A comparison of the toxinological characteristics of two Cassiopea and Aurelia species

A comparison of the toxinological properties of nematocyst venoms from Old and New World Cassiopea and Aurelia species was undertaken. The cnidom of v enomous Cassiopea andromeda (Ca) and Aurelia (Aa(Rs)) from the Red Sea was identical to that of nonvenomous Bahamian Cassiopea xamancha (Cx) and Chesa peake Bay Aurelia aurita (Aa(CB)), respectively. A clean nematocyst prepara tion of Cn and both Aurelias could be obtained but algal particles could no t be separated completely From the Cx nematocysts. Further purification of all four nematocyst preparations showed significant differences in the acti on of their protein. Only the Cassiopea had coexisting dermonecrotic and va sopermeability producing properties and Ca's hemolytic activity was associa ted with mouse lethality. The protein, hemolysin and phospholipase gel filt ration eluant curves of Ca venom were similar. Venomous AaRs actively stung lips and contained more potent mouse lethal, demonecrotic, vasopermeabilit y plus hemolytic factors than Aa(CB). Cross reactivity of convalescent huma n serum obtained from patients stung by Ca and venomous Cx collected in Cen tral America occurred. This was also observed between sera of bathers stung by AaRs and stinging Aurelia which appeared in Florida during the recent E l Nino year. IgG was stimulated by several nematocyst proteins since many v enom subfractions tested positive at high titers against convalescent sera. T-cell proliferation of mice primed with either Aurelia venom was positive against the homologous preparation with cross reactivity to the heterologo us venom. Crude venoms of both Red Sea jellyfish metabolically stimulated c ultured human hepatocytes more than their New World counterparts. This data shows that considerable similarities and differences exist in the venoms o f these Old and New World Cassiopea and Aurelia medusae with the Eastern sp ecies being more potent. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .