[Coral-List] disease of Diadema mexicanum

[Dr. Gregory Beck]

On Jun 2, 2009, at 8:57 AM, Dr. Gregory Beck wrote:

> Hi:
>
> Thanks Ester for starting this important conversation between all  
> of us. Hopefully we can start to work on this potentially  
> critically important observation. Let's all hope this is an  
> isolated (and contained) incident and we do not see a repeat of  
> what happened in the Caribbean in the 80s!
>
>
> Francisco :
>
> My colleagues (John Ebersole and Bob Miller) and I have been  
> studying the die-off of Diadema antillarum in the Caribbean. We are  
> looking at the immune response of Diadema as a possible reason for  
> the death of the Diadema. We think we have found a difference in  
> the immune response of Diadema as compared to the rest of the urchins.
>
>
> If you could send us some coelomic fluid from the urchins (as Ester  
> has wrote about) that would be awesome! We would be looking at  
> fluids without any fixative. That is to say,  remove coelomic fluid  
> (from dead, dying, and healthy urchins), put it into separate  
> tubes, and freeze it as soon as possible [if you could centrifuge  
> the sample to separate the cells from the fluid (and send both the  
> cells and fluids) that would be even better for us]. We could try  
> to grow out the potential pathogen (some bacteria have been  
> implicated) and also try to look at some immune activities as well.  
> If you need our FedEx account number for shipment, please let me  
> know and I can get it to you.
>
> Hopefully this won't be much trouble for you and I (we) hope to  
> hear from you soon. This collaboration has the potential to be very  
> important and we look forward to it.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Greg Beck
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 1, 2009, at 10:40 AM, Esther Peters wrote:
>
>> Dear Francisco,
>>
>> I have studied the histopathology of D. antillarum, and I am  
>> copying two investigators at the University of Massachusetts at  
>> Boston who are interested in examining the disease resistance of  
>> Diadema, in case they are not on the coral-list.
>>
>> If you can find specimens that are ill (not completely dead, or  
>> even appear to be healthy), it is important to immerse them in a  
>> fixative solution containing 1 part 37-40% formaldehyde and 9  
>> parts ambient seawater (preferably filtered).  This is a basic  
>> fixative for light microscopy.  For complete diagnostic workup, we  
>> would also need samples for microbiology and molecular studies,  
>> but I don't know of anyone who might wish to take on those studies  
>> right now.  I have a small histology lab and could process a few  
>> of the fixed samples (if anyone else out there wants to do this,  
>> please do!).
>>
>> Take a photo of the specimen before you collect it in a covered  
>> bucket, bring back to boat or shore so you have a record of its  
>> condition.  Holding the specimen carefully (with tongs), use  
>> scissors to snip off the long spines (like giving it a "haircut"),  
>> then cut around the base of the Aristotle's lantern and make at  
>> least a couple more incisions through the test so the fixative  
>> will penetrate.  If you can put each specimen in a Liter-size jar  
>> or 4 L-size resealable bag, then fill it with the fixative  
>> solution, that would be best.  After you have them fixed for a few  
>> days, then you can consider how to ship them to a lab to process  
>> them (I can provide further instructions).
>>
>> Esther Peters, Ph.D.
>> Assistant Professor
>> George Mason University
>> Department of Environmental Science & Policy
>>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Dr. Gregory Beck
> Associate Professor
> Department of Biology
> University of Massachusetts - Boston
> 100 Morrissey Blvd.
> Boston, MA 02125-3393
> 617-287-6619 or 6684; FAX 617-287-6650
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------
> This e-mail message is intended only for the personal use of the  
> recipient(s) named above. If you are not an intended recipient, you  
> may not review, copy or distribute this message. If you have  
> received this communication in error, please delete the original  
> message.
> ---------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>




______________________________________________________
Dr. Gregory Beck
Associate Professor
Department of Biology
University of Massachusetts - Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, MA 02125-3393
617-287-6619 or 6684; FAX 617-287-6650

---------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail message is intended only for the personal use of the  
recipient(s) named above. If you are not an intended recipient, you  
may not review, copy or distribute this message. If you have received  
this communication in error, please delete the original message.
---------------------------------------------------------