| Title |
Confirmation and Distribution of Tetrodotoxin for the First Time in Terrestrial Invertebrates: Two Terrestrial Flatworm Species (Bipalium adventitium and Bipalium kewense)
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
PLOS ONE, June 2014
|
| DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0100718 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Amber N. Stokes, Peter K. Ducey, Lorin Neuman-Lee, Charles T. Hanifin, Susannah S. French, Michael E. Pfrender, Edmund D. Brodie, Edmund D. Brodie |
| Abstract |
The potent neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX) is known from a diverse array of taxa, but is unknown in terrestrial invertebrates. Tetrodotoxin is a low molecular weight compound that acts by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels, inducing paralysis. However, the origins and ecological functions of TTX in most taxa remain mysterious. Here, we show that TTX is present in two species of terrestrial flatworm (Bipalium adventitium and Bipalium kewense) using a competitive inhibition enzymatic immunoassay to quantify the toxin and high phase liquid chromatography to confirm the presence. We also investigated the distribution of TTX throughout the bodies of the flatworms and provide evidence suggesting that TTX is used during predation to subdue large prey items. We also show that the egg capsules of B. adventitium have TTX, indicating a further role in defense. These data suggest a potential route for TTX bioaccumulation in terrestrial systems. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 211 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 55 | 26% |
| United States | 3 | 1% |
| Finland | 1 | <1% |
| China | 1 | <1% |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 1 | <1% |
| Austria | 1 | <1% |
| Comoros | 1 | <1% |
| Spain | 1 | <1% |
| Korea, Republic of | 1 | <1% |
| Other | 3 | 1% |
| Unknown | 143 | 68% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 203 | 96% |
| Scientists | 7 | 3% |
| Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | <1% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 66 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 2 | 3% |
| Peru | 1 | 2% |
| Spain | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown | 62 | 94% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Bachelor | 13 | 20% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 11 | 17% |
| Researcher | 8 | 12% |
| Other | 7 | 11% |
| Student > Master | 5 | 8% |
| Other | 9 | 14% |
| Unknown | 13 | 20% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 19 | 29% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 13 | 20% |
| Environmental Science | 6 | 9% |
| Chemistry | 3 | 5% |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 2 | 3% |
| Other | 5 | 8% |
| Unknown | 18 | 27% |