Publications

metagenomic assessment of the eastern oyster-associated microbiota.	bacteria associated with the eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica) native to apalachicola bay, fl, were investigated using 16s rrna gene amplicon metagenomic sequencing which revealed that the oyster microbiome was predominated by cyanobacteria and proteobacteria. we also found that the oyster tissues were predominated by the pathogenic and symbiotic photobacterium spp. (formerly known as vibrio damselae).	2014	25342691
draft genome sequence of the oyster larval probiotic bacterium vibrio sp. strain oy15.	we report the draft genome sequence of vibrio sp. strain oy15, a gram-negative marine bacterium isolated from an oyster (crassostrea virginica) digestive tract and shown to possess probiotic activity. the availability of this genome sequence will facilitate the study of the mechanisms of probiotic activity as well as virulence capacity.	2014	25278542
transcriptome of american oysters, crassostrea virginica, in response to bacterial challenge: insights into potential mechanisms of disease resistance.	the american oyster crassostrea virginica, an ecologically and economically important estuarine organism, can suffer high mortalities in areas in the northeast united states due to roseovarius oyster disease (rod), caused by the gram-negative bacterial pathogen roseovarius crassostreae. the goals of this research were to provide insights into: 1) the responses of american oysters to r. crassostreae, and 2) potential mechanisms of resistance or susceptibility to rod. the responses of oysters to b ...	2014	25122115
host and parasite recruitment correlated at a regional scale.	drivers of large-scale variability in parasite prevalence are not well understood. for logistical reasons, explorations of spatial patterns in parasites are often performed as observational studies. however, to understand the mechanisms that underlie these spatial patterns, standardized and controlled comparisons are needed. here, we examined spatial variability in infection of an important fishery species and ecosystem engineer, the oyster (crassostrea virginica) by its pea crab parasite (zaops ...	2014	24193001
immunomodulation by the interactive effects of cadmium and hypercapnia in marine bivalves crassostrea virginica and mercenaria mercenaria.	estuarine organisms are exposed to multiple stressors including large fluctuations in partial pressure of carbon dioxide (p2co) and concentrations of trace metals such as cadmium (cd) that can affect their survival and fitness. ocean acidification due to the increasing atmospheric (p2co) leads to a decrease in ph and shifts in the carbonate chemistry of seawater which can change bioavailability and toxicity of metals. we studied the interactive effects of (p2co) and cd exposure on metal levels, ...	2014	24594010
interactive effects of co₂ and trace metals on the proteasome activity and cellular stress response of marine bivalves crassostrea virginica and mercenaria mercenaria.	increased anthropogenic emission of co2 changes the carbonate chemistry and decreases the ph of the ocean. this can affect the speciation and the bioavailability of metals in polluted habitats such as estuaries. however, the effects of acidification on metal accumulation and stress response in estuarine organisms including bivalves are poorly understood. we studied the interactive effects of co2 and two common metal pollutants, copper (cu) and cadmium (cd), on metal accumulation, intracellular a ...	2014	24572072
interactive effects of mosquito control insecticide toxicity, hypoxia, and increased carbon dioxide on larval and juvenile eastern oysters and hard clams.	mosquito control insecticide use in the coastal zone coincides with the habitat and mariculture operations of commercially and ecologically important shellfish species. few data are available regarding insecticide toxicity to shellfish early life stages, and potential interactions with abiotic stressors, such as low oxygen and increased co2 (low ph), are less understood. toxicity was assessed at 4 and 21 days for larval and juvenile stages of the eastern oyster, crassostrea virginica, and the ha ...	2014	24531857
physiological response and resilience of early life-stage eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica) to past, present and future ocean acidification.	the eastern oyster, crassostrea virginica (gmelin, 1791), is the second most valuable bivalve fishery in the usa and is sensitive to high levels of partial pressure of co2 (pco2). here we present experiments that comprehensively examined how the ocean's past, present and projected (21st and 22nd centuries) co2 concentrations impact the growth and physiology of larval stages of c. virginica. crassostrea virginica larvae grown in present-day pco2 concentrations (380 μatm) displayed higher growth a ...	2014	27293625
bioaccumulation and elimination of cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in experimentally exposed eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica) held in static tank aquaria.	a variety of human enteropathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, have been shown to bioaccumulate in suspension-feeding bivalve shellfish. cryptosporidium parvum is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that has been detected in many shellfish species within both fecally contaminated and clean oyster growing areas across the globe. for this study, c. parvum oocysts (1000 and 10,000) were spiked into 10 l of water in static tank systems housing crassostrea virginica. oysters were either he ...	2014	24412961
a galectin from the kuruma shrimp (marsupenaeus japonicus) functions as an opsonin and promotes bacterial clearance from hemolymph.	galectins are a lectin family characterized by a conserved sequence motif in the carbohydrate recognition domain, which preferential binds to galactosyl moieties. however, few studies about the biological roles of galectins in invertebrates have been reported except for the galectin (cvgal1) from the eastern oyster crassostrea virginica. furthermore, galectins have been described in only a few crustacean species, and no functional studies have been reported so far. in this study, we identified a ...	2014	24618590
impact of hurricane irene on vibrio vulnificus and vibrio parahaemolyticus concentrations in surface water, sediment, and cultured oysters in the chesapeake bay, md, usa.	to determine if a storm event (i.e., high winds, large volumes of precipitation) could alter concentrations of vibrio vulnificus and v. parahaemolyticus in aquacultured oysters (crassostrea virginica) and associated surface water and sediment, this study followed a sampling timeline before and after hurricane irene impacted the chesapeake bay estuary in late august 2011. aquacultured oysters were sampled from two levels in the water column: surface (0.3 m) and near-bottom (just above the sedimen ...	2014	24847319
pallial mucus of the oyster crassostrea virginica regulates the expression of putative virulence genes of its pathogen perkinsus marinus.	perkinsus marinus is a pathogen responsible for severe mortalities of the eastern oyster crassostrea virginica along the east and gulf coasts of the united states. when cultivated, the pathogenicity of this microorganism decreases significantly, hampering the study of its virulence factors. recent investigations have shown a significant increase of the in vivo virulence of p. marinus exposed to oyster pallial mucus. in the current study, we investigated the effect of pallial mucus on p. marinus ...	2014	24560916
abundance of vibrio cholerae, v. vulnificus, and v. parahaemolyticus in oysters (crassostrea virginica) and clams (mercenaria mercenaria) from long island sound.	vibriosis is a leading cause of seafood-associated morbidity and mortality in the united states. typically associated with consumption of raw or undercooked oysters, vibriosis associated with clam consumption is increasingly being reported. however, little is known about the prevalence of vibrio spp. in clams. the objective of this study was to compare the levels of vibrio cholerae, vibrio vulnificus, and vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters and clams harvested concurrently from long island sound ...	2014	25281373
identification of potential general markers of disease resistance in american oysters, crassostrea virginica through gene expression studies.	several diseases have a significant impact on american oyster populations in the atlantic coasts of north america. knowledge about the responses of oysters to pathogenic challenge could help in identifying potential markers of disease resistance and biomarkers of the health status of an oyster population. a previous analysis of the transcriptome of resistant and susceptible american oysters in response to challenge with the bacterial pathogen roseovarius crassostreae, as well as sequencing of su ...	2014	24973516
suspension of oysters reduces the populations of vibrio parahaemolyticus and vibrio vulnificus.	vibrio parahaemolyticus (vp) and vibrio vulnificus (vv) are associated with the consumption of raw oysters and cause illnesses ranging from simple gastroenteritis to life-threatening septicaemia. these halophilic bacteria are frequently found in marine and estuarine systems, accumulating within the tissues of a number of aquatic organisms and passing on to humans after consumption, through contaminated water, or via open wounds. as benthic organisms capable of filtering 40 gallons of water per h ...	2015	26031606
static tank depuration and chronic short-term experimental contamination of eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica) with giardia duodenalis cysts.	cysts of the protozoan parasite giardia have been detected in many bivalve shellfish species worldwide. the detection of zoonotic giardia duodenalis assemblages a and b is of public health concern, yet there is limited data available demonstrating the bioaccumulation and elimination of giardia cysts in bivalve shellfish. this study quantified g. duodenalis cysts that were filtered and retained by oysters (crassostrea virginica) over a one week chronic exposure period, or 24 hour exposure followe ...	2015	25305439
galectin cvgal2 from the eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica) displays unique specificity for abh blood group oligosaccharides and differentially recognizes sympatric perkinsus species.	galectins are highly conserved lectins that are key to multiple biological functions, including pathogen recognition and regulation of immune responses. we previously reported that cvgal1, a galectin expressed in phagocytic cells (hemocytes) of the eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica), is hijacked by the parasite perkinsus marinus to enter the host, where it causes systemic infection and death. screening of an oyster hemocyte cdna library revealed a novel galectin, which we designated cvgal2, ...	2015	26158802
surveillance of enteric viruses and microbial indicators in the eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica) and harvest waters along louisiana gulf coast.	noroviruses are the most common causative agent of viral gastroenteritis in humans, and are responsible for major foodborne illnesses in the united states. filter-feeding molluscan shellfish exposed to sewage-contaminated waters bioaccumulate viruses, and if consumed raw, transmit the viruses to humans and cause illness. we investigated the occurrence of norovirus gi and gii and microbial indicators of fecal contamination in the eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica) and water from commercial h ...	2015	25899121
temperature effect on high salinity depuration of vibrio vulnificus and v. parahaemolyticus from the eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica).	vibrio vulnificus (vv) and vibrio parahaemolyticus (vp) are opportunistic human pathogens naturally associated with the eastern oyster crassostrea virginica. the abundances of both pathogens in oysters are positively correlated with temperature, thus ingestion of raw oysters during the warm summer months is a risk factor for contracting illness from these bacteria. current post-harvest processing (php) methods for elimination of these pathogens are expensive and kill the oyster, changing their o ...	2015	25310264
application of chitosan microparticles for reduction of vibrio species in seawater and live oysters (crassostrea virginica).	human vibrio infections associated with consumption of raw shellfish greatly impact the seafood industry. vibrio cholerae-related disease is occasionally attributed to seafood, but v. vulnificus and v. parahaemolyticus are the primary targets of postharvest processing (php) efforts in the united states, as they pose the greatest threat to the industry. most successful php treatments for vibrio reduction also kill the molluscs and are not suitable for the lucrative half-shell market, while nonlet ...	2015	25381244
performance characteristics of polymerase chain reaction and histological methods for the detection of haplosporidium nelsoni in the eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica).	fitness for purpose and validation are increasingly becoming a benchmark in the development of test methods for the diagnosis of infectious diseases in aquatic animals. the design of the evaluation and the analysis of data are critical to demonstrate test method performance characteristics and fitness for purpose, as stated in the world organization for animal health pathway for test validation. three test methods for the detection of the oyster parasite haplosporidium nelsoni were selected for ...	2015	26179094
genetic improvement for disease resistance in oysters: a review.	oyster species suffer from numerous disease outbreaks, often causing high mortality. because the environment cannot be controlled, genetic improvement for disease resistance to pathogens is an attractive option to reduce their impact on oyster production. we review the literature on selective breeding programs for disease resistance in oyster species, and the impact of triploidy on such resistance. significant response to selection to improve disease resistance was observed in all studies after ...	2015	26037230
mortalities of eastern and pacific oyster larvae caused by the pathogens vibrio coralliilyticus and vibrio tubiashii.	vibrio tubiashii is reported to be a bacterial pathogen of larval eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica) and pacific oysters (crassostrea gigas) and has been associated with major hatchery crashes, causing shortages in seed oysters for commercial shellfish producers. another bacterium, vibrio coralliilyticus, a well-known coral pathogen, has recently been shown to elicit mortality in fish and shellfish. several strains of v. coralliilyticus, such as atcc 19105 and pacific isolates re22 and re98 ...	2015	25344234
survey for protozoan parasites in eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica) from the gulf of maine using pcr-based assays.	protozoan pathogens represent a serious threat to oyster aquaculture, since they can lead to significant production loses. moreover, oysters can concentrate human pathogens through filter feeding, thus putting at risk raw oyster consumers' health. using pcr-based assays in oysters (crassostrea virginica) from maine, we expand the northeast range in the usa for the protozoans perkinsus marinus, perkinsus chesapeaki, and haplosporidium nelsoni, and report for the first time the detection of the hu ...	2015	25889457
influence of salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium ssrb on colonization of eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica) as revealed by a promoter probe screen.	although salmonella has been isolated from 7.4 to 8.6% of domestic raw oysters, representing a significant risk for food-borne illness, little is known about the factors that influence their initial colonization by salmonella. this study tested the hypothesis that specific regulatory changes enable a portion of the invading salmonella population to colonize oysters. an in vivo promoter probe library screen identified 19 unique regions as regulated during colonization. the mutants in the nearest ...	2015	26497459
structural, functional, and evolutionary aspects of galectins in aquatic mollusks: from a sweet tooth to the trojan horse.	galectins constitute a conserved and widely distributed lectin family characterized by their binding affinity for β-galactosides and a unique binding site sequence motif in the carbohydrate recognition domain (crd). in spite of their structural conservation, galectins display a remarkable functional diversity, by participating in developmental processes, cell adhesion and motility, regulation of immune homeostasis, and recognition of glycans on the surface of viruses, bacteria and protozoan para ...	2015	25982395
classifying bivalve larvae using shell pigments identified by raman spectroscopy.	because bivalve larvae are difficult to identify using morphology alone, the use of raman spectra to distinguish species could aid classification of larvae collected from the field. raman spectra from shells of bivalve larvae exhibit bands that correspond to polyene pigments. this study determined if the types of shell pigments observed in different species could be unique enough to differentiate larvae using chemotaxonomic methods and cluster analysis. we collected raman spectra at three wavele ...	2015	25757826
ocean acidification impairs crab foraging behaviour.	anthropogenic elevation of atmospheric co2 is driving global-scale ocean acidification, which consequently influences calcification rates of many marine invertebrates and potentially alters their susceptibility to predation. ocean acidification may also impair an organism's ability to process environmental and biological cues. these counteracting impacts make it challenging to predict how acidification will alter species interactions and community structure. to examine effects of acidification o ...	2015	26108629
soundscape manipulation enhances larval recruitment of a reef-building mollusk.	marine seafloor ecosystems, and efforts to restore them, depend critically on the influx and settlement of larvae following their pelagic dispersal period. larval dispersal and settlement patterns are driven by a combination of physical oceanography and behavioral responses of larvae to a suite of sensory cues both in the water column and at settlement sites. there is growing evidence that the biological and physical sounds associated with adult habitats (i.e., the "soundscape") influence larval ...	2015	26056624
uptake and elimination of brevetoxin in the invasive green mussel, perna viridis, during natural karenia brevis blooms in southwest florida.	perna viridis is a recently introduced species to us coastal waters and have vigorously spread throughout the southeastern seaboard since their invasion. little information regarding their response to local environmental factors has been reported including responses to the local hab species, karenia brevis. this study monitored the tissue toxin concentration of brevetoxins in p. viridis from existing populations throughout two consecutive natural k. brevis blooms. the results showed p. viridis t ...	2015	25681577
the presence of histamine and a histamine receptor in the bivalve mollusc, crassostrea virginica.	histamine, a biogenic amine, is a neurotransmitter in neurons and sensory receptors in invertebrates. histamine has rarely been reported in bivalves. we used hplc with pre-column derivatization using 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde (nda) as a fluorescent labeling agent to measure histamine in ganglia, and peripheral tissues of the oyster crassostrea virginica. we also used western blot technique to look for the presence of a histamine receptor in the mantle rim. hplc results found histamine pres ...	2015	26120600
landscape-level variation in disease susceptibility related to shallow-water hypoxia.	diel-cycling hypoxia is widespread in shallow portions of estuaries and lagoons, especially in systems with high nutrient loads resulting from human activities. far less is known about the effects of this form of hypoxia than deeper-water seasonal or persistent low dissolved oxygen. we examined field patterns of diel-cycling hypoxia and used field and laboratory experiments to test its effects on acquisition and progression of perkinsus marinus infections in the eastern oyster, crassostrea virgi ...	2015	25671595
physiological and pathological changes in the eastern oyster crassostrea virginica infested with the trematode bucephalus sp. and exposed to the toxic dinoflagellate alexandrium fundyense.	effects of experimental exposure to alexandrium fundyense, a paralytic shellfish toxin (pst) producer known to affect bivalve physiological condition, upon eastern oysters, crassostrea virginica with a variable natural infestation of the digenetic trematode bucephalus sp. were determined. after a three-week exposure to cultured a. fundyense or to a control algal treatment with a non-toxic dinoflagellate, adult oysters were assessed for a suite of variables: histopathological condition, hematolog ...	2015	25660636
differential expression of serine protease inhibitors 1 and 2 in crassostrea corteziensis and c. virginica infected with perkinsus marinus.	proliferation of perkinsus marinus (dermo) in vitro is inhibited by the action of 2 serine protease inhibitors belonging to the i-84 family. we compared the levels of expression of serine protease inhibitors 1 and 2 (spi-1 and spi-2) in 2 oyster species (crassostrea virginica and c. corteziensis) inoculated with the parasite p. marinus. c. virginica is well known to be susceptible to this parasite, whereas c. corteziensis is apparently more tolerant. oysters were inoculated with trophozoites (1 ...	2015	25590769
environmental parameters influence on the dynamics of total and pathogenic vibrio parahaemolyticus densities in crassostrea virginica harvested from mexico's gulf coast.	the influence of environmental parameters on the total and pathogenic vibrio parahaemolyticus seasonal densities in american oysters (crassostrea virginica) was evaluated for 1 year. harvesting site a yielded the highest mean densities of v. parahaemolyticus tlh+, tdh+/trh-, tdh-/trh+ and tdh+/trh+ during spring season at 2.57, 1.74, 0.36, and -0.40 log10 mpn/g, respectively, and tdh+/orf8+ during winter season (0.90 log10 mpn/g). v. parahaemolyticus tlh+ densities were associated to salinity (r ...	2015	25510545
developing tools for the study of molluscan immunity: the sequencing of the genome of the eastern oyster, crassostrea virginica.	the eastern oyster, crassostrea virginica, provides important ecological and economical services, making it the target of restoration projects and supporting a significant fishery/aquaculture industry with landings valued at more than $100 million in 2012 in the united states of america. due to the impact of infectious diseases on wild, restored, and cultured populations, the eastern oyster has been the focus of studies on host-pathogen interactions and immunity, as well as the target of selecti ...	2015	25982405
the smell of success: the amount of prey consumed by predators determines the strength and range of cascading non-consumptive effects.	we examined whether chemically mediated risk perception by prey and the effects of changes in prey behavior on basal resources vary as a function of the amount of prey biomass consumed by the predator. we studied these issues using a tritrophic system composed of blue crabs, callinectes sapidus (top predator), mud crabs panopeus herbstii (intermediate prey), and oysters crassostrea virginica (basal resource). working in a well characterized field environment where experiments preserve natural pa ...	2015	26618090
are oysters being bored to death? influence of cliona celata on crassostrea virginica condition, growth and survival.	the boring sponge cliona celata is a nuisance species that can have deleterious effects on eastern oyster crassostrea virginica growth, condition, and survival. surprisingly, however, these effects have not been well documented and when examined, results have been equi-vocal. in this study, we provide a direct comparison of growth, condition, and survival of sponge-colonized and uncolonized oysters in southeast north carolina in 2 separate experiments. in the first experiment, sponge-colonized o ...	2015	26575154
assessing shoreline exposure and oyster habitat suitability maximizes potential success for sustainable shoreline protection using restored oyster reefs.	oyster reefs provide valuable ecosystem services that contribute to coastal resilience. unfortunately, many reefs have been degraded or removed completely, and there are increased efforts to restore oysters in many coastal areas. in particular, much attention has recently been given to the restoration of shellfish reefs along eroding shorelines to reduce erosion. such fringing reef approaches, however, often lack empirical data to identify locations where reefs are most effective in reducing mar ...	2015	26500825
oyster reef restoration supports increased nekton biomass and potential commercial fishery value.	across the globe, discussions centered on the value of nature drive many conservation and restoration decisions. as a result, justification for management activities increasingly asks for two lines of evidence: (1) biological proof of augmented ecosystem function or service, and (2) monetary valuation of these services. for oyster reefs, which have seen significant global declines and increasing restoration work, the need to provide both biological and monetary evidence of reef services on a loc ...	2015	26336635
directional flow sensing by passively stable larvae.	mollusk larvae have a stable, velum-up orientation that may influence how they sense and react to hydrodynamic signals applied in different directions. directional sensing abilities and responses could affect how a larva interacts with anisotropic fluid motions, including those in feeding currents and in boundary layers encountered during settlement. oyster larvae (crassostrea virginica) were exposed to simple shear in a couette device and to solid-body rotation in a single rotating cylinder. bo ...	2015	26333930
impacts of deepwater horizon oil and associated dispersant on early development of the eastern oyster crassostrea virginica.	the explosion of the deepwater horizon (dwh) oil platform resulted in large amounts of crude oil and dispersant corexit 9500a® released into the gulf of mexico and coincided with the spawning season of the oyster, crassostrea virginica. the effects of exposing gametes and embryos of c. virginica to dispersant alone (corexit), mechanically (hewaf) and chemically dispersed (cewaf) dwh oil were evaluated. fertilization success and the morphological development, growth, and survival of larvae were a ...	2015	26320981
effects of cadmium exposure on critical temperatures of aerobic metabolism in eastern oysters crassostrea virginica (gmelin, 1791).	cadmium (cd) and elevated temperatures are common stressors in estuarine and coastal environments. elevated temperature can sensitize estuarine organisms to the toxicity of metals such as cd and vice versa, but the physiological mechanisms of temperature-cd interactions are not well understood. we tested a hypothesis that interactive effects of elevated temperature and cd stress involve cd-induced reduction of the aerobic scope of an organism thereby narrowing the thermal tolerance window of oys ...	2015	26276356
an examination of the ingestion, bioaccumulation, and depuration of titanium dioxide nanoparticles by the blue mussel (mytilus edulis) and the eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica).	the production rates of titanium dioxide (tio2) nanoparticles for consumer products far exceed the pace at which research can determine the effects of these particles in the natural environment. sedentary organisms such as suspension-feeding bivalves are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic contaminants, such as nanoparticles, that enter coastal environments. the purpose of this work was to examine the ingestion, bioaccumulation, and depuration rates of tio2 nanoparticles by two species of s ...	2015	26263835
cellular responses of eastern oysters, crassostrea virginica, to titanium dioxide nanoparticles.	because of the continued development and production of a variety of nanomaterials and nanoparticles, their uptake and effects on the biota of marine ecosystems must be investigated. filter feeding bivalve molluscs are highly adapted for capturing particles from the external environment and readily internalize nano- and micro-sized particles through endocytosis, so they are commonly used as valuable indicator species for nanoparticle studies. in these studies, adult eastern oysters, crassostrea v ...	2015	26198136
prey size structure diminishes cascading effects by increasing interference competition and predation among prey.	the size of an organism can change by orders of magnitude during its lifespan. size can determine whether an individual consumes, is consumed, competes, or avoids individuals of the same or different species. two complementary mesocosm experiments with a tri-trophic food chain (top predator, toadfish, opsanus tau; intermediate prey, mud crab, family xanthidae; basal resource, oyster, crassostrea virginica) were conducted to measure how the size of both the top predator and the intermediate prey ...	2015	26594709
presence of octopamine and an octopamine receptor in crassostrea virginica.	octopamine is a biogenic amine first identified in octopus. it has been well studied in arthropods and a few gastropods, serving as a neurotransmitter and hormone. the presence of octopamine has rarely been reported in bivalves and has not been reported in crassostrea virginica. we utilized hplc to identify and measure octopamine in cerebral ganglia, visceral ganglia, gill, palps, mantle, heart and hemolymph of c. virginica. endogenous octopamine levels increased when animals were treated with t ...	2015	26594670
directional flow sensing by passively stable larvae.	mollusc larvae have a stable, velum-up orientation that may influence how they sense and react to hydrodynamic signals applied in different directions. directional sensing abilities and responses could affect how a larva interacts with anisotropic fluid motions, including those in feeding currents and in boundary layers encountered during settlement. oyster larvae (crassostrea virginica) were exposed to simple shear in a couette device and to solid-body rotation in a single rotating cylinder. bo ...	2015	26163578
effects of environmental hypercapnia and metal (cd and cu) exposure on acid-base and metal homeostasis of marine bivalves.	elevated co2 levels reduce seawater ph and may affect bioavailability of trace metals in estuaries. we studied the interactive effects of common metal pollutants (50 μg l(-1) cd or cu) and pco2 (~395, 800 and 2000 μatm) on metal levels, intracellular ph, expression of metal binding proteins and stress biomarkers in estuarine bivalves crassostrea virginica (oysters) and mercenaria mercenaria (hard clams). cd (but not cu or hypercapnia) exposure affected the acid-base balance of hemocytes resultin ...	2015	26008775
composition, shell strength, and metabolizable energy of mulinia lateralis and ischadium recurvum as food for wintering surf scoters (melanitta perspicillata).	decline in surf scoter (melanitta perspicillata) waterfowl populations wintering in the chesapeake bay has been associated with changes in the availability of benthic bivalves. the bay has become more eutrophic, causing changes in the benthos available to surf scoters. the subsequent decline in oyster beds (crassostrea virginica) has reduced the hard substrate needed by the hooked mussel (ischadium recurvum), one of the primary prey items for surf scoters, causing the surf scoter to switch to a ...	2015	25978636
a multi-module approach to calculation of oyster (crassostrea virginica) environmental benefits.	environmental benefits are one of the motivations for management restoration of depleted bivalve populations. we describe a series of linked modules for benefits calculation. the modules include: oyster (crassostrea virginica) bioenergetics, materials transport via the tidal prism, and benefits quantification. quantified benefits include carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus removal and shell production. the modules are demonstrated through application to the great wicomico river, a tributary of ches ...	2015	25924786
hydrodynamic sensing and behavior by oyster larvae in turbulence and waves.	hydrodynamic signals from turbulence and waves may provide marine invertebrate larvae with behavioral cues that affect the pathways and energetic costs of larval delivery to adult habitats. oysters (crassostrea virginica) live in sheltered estuaries with strong turbulence and small waves, but their larvae can be transported into coastal waters with large waves. these contrasting environments have different ranges of hydrodynamic signals, because turbulence generally produces higher spatial veloc ...	2015	25788721
susceptibility of gametes and embryos of the eastern oyster, crassostrea virginica, to karenia brevis and its toxins.	the bivalve mollusc, crassostrea virginica, is frequently exposed to blooms of karenia brevis along the west coast of florida during periods of spawning and early larval development. a continuous 4-day exposure of gametes and 2-4 cell stage embryos of c. virginica to whole-cell and culture filtrate of k. brevis at 500 and 5000 cells ml(-1), was followed by a 4-day 'recovery' period. larval growth, percent of normal, abnormal and dead larvae, and the presence of food in the larval gut were measur ...	2015	25771241
effects of co-varying diel-cycling hypoxia and ph on growth in the juvenile eastern oyster, crassostrea virginica.	shallow water provides important habitat for many species, but also exposes these organisms to daily fluctuations in dissolved oxygen (do) and ph caused by cycles in the balance between photosynthesis and respiration that can contribute to repeated, brief periods of hypoxia and low ph (caused by elevated pco2). the amplitude of these cycles, and the severity and duration of hypoxia and hypercapnia that result, can be increased by eutrophication, and are predicted to worsen with climate change. w ...	2016	27548256
innervation of gill lateral cells in the bivalve mollusc crassostrea virginica affects cellular membrane potential and cilia activity.	gill lateral cells of crassostrea virginica are innervated by the branchial nerve, which contains serotonergic and dopaminergic fibers that regulate cilia beating rate. terminal release of serotonin or dopamine results in an increase or decrease, respectively, of cilia beating rate in lateral gill cells. in this study we used the voltage sensitive fluorescent probe dibac4(3) to quantify changes in gill lateral cell membrane potential in response to electrical stimulation of the branchial nerve o ...	2016	27489887
effects of intraspecific diversity on survivorship, growth, and recruitment of the eastern oyster across sites.	intraspecific diversity, particularly of foundation species, can significantly affect population, community, and ecosystem processes. examining how genetic diversity relates to demographic traits provides a key mechanistic link from genotypic and phenotypic variation of taxa with complex life histories to their population dynamics. we conducted a field experiment to assess how two metrics of intraspecific diversity (cohort diversity, the number of independent juvenile cohorts created from differ ...	2016	27459782
lethal and sub-lethal effects of deepwater horizon slick oil and dispersant on oyster (crassostrea virginica) larvae.	in april 2010, crude oil was spilled from the deepwater horizon (dwh) oil platform for 87 days, coincident with the spawning season and recruitment of the oyster, crassostrea virginica, in the gulf of mexico. impacts of acute exposures to surface-collected dwh oil (hewaf), dispersed oil (cewaf) and dispersant alone (corexit 9500a(®)) on planktonic larval stages of c. virginica (veliger, umbo and pediveliger) were tested in the laboratory. exposures to hewaf, cewaf and dispersant were toxic to la ...	2016	27423003
bivalve aquaculture-environment interactions in the context of climate change.	coastal embayments are at risk of impacts by climate change drivers such as ocean warming, sea level rise and alteration in precipitation regimes. the response of the ecosystem to these drivers is highly dependent on their magnitude of change, but also on physical characteristics such as bay morphology and river discharge, which play key roles in water residence time and hence estuarine functioning. these considerations are especially relevant for bivalve aquaculture sites, where the cultured bi ...	2016	27324415
millennial-scale sustainability of the chesapeake bay native american oyster fishery.	estuaries around the world are in a state of decline following decades or more of overfishing, pollution, and climate change. oysters (ostreidae), ecosystem engineers in many estuaries, influence water quality, construct habitat, and provide food for humans and wildlife. in north america's chesapeake bay, once-thriving eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica) populations have declined dramatically, making their restoration and conservation extremely challenging. here we present data on oyster size ...	2016	27217572
unusually abundant and large ciliate xenomas in oysters, crassostrea virginica, from great bay, new hampshire, usa.	during routine histological examination of oysters (crassostrea virginica) from great bay, new hampshire, usa, a high prevalence and intensity of ciliate xenomas has been noted since sampling began in 1997. xenomas are hypertrophic lesions on the gills of bivalve molluscs caused by intracellular ciliates, likely sphenophrya sp. although not known to cause mortality in oysters, xenomas have not previously been reported at this high abundance. the objectives of this study were to characterize the ...	2016	27063402
interactive effects of copper exposure and environmental hypercapnia on immune functions of marine bivalves crassostrea virginica and mercenaria mercenaria.	estuarine organisms such as bivalves are commonly exposed to trace metals such as copper (cu) and hypercapnia (elevated co2 levels) in their habitats, which may affect their physiology and immune function. this study investigated the combined effects of elevated co2 levels (∼800-2000 μatm pco2, such as predicted by the near-future scenarios of global climate change) and cu (50 μg l(-1)) on immune functions of the sediment dwelling hard clams mercenaria mercenaria and an epifaunal bivalve, the ea ...	2016	26700170
proteomic characterization of mucosal secretions in the eastern oyster, crassostrea virginica.	the soft body surface of marine invertebrates is covered by a layer of mucus, a slippery gel secreted by mucocytes lining epithelia. the functions of this gel are diverse including locomotion, cleansing, food particles processing and defense against physicochemical injuries and infectious agents. in oysters, mucus covering pallial organs has been demonstrated to have a major importance in the processing of food particles and in the interactions with waterborne pathogens. given the limited inform ...	2016	26612663
effects of intermittent hypoxia on oxidative stress and protein degradation in molluscan mitochondria.	oxygen fluctuations represent a common stressor in estuarine and intertidal environments and can compromise the mitochondrial integrity and function in marine organisms. we assessed the role of mitochondrial protection mechanisms (atp-dependent and -independent mitochondrial proteases, and antioxidants) in tolerance to intermittent hypoxia or anoxia in three species of marine bivalves: hypoxia-tolerant hard clams (mercenaria mercenaria) and oysters (crassostrea virginica), and a hypoxia-sensitiv ...	2016	27655555
reef-specific patterns of gene expression plasticity in eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica).	understanding the interaction between phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary processes is important for predicting a species' response to changing environment. strong recurrent selection each generation may be an important process in highly fecund species with broad dispersal and extensive early mortality. we tested whether selection was associated with spatial divergence in gene expression plasticity for osmoregulation in the eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica). we collected adult oysters fr ...	2016	26245921
phylogenetic analysis of molluscan metallothioneins: evolutionary insight from crassostrea virginica.	mechanisms by which organisms genetically adapt to environmental conditions are of fundamental importance to studies of evolutionary biology and environmental physiology. natural selection acts on existing genetic variation leading to adaptation through selection of new mutations that confer beneficial advantages to populations. the american oyster, crassostrea virginica, is an excellent model to investigate interactions between environmental and ecological factors as driving forces for natural ...	2016	27677291
photo-enhanced toxicity of two weathered macondo crude oils to early life stages of the eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica).	polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (pahs) have been reported to absorb ultraviolet (uv) light, resulting in enhanced toxicity. early developmental stages of bivalves may be particularly susceptible to photo-enhanced toxicity during oil spills. in the current study, toxicity tests were conducted with sperm and three larval ages of the eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica) to evaluate the photo-enhanced toxicity of low-energy water-accommodated fractions (wafs) of two weathered macondo crude oils c ...	2016	27726932
the effect of lipid extraction on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in oyster tissues: implications for glycogen-rich species.	extraction of lipids from tissues prior to carbon stable isotope analysis (sia) has become a common practice, despite a lack of species-specific data to indicate when lipid extraction is needed. marine invertebrates, including bivalves, are known to store carbon as glycogen and less in the form of lipids than other species, potentially reducing the need for lipid extraction even when c:n values are above 3.5, a value that previous studies suggest indicates a need for lipid extraction of animal t ...	2016	27709696
transcriptomic evaluation of the american oyster, crassostrea virginica, deployed during the deepwater horizon oil spill: evidence of an active hydrocarbon response pathway.	estuarine organisms were impacted by the deepwater horizon oil spill which released ∼5 million barrels of crude oil into the gulf of mexico in the spring and summer of 2010. crassostrea virginica, the american oyster, is a keystone species in these coastal estuaries and is routinely used for environmental monitoring purposes. however, very little is known about their cellular and molecular responses to hydrocarbon exposure. in response to the spill, a monitoring program was initiated by deployin ...	2016	27564836
impact of environment and ontogeny on relative fecundity and egg quality of female oysters (crassostrea virginica) from four sites in northern chesapeake bay.	resource allocation to reproduction is a primary physiological concern for individuals, and can vary with age, environment, or a combination of both factors. in this study we quantified the impact of environment and individual age on the reproductive output of female oysters crassostrea virginica. we determined the relative fecundity, egg total lipid content, and overall and omega-3/omega-6 (ω3/ω6) fatty acid signatures (fas) of eggs spawned by female oysters over a 2-year period (n = 32 and n = ...	2016	28048960
living oysters and their shells as sites of nitrification and denitrification.	oysters provide a critical habitat, are a food resource for higher trophic levels and support important commercial fisheries throughout the world. oyster reefs can improve water quality by removing phytoplankton. while sediment denitrification may be enhanced adjacent to oyster reefs, little is known about nitrification and denitrification associated with living oysters and their shells. we measured nitrification and denitrification in living oysters (crassostrea virginica and crassostrea gigas) ...	2016	27567196
acute effects of non-weathered and weathered crude oil and dispersant associated with the deepwater horizon incident on the development of marine bivalve and echinoderm larvae.	acute toxicity tests (48-96-h duration) were conducted with larvae of 2 echinoderm species (strongylocentrotus purpuratus and dendraster excentricus) and 4 bivalve mollusk species (crassostrea virginica, crassostrea gigas, mytilus galloprovincialis, and mercenaria mercenaria). developing larvae were exposed to water-accommodated fractions (wafs) and chemically enhanced water-accommodated fractions (cewafs) of fresh and weathered oils collected from the gulf of mexico during the deepwater horizon ...	2016	26749266
epizootiology of perkinsus marinus, parasite of the pleasure oyster crassostrea corteziensis, in the pacific coast of mexico.	the protozoan parasite perkinsus marinus is the etiological agent of "dermo disease". this pathogen is considered by the world organization for animal health (oie) as reportable due to the high mortalities that it produces in the eastern oyster crassostrea virginica in the us. in 2006, this parasite was detected in the pleasure oyster crassostrea corteziensis in nayarit on the pacific coast of mexico, indicating a new host and an extension of its known distribution. epizootiological data of p. m ...	2016	27403560
effects of air-exposure gradients on spatial infection patterns of perkinsus marinus in the eastern oyster crassostrea virginica.	spatial distributions of species can be shaped by factors such as parasites, mortality, and reproduction, all of which may be influenced by differences in physical factors along environmental gradients. in nearshore tidal waters, an elevational gradient in aerial exposure during low tide can shape the spatial distributions of benthic marine organisms. the eastern oyster crassostrea virginica is an ecologically and economically important species that can dominate both subtidal and intertidal habi ...	2016	26912044
geohistorical records indicate no impact of the deepwater horizon oil spill on oyster body size.	documentation of the near- and long-term effects of the deepwater horizon (dwh) oil spill, one of the largest environmental disasters in us history, is still ongoing. we used a novel before-after-control-impact analysis to test the hypothesis that average body size of intertidal populations of the eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica) inhabiting impacted areas in louisiana decreased due to increased stress/mortality related to the oil spill. time-averaged death assemblages of oysters were used ...	2016	28018663
multi-species protein similarity clustering reveals novel expanded immune gene families in the eastern oyster crassostrea virginica.	comparative genomics research in non-model species has highlighted how invertebrate hosts possess complex diversified repertoires of immune molecules. the levels of diversification in particular immune gene families appear to differ between invertebrate lineages and even between species within lineages, reflecting differences not only in evolutionary histories, but also in life histories, environmental niches, and pathogen exposures. the goal of this research was to identify immune-related gene ...	2016	27033806
chronic effects of non-weathered and weathered crude oil and dispersant associated with the deepwater horizon incident on development of larvae of the eastern oyster, crassostrea virginica.	the present study examined the effects of chronic exposure of eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica) larvae to the water-accommodated fractions of fresh and weathered oils collected from the deepwater horizon incident, with and without additions of the dispersant corexit 9500a, as well as to solutions of corexit alone. both shell growth of larvae exposed to test materials for a period of 10 d and larval settlement after 28 d of exposure were the most sensitive endpoints, with the 10-d growth end ...	2016	26749151
effects of high hydrostatic pressure on the physical, microbial, and chemical attributes of oysters (crassostrea virginica).	the change in the quality attributes (physical, microbial, and chemical) of oysters (crassostrea virginica) after high hydrostatic pressure (hhp) treatment at 300 mpa at room temperature (rt, 25 °c) 300, 450, and 500 mpa at 0 °c for 2 min and control oysters without treatment were evaluated over 3 wk. the texture and tissue yield percentages of oysters hhp treated at 300 mpa, rt increased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to control. aerobic and psychrotrophic bacteria in control oysters reached ...	2016	27074447
aneuploid progeny of the american oyster, crassostrea virginica, produced by tetraploid × diploid crosses: another example of chromosome instability in polyploid oysters.	the commercial production of triploids, and the creation of tetraploid broodstock to support it, has become an important technique in aquaculture of the eastern oyster, crassostrea virginica. tetraploids are produced by cytogenetic manipulation of embryos and have been shown to undergo chromosome loss (to become a mosaic) with unknown consequences for breeding. our objective was to determine the extent of aneuploidy in triploid progeny produced from both mosaic and non-mosaic tetraploids. six fa ...	2016	27070368
esterification of vertebrate-like steroids in the eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica).	the esterification of two model vertebrate steroid hormones - estradiol (e2) and dehidroepiandrosterone (dhea) - was studied in the oyster crassostrea virginica. the activity of acyl-coa:steroid acyltransferase was characterized in microsomal fractions isolated from oyster digestive glands. the apparent km and vmax values changed with the fatty acid acyl-coa used (c20:4, c18:2, c18:1, c16:1, c18:0 or c16:0), and were in the range of 9-17 microm, and 35-74 pmol/min/mg protein for e2, and in the r ...	2016	15178069
assessment and molecular characterization of human intestinal parasites in bivalves from orchard beach, ny, usa.	bivalves have been shown to be carriers of the human intestinal parasites cryptosporidium parvum and toxoplasma gondii. the goal of this study is to determine the prevalence of protozoan parasites in mollusks of new york city using a polymerase chain reaction (pcr)-based assay. four species of mollusks, mya arenaria, geukensia demissa, crassostrea virginica, and mytilis edulis, were collected from orchard beach, ny in the fall of 2014, totaling 159 specimens. each individual mollusk was dissecte ...	2016	27043590
temperature-dependent persistence of human norovirus within oysters (crassostrea virginica).	this study characterizes the persistence of human norovirus in eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica) held at different seawater temperatures. oysters were contaminated with human norovirus gi.1 (norwalk strain 8fiia) by exposing them to virus-contaminated water at 15 °c, and subsequently holding them at 7, 15, and 25 °c for up to 6 weeks. viral rna was extracted from oyster tissue and hemocytes and quantitated by rt-qpcr. norovirus was detected in hemocytes and oysters held at 7 and 15 °c for ...	2016	26983441
thermal inactivation of enteric viruses and bioaccumulation of enteric foodborne viruses in live oysters (crassostrea virginica).	human enteric viruses are among the main causative agents of shellfish-associated outbreaks. in this study, the kinetics of viral bioaccumulation in live oysters and the heat stabilities of the predominant enteric viruses were determined both in tissue culture and in oyster tissues. a human norovirus (hunov) gii.4 strain, hunov surrogates (murine norovirus [mnv-1], tulane virus [tv]), hepatitis a virus (hav), and human rotavirus (rv) bioaccumulated to high titers within oyster tissues, with diff ...	2016	26826225
[growth and survival of total and pathogenic vibrio parahaemolyticus in american oyster (crassostrea virginica) under cold storage].	to quantify vibrio parahaemolyticus densities in american oyster (crassostrea virginica) under cold storage.	2017	26302123
establishment and validation of rna-based predictive models for understanding survival of vibrio parahaemolyticus in oysters stored at low temperatures.	this study developed rna-based predictive models describing the survival of vibrio parahaemolyticus in eastern oysters (crassostrea virginica) during storage at 0, 4, and 10°c. postharvested oysters were inoculated with a cocktail of five v. parahaemolyticus strains and were then stored at 0, 4, and 10°c for 21 or 11 days. a real-time reverse transcription-pcr (rt-pcr) assay targeting expression of the tlh gene was used to evaluate the number of surviving v. parahaemolyticus cells, which was the ...	2017	28087532
the hot oyster: levels of virulent vibrio parahaemolyticus strains in individual oysters.	vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading cause of seafood-associated gastroenteritis and is most commonly transmitted by raw oysters. consequently, detection of virulent strains of this organism in oysters is a primary concern for seafood safety. vibrio parahaemolyticus levels were determined in 110 individual oysters harvested from two sampling sites in sc, usa. the majority of oysters (98%) contained low levels of presumptive v. parahaemolyticus however, two healthy oysters contained presumptive ...	2017	27827805
high salinity relaying to reduce vibrio parahaemolyticus and vibrio vulnificus in chesapeake bay oysters (crassostrea virginica).	cases of vibrio infections in the united states have tripled from 1996 to 2009 and these infections are most often associated with the consumption of seafood, particularly oysters (crassostrea virginica). information is needed on how to reduce numbers of vibrio parahaemolyticus and vibrio vulnificus in bi-valve molluscan shellfish (for example, oysters). the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of high salinity relaying or treatment in recirculating aquaculture systems (rass) ...	2017	28099766
predatory blue crabs induce stronger nonconsumptive effects in eastern oysters crassostrea virginica than scavenging blue crabs.	by influencing critical prey traits such as foraging or habitat selection, predators can affect entire ecosystems, but the nature of cues that trigger prey reactions to predators are not well understood. predators may scavenge to supplement their energetic needs and scavenging frequency may vary among individuals within a species due to preferences and prey availability. yet prey reactions to consumers that are primarily scavengers versus those that are active foragers have not been investigated ...	2017	28265512
three-dimensional interstitial space mediates predator foraging success in different spatial arrangements.	identifying and quantifying the relevant properties of habitat structure that mediate predator-prey interactions remains a persistent challenge. most previous studies investigate effects of structural density on trophic interactions and typically quantify refuge quality using one or two-dimensional metrics. few consider spatial arrangement of components (i.e., orientation and shape) and often neglect to measure the total three-dimensional (3d) space available as refuge. this study tests whether ...	2017	28144935
non-indigenous predators threaten ecosystem engineers: interactive effects of green crab and oyster size on american oyster mortality.	non-indigenous green crabs (carcinus maenas) are emerging as important predators of autogenic engineers like american oysters (crassostrea virginica) throughout the eastern seaboard of canada and the united states. to document the spreading distribution of green crabs, we carried out surveys in seven sites of prince edward island during three fall seasons. to assess the potential impact of green crabs on oyster mortality in relation to predator and prey size, we conducted multiple predator-prey ...	2017	28336053
sensitivity of eastern oyster (crassostrea virginica) spermatozoa and oocytes to dispersed oil: cellular responses and impacts on fertilization and embryogenesis.	the 2010 deepwater horizon (dwh) oil spill released millions of barrels of oil and dispersant into the gulf of mexico. the timing of the spill coincided with the spawning season of crassostrea virginica. consequently, gametes released in the water were likely exposed to oil and dispersant. this study aimed to (i) evaluate the cellular effects of acute exposure of spermatozoa and oocytes to surface slick oil, dispersed mechanically (hewaf) and chemically (cewaf), using flow-cytometric (fcm) analy ...	2017	28343714
effects of florida red tides on histone variant expression and dna methylation in the eastern oyster crassostrea virginica.	massive algal proliferations known as harmful algal blooms (habs) represent one of the most important threats to coastal areas. among them, the so-called florida red tides (frts, caused by blooms of the dinoflagellate karenia brevis and associated brevetoxins) are particularly detrimental in the southeastern u.s., causing high mortality rates and annual losses in excess of $40 million. the ability of marine organisms to cope with environmental stressors (including those produced during habs) is ...	2017	28315825
δ(15)n values in crassostrea virginica shells provides early direct evidence for nitrogen loading to chesapeake bay.	crassostrea virginica is one of the most common estuarine bivalves in the united states' east coast and is frequently found in archaeological sites and sub-fossil deposits. although there have been several sclerochronological studies on stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in the shells of this species, less is known about δ(15)n values within their shells, which could be a useful paleoenvironmental proxy to assess estuarine nitrogen dynamics. modern c. virginica samples were collected in chesapeak ...	2017	28281649
identification of cvsi-3 and evidence for the wide distribution and active evolution of the i84 family of protease inhibitors in mollusks.	protease inhibitors are an extremely diverse group of proteins that control the proteolytic activities of proteases and play a crucial role in biological processes including host defenses. the i84 family of protease inhibitors in the merops database currently consists of cvsi-1 and cvsi-2, two novel serine protease inhibitors purified and characterized from the eastern oyster crassostrea virginica plasma and believed to play a role in host defense and disease resistance. in the present study, a ...	2017	28159692
genetic by environmental variation but no local adaptation in oysters (crassostrea virginica).	functional trait variation within and across populations can strongly influence population, community, and ecosystem processes, but the relative contributions of genetic vs. environmental factors to this variation are often not clear, potentially complicating conservation and restoration efforts. for example, local adaptation, a particular type of genetic by environmental (g*e) interaction in which the fitness of a population in its own habitat is greater than in other habitats, is often invoked ...	2017	28116064
nitrogen extraction potential of wild and cultured bivalves harvested from nearshore waters of cape cod, usa.	as nitrogen entering coastal waters continues to be an issue, much attention has been generated to identify potential options that may help alleviate this stressor to estuaries, including the propagation of bivalves to remove excess nitrogen. oysters (crassostrea virginica) and quahogs (mercenaria mercenaria) from numerous cape cod, ma, (usa) sources were analyzed for nitrogen content stored in tissues that would represent a net removal of nitrogen from a water body if harvested. results showed ...	2017	28065550