MtBTN2 cells under microscopic lense (× 100 zoom). They are identified by their plus size, popular nucleus, and limited cytoplasm. In contrast, a healthy cell– a haemocyte of smaller sized size with more plentiful cytoplasm– is noticeable on the bottom. Credit: Maurine Hammel
Seaports serve as centers for the international spread of MtrBTN2, an unusual infectious cancer impacting mussels. In this illness, cancer cells can be sent, like parasites, from one mussel to another neighboring.
While, in nature, such contagion primarily happens in between mussels in the very same bed, ports and maritime transportation help with the spread of MtrBTN2 to other areas, through biofouling, where infected mussels connect themselves to deliver hulls.
This finding, the fruit of research study by a group led by researchers from the CNRS and the University of Montpellier, was released in Procedures of the Royal Society B on February 21.
Mytilus edulis mussels on drifting dock stack in French port of Croisic. Credit: Nicolas Bierne
Greater occurrence of the illness in ports was kept in mind after studying 76 mussel populations along the coast of southern Brittany and the Vendée, within both natural and synthetic environments.
The research study group asserts that their discovery argues in favor of biofouling mitigation policies, to stem the spread of the illness and maintain seaside communities.
More details: M. Hammel et al, Marine transmissible cancer browses urbanized waters, threatening spillover, Procedures of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2024 ). DOI: 10.1098/ rspb.2023.2541
Citation: Seaports discovered to be hotspots of infectious cancer in mussels (2024, February 21) recovered 28 February 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-02-seaports-hotspots-contagious-cancer-mussels.html
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