question 1

What are the phylums of invertebrates?

Answer 1

Cnidaria and mollusca

Question 2

What is the venom apparatus of the cnidaria?

Answer 2

Nematocyst-tiny harpoons that are fast and effective

Question 3

What are the key properties of cindiarian venom?

Answer 3

large, bioactive heat labile proteins that are pore forming that depolarize excitable tissues

Question 4

What is the most venomous marine animal and what are its physical characteristics?

Answer 4

Chironex fleckerii-bell shaped up to 15 tentacles per corner

Question 5

What are Chironex fleckerii’s venom constituents?

Answer 5

proteases, protease inhibitors, lipases, lectins and CfTXs

Question 6

What is the purpose of protease in CFs venom?

Answer 6

swelling, necrosis, myotoxicity

Question 7

What is the purpose of protease inhibitors in CFs venom?

Answer 7

antagonize victims protease, paralysis

Question 8

What is the purpose of lipases in CFs venom?

Answer 8

increase cell permeability, swelling, necrosis

Question 9

What is the purpose of lectins in CFs venom?

Answer 9

anticoagulants, procoagulants

Question 10

What is the purpose of CfTX in CFs venom?

Answer 10

cell lysis and disruption of ion gradients, induce hyperkalemia

Question 11

What are the symptoms of CF sting?

Answer 11

localized pain, intense burning, redness, necrosis, permanent scarring, irrational behaviour due to pain and death within minutes

Question 12

Where are Irukandji jellyfish found?

Answer 12

Australia, Florida, Japan and Thailand, warm coastal and reef waters

Question 13

What is Irukandji syndrome?

Answer 13

severe pain that can last up to 12hrs, burning skin, nausea, vomiting, very painful stomach cramps, cardiac problems, muscle cramps in arms and legs

Question 14

What toxin is though to be in the Irukandji venom?

Answer 14

Catecholamines

Question 15

Where is the Portuguese Man-o-war found?

Answer 15

Florida and Carribean

Question 16

What are the toxins found in the PMW venom and what are their effects?

Answer 16

Hemolysins-damage red blood cells, pain and inflammation
Cardiotoxins-ion channels in heart
Neurotoxins-cause numbness, pain and spasms, Na+/K+ channels
Cytolysins-breaking down membranes

Question 17

What are the symptoms from a PMW sting?

Answer 17

localized pain, intense burning and redness, paresthesia, myalgia, headache, nausea and chills, cardiovascular collapse and death

Question 18

What are the treatments for a PMW sting?

Answer 18

remove nematocyst from skin, sea water, respiratory and cardiac for support and lidocaine or sedation for pain

Question 19

What are anemones and corals venom apparatus?

Answer 19

nematocyst

Question 20

What are the four general toxins present in anemones venom and what do they do?

Answer 20

Phospholipase A2-degrades membrane phospholipids of neuronal and muscle cells
Cytolysins: cell membrane and lysis
Neurotoxins: interact with receptors
Non-proteinaceous: pain

Question 21

What are the two specific anemone toxins talked about in class>

Answer 21

ATX-II toxin and equinatoxin

Question 22

What species produces ATX-II toxin?

Answer 22

anemonia sulcata

Question 23

What is ATX-II MOA?

Answer 23

interferes with Na+ gated channels, prolongs action potential

Question 24

What species produces equinatoxin?

Answer 24

Actina equina

Question 25

What is equinatoxins MOA?

Answer 25

pore forming toxin that binds to sphingomyelin that disrupts ion balance leading to cell lysis. Changes shape once interacts with membrane

Question 26

What are the symptoms that follow sea anemone enveomation?

Answer 26

skin rashes, edema, acute pain, necrosis, cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity

Question 27

What is the one type of coral talked about in class?

Answer 27

zoanthid

Question 28

What toxin does zoanthid produce?

Answer 28

Palyotoxin

Question 29

What is palyotoxin's MOA?

Answer 29

Converts Na-K ATPase into pore, vasoconstrictor

Question 30

What are the symptoms of exposure to palyotoxin?

Answer 30

flu like, rash, itching, numbness, wheezing, tight chest, shortness of breath, GI, fatigue, dizziness, speech problems, bitter metabolic taste, tremors or numbness, spasms or pain, irregular/fast/slow HR and high or low BP

Question 31

What are the two venomous molluscs?

Answer 31

Cone snail and blue ringed octopus

Question 32

Where are cone snails found?

Answer 32

Southern, warmer climates, large distribution

Question 33

What is the cone snails venom apparatus?

Answer 33

proboscis-harpoon like structure that comes out of pharynx

Question 34

What are the class of toxins in cone snail venom?

Answer 34

Conotoxins

Question 34

What are the two phases of conotoxin poisoning?

Answer 34

Fast paralysis- all Na, no K slow paralysis-no No ACh, no Ca, some Na and no K

Question 35

What are the symptoms of cone snail envenomation and what is the onset of death?

Answer 35

weakenss, sweating, twitching, visual abnormalities, spasms and paralysis. death occurs in 1-5hrs

Question 36

What is the treatment for cone snail envenomation?

Answer 36

supportive

Question 37

Where are blue ringed octopi found?

Answer 37

Japan, Australia, Philippines, Vanuatu and Indonesia

Question 38

What is the toxin and its MOA of the blue ringed octopus?

Answer 38

tetrodotoxin, blocks Na+ channels

Question 39

What are the three other toxic marine invertebrates talked about?

Answer 39

sea cucumber, sea urchin and fire coral

Question 40

What is the sea cucumbers poison and symptoms from poison?

Answer 40

Holothurin and dermal irritation

Question 41

What is present in a sea urchins venom and the symptoms associated with it?

Answer 41

glycosides, hemolysins, proteases-pain, redness and swelling

Question 42

What us the sea urchins venom apparatus

Answer 42

pedicellariae

Question 43

What are the symptoms after encountering fire coral?

Answer 43

intense pain for two weeks, dermatitis and blistering