Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on Scyphomedusae
The production of natural toxins is an interesting aspect, which characterizes the physiology and the ecology of a number of marine species that use them for defence/offence purposes. Cnidarians are of particular concern from this point of view; their venoms are contained in specialized structures–t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2010-04-01
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| Series: | Marine Drugs |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/4/1122/ |
| _version_ | 1828136424809955328 |
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| author | Gian Luigi Mariottini Luigi Pane |
| author_facet | Gian Luigi Mariottini Luigi Pane |
| author_sort | Gian Luigi Mariottini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The production of natural toxins is an interesting aspect, which characterizes the physiology and the ecology of a number of marine species that use them for defence/offence purposes. Cnidarians are of particular concern from this point of view; their venoms are contained in specialized structures–the nematocysts–which, after mechanical or chemical stimulation, inject the venom in the prey or in the attacker. Cnidarian stinging is a serious health problem for humans in the zones where extremely venomous jellyfish or anemones are common, such as in temperate and tropical oceanic waters and particularly along several Pacific coasts, and severe cases of envenomation, including also lethal cases mainly induced by cubomedusae, were reported. On the contrary, in the Mediterranean region the problem of jellyfish stings is quite modest, even though they can have anyhow an impact on public health and be of importance from the ecological and economic point of view owing to the implications on ecosystems and on some human activities such as tourism, bathing and fishing. This paper reviews the knowledge about the various aspects related to the occurrence and the stinging of the Mediterranean scyphozoan jellyfish as well as the activity of their venoms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:03:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-699698f8f31a44b5999c9588d323b604 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1660-3397 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:03:03Z |
| publishDate | 2010-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Marine Drugs |
| spelling | doaj.art-699698f8f31a44b5999c9588d323b6042022-12-22T04:10:24ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972010-04-01841122115210.3390/md8041122Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on ScyphomedusaeGian Luigi MariottiniLuigi PaneThe production of natural toxins is an interesting aspect, which characterizes the physiology and the ecology of a number of marine species that use them for defence/offence purposes. Cnidarians are of particular concern from this point of view; their venoms are contained in specialized structures–the nematocysts–which, after mechanical or chemical stimulation, inject the venom in the prey or in the attacker. Cnidarian stinging is a serious health problem for humans in the zones where extremely venomous jellyfish or anemones are common, such as in temperate and tropical oceanic waters and particularly along several Pacific coasts, and severe cases of envenomation, including also lethal cases mainly induced by cubomedusae, were reported. On the contrary, in the Mediterranean region the problem of jellyfish stings is quite modest, even though they can have anyhow an impact on public health and be of importance from the ecological and economic point of view owing to the implications on ecosystems and on some human activities such as tourism, bathing and fishing. This paper reviews the knowledge about the various aspects related to the occurrence and the stinging of the Mediterranean scyphozoan jellyfish as well as the activity of their venoms.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/4/1122/jellyfishvenomMediterranean SeaScyphomedusae |
| spellingShingle | Gian Luigi Mariottini Luigi Pane Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on Scyphomedusae Marine Drugs jellyfish venom Mediterranean Sea Scyphomedusae |
| title | Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on Scyphomedusae |
| title_full | Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on Scyphomedusae |
| title_fullStr | Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on Scyphomedusae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on Scyphomedusae |
| title_short | Mediterranean Jellyfish Venoms: A Review on Scyphomedusae |
| title_sort | mediterranean jellyfish venoms a review on scyphomedusae |
| topic | jellyfish venom Mediterranean Sea Scyphomedusae |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/4/1122/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gianluigimariottini mediterraneanjellyfishvenomsareviewonscyphomedusae AT luigipane mediterraneanjellyfishvenomsareviewonscyphomedusae |