Helix Pomatia Research Articles

The role of NAADP in maintaining spontaneous heart contractions: comparative physiological studies

The goal of the work was to study the role of the second messenger NAADP (Nicotinic Acid Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate), which causes the release of Ca2+ ions from lysosomes and endosomes, in the regulation of heart contractions. Isolated hearts of the grape snail Helix pomatia and a chicken embryo were used as models. Using the membrane-permeable acetooxymethyl ester NAADP-AM, we showed that NAADP at nanomolar concentrations increases the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous cardiac contractions in H. pomatia. The NAADP antagonist NED19, without affecting the amplitude of contractions, dose-dependently reduces their frequency, completely blocking spontaneous contractions of the mollusk heart at a concentration of 5 μM. The V-type H+-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1 suppresses the accumulation of calcium ions in lysosomes and acidic endosomes. We have shown that bafilomycin A1 causes attenuation of spontaneous contractions and cardiac arrest in H. pomatia. Serotonin increases the amplitude of contractions of the H. pomatia heart without affecting heart rate. NED19 at saturating concentrations (10 μM) reduces the frequency of contractions when the snail heart is activated by serotonin, but only partially reduces their amplitude. In experiments with the isolated chick embryo heart, we showed that NED19 reduces the frequency of spontaneous contractions without affecting the amplitude of contractions. Based on the data obtained, a hypothesis was put forward that the release of calcium ions from lysosomes and endosomes under the influence of endogenous NAADP ensures the maintenance of spontaneous contractions of the heart.

Helix pomatia mucin alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice: Unraveling the cross talk between microbiota and intestinal chemokine

Gut microbiota imbalance and alterations in the chemokine-chemokine receptor interactions are pivotal in the initiation and advancement of ulcerative colitis (UC). The current UC treatments are prolonged, exhibit high recurrence rates, and may lead to colorectal cancer. So, this study explores the efficacy of Helix pomatia (H. pomatia) mucin in preventing DSS-induced UC. This research focuses on investigating the underlying mechanisms, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and alterations in gut microbiota and chemokine-chemokine receptor interactions, to understand the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics of the mucin. Using 4 % DSS in drinking water, UC was induced in C57BL/6 mice. For seven days, mice were given oral doses of either H. pomatia mucin or sulfasalazine. The study assessed changes in oxidative stress, gut microbiota, and histopathology, along with expression of IL-6, CXCR4, CCR7, CXCL9, and CXCL10. The H. pomatia mucin exhibited unique contents, including high glycolic acid (200 ± 2.08 mg/L), collagen (88 ± 2.52 mg/L), allantoin (20 ± 2 mg/L), and concentrated vitamins and minerals. Treatment with H. pomatia mucin in high dose demonstrated reduction in DAI, an increase in fecal Firmicutes, and elevated expression of colonic CCR7, CXCL9, and CXCL10, accompanied by enhanced CXCR4 (75 %) and diminished IL-6 (1.33 %) immunostaining. It also alleviated oxidative stress, reduced fecal Bacteroidetes, and mitigated inflammation, indicating its potential efficacy against DSS-induced UC. In conclusion, H. pomatia mucin is a promising candidate that could be an effective adjuvant in the management and prophylaxis of UC.

Transformation of 17β-estradiol to estrone by unknown wild-type enzyme in commercial arylsulfatase from Helix pomatia

This work for the first time reported the complete transformation of 17β-estradiol (E2) to estrone (E1) by unknown wild-type enzyme present in the widely used commercial arylsulfatase derived from Helix pomatia. It was found that acetate could effectively inhibit the unknown enzyme with a half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 140.9 μM, while phosphate and citrate showed no inhibition. Since the buffer solutions with phosphate and citrate have been used in the enzymatic hydrolysis of natural estrogen conjugates for decades, the transformation of E2 to E1 likely occurred during such procedure, inevitably leading to overestimated E1, but underestimated E2. It was further suggested that acetate should be used to prevent this undesirable transformation during the enzymatic hydrolysis of natural estrogen conjugates.

Estimation of the risk of chemical pollution with polychlorinated biphenyls of the transformer station in the city of Ciadâr-Lunga

The paper presents the results of the study of the content of polychlorinated biphenyls in soil and sediment samples taken from the high-power transformer station in the city of Ciadâr-Lunga, as well as the impact of these contaminants on different organisms. Chromatographic analysis established the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls in all analyzed samples, ΣBPC ranging from 143.6 mg/kg to 1671.3 mg/kg. Polychlorinated biphenyls showed various side effects on the tested organisms: from unobservable (species Eisenia fetida and Helix pomatia) to lethal (species: Daphnia magna and Phyllobius urticae).

Accelerated mitochondrial evolution and asymmetric fitness of hybrids contribute to the persistence of Helix thessalica in the Helix pomatia range.

Interbreeding and introgression between recently diverged species is common. However, the processes that prevent these species from merging where they co-occur are not well understood. We studied the mechanisms that allowed an isolated group of populations of the snail Helix thessalica to persist within the range of the related Helix pomatia despite high gene flow. Using genomic cline analysis, we found that the nuclear gene flow between the two taxa across the mosaic hybrid zone was not different from that expected under neutral admixture, but that the exchange of mtDNA was asymmetric. Tests showed that there is relaxed selection in the mitochondrial genome of H. thessalica and that the substitution rate is elevated compared to that of H. pomatia. A lack of hybrids that combine the mtDNA of H. thessalica with a mainly (>46%) H. pomatia genomic background indicates that the nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins of H. pomatia are not well adapted to the more rapidly evolving proteins and RNAs encoded by the mitochondrion of H. thessalica. The presumed reduction of fitness of hybrids with the fast-evolving mtDNA of H. thessalica and a high H. pomatia ancestry, similar to 'Darwin's Corollary to Haldane's rule', resulted in a relative loss of H. pomatia nuclear ancestry compared to H. thessalica ancestry in the hybrid zone. This probably prevents the H. thessalica populations from merging quickly with the surrounding H. pomatia populations and supports the hypothesis that incompatibilities between rapidly evolving mitochondrial genes and nuclear genes contribute to speciation.

Evaluation of Alternative Sources of Proteins and Other Nutrients with Potential Applications in Fish Nutrition

The European Union’s (EU) agricultural self-sufficiency is challenged by its reliance on imported plant proteins, particularly soy from the Americas, contributing to deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing the EU’s protein deficit, this study evaluates alternative protein sources for aquaculture, focusing on their nutritional value, elemental content, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Protein flours from gastropods (Helix pomatia, Arion lusitanicus, Arion vulgaris) and their hepatopancreas, along with plant-based proteins from food industry by-products (oilcakes, coffee grounds, spent brewer’s yeast), were analyzed. Results revealed that snail flour contained the highest protein content at 59.09%, significantly outperforming hepatopancreas flour at 42.26%. Plant-based proteins demonstrated substantial nutritional value, with coffee grounds flour exhibiting a remarkable protein content of 71.8% and spent brewer’s yeast flour at 57.9%. Elemental analysis indicated high levels of essential minerals such as magnesium in hepatopancreas flour (5719.10 mg/kg) and calcium in slug flour (48,640.11 mg/kg). However, cadmium levels in hepatopancreas flour (11.45 mg/kg) necessitate caution due to potential health risks. PAH concentrations were low across all samples, with the highest total PAH content observed in hepatopancreas flour at 0.0353 µg/kg, suggesting minimal risk of PAH-related toxicity. The analysis of plant-based protein sources, particularly oilcakes derived from sunflower, hemp, flax, and pumpkin seeds, revealed that these by-products not only exhibit high protein contents but present a promising avenue for enhancing the nutritional quality of feed. This study underscores the potential of utilizing gastropod and plant-based by-products as sustainable and nutritionally adequate alternatives to conventional feeds in aquaculture, contributing to the EU’s environmental sustainability goals.

Harnessing the power of mollusc lectins as immuno-protective biomolecules.

The rapid advancement of molecular research on macromolecules has contributed to the discovery of 'Lectin', a carbohydrate-binding protein which specifically interacts with receptors on the surface of glycans and regulates various cellular activities thereby stimulating immunological functions. Considering the wide variety of sources and immunological significance, research has led to the discovery of lectins in invertebrate molluscs. Such lectins in molluscs mediate active immune response as they lack adaptive immunity. Phylum Mollusca is identified with different types of lectins such as C-lectin, Galectin, P-lectin, I-lectin, and H-lectin, along with other immunologically significant lectin molecules such as F- lectin, R-lectin, ficolins, chitinase like lectin etc., all of these with specific ligand binding and structural diversity. Molluscan C-type lectins are the most functional ones that increase the activity of phagocytic cells through specific carbohydrate binding of antigenic ligands and haemocyte adhesion thereby enhancing the immune response. Helix pomatia agglutinin and Helix aspersa agglutinin are the two H-lectins that were identified within molluscs that could even target cancer-progressing cells through specific binding. Also, these lectins identified in molluscs are proven to be efficient in antibacterial and immunomodulatory functions. These insights attract researchers to identify novel lectins in molluscs and their characterization that play a key role in protection against diseases. This review discusses the structural features of mollusc lectins, their specific binding, molecular interactions and their immunological applications.

Surface plasmon resonance microscopy identifies glycan heterogeneity in pancreatic cancer cells that influences mucin-4 binding interactions.

Membrane proteins are the main targets of therapeutic drugs and most of them are glycosylated. Glycans play pivotal roles in several biological processes, and glycosylation changes are a well-established hallmark of several types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, that contribute to tumor growth. Mucin-4 (MUC-4) is a membrane glycoprotein which is associated with pancreatic cancer and metastasis, and it has been targeted as a promising vaccine candidate. In this study, Surface Plasmon Resonance Microscopy (SPRM) was implemented to study complex influences of the native N-glycan cellular environment on binding interactions to the MUC-4 receptor as this is currently the only commercially available label-free technique with high enough sensitivity and resolution to measure binding kinetics and heterogeneity on single cells. Such unique capability enables for a more accurate understanding of the "true" binding interactions on human cancer cells without disrupting the native environment of the target MUC-4 receptor. Removal of N-linked glycans in pancreatic cancer cells using PNGase F exposed heterogeneity in Concanavalin (Con A) binding by revealing three new binding populations with higher affinities than the glycosylated control cells. Anti-MUC-4 binding interactions of enzymatically N-linked deglycosylated pancreatic cancer cells produced a 25x faster association and 37x higher affinity relative to the glycosylated control cells. Lastly, four interaction modes were observed for Helix Pomatia Agglutinin (HPA) binding to the glycosylated control cells, but shifted and increased in activity upon removal of N-linked glycans. These results identified predominant interaction modes of glycan and MUC-4 in pancreatic cancer cells, the kinetics of their binding interactions were quantified, and the influence of N-linked glycans in MUC-4 binding interactions was revealed.

Exploring Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Urine Samples for Investigation of Drugs Associated with Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault.

Analyzing urine is common in drug-facilitated sexual assault cases if the analysis of blood is not optimal. The efficient enzymatic pretreatment of urine is important for cleaving glucuronides and improving the detection of the parent drug. The aim was to investigate the efficiency of three β-glucuronidases on eleven glucuronides relevant to DFSA at different incubation periods and temperatures. Human drug-free urine was fortified with 11 glucuronides, hydrolyzed with either β-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase (Helix Pomatia), recombinant β-glucuronidase B-One™ or recombinant β-glucuronidase BGTurbo™ and incubated for 5, 10, 60 min, 18 h and 24 h at 20 °C/40 °C/55 °C before UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. The stability of 141 drugs and metabolites relevant to DFSA was investigated by incubating fortified urine under the same hydrolysis conditions. B-One™ showed efficient hydrolysis (>90%) of most glucuronides in 5 min at all temperatures, while BGTurbo™ showed a similar efficiency (>90%), but the optimal temperature (20-55 °C) and incubation time (5-60 min) varied among analytes. The β-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase had the lowest efficiency and required the longest incubation (24 h) at 40-55 °C. The stability of 99% of 141 drugs and metabolites was not affected by incubation at 20-55 °C for 24 h. Recombinant enzymes show promising results for the simple and efficient hydrolysis of a broad panel of glucuronides relevant for DFSA.

Macrozoobenthos of River Ecosystems of Nakhchivan

The article presents a comparative analysis of the results of studying macrobenthofauna of two flowing water bodies formed in the territory of Sharur district of Nakhchivan. In the macrozoobenthos of the Arpachay River 56 species of bottom organisms were found, and in the macrozoobenthos of the Shahbulag River — 48 species. It was found that the macrozoobenthos of the Shakhbulag gorge water bodies surpasses the Arpachay River ecosystems in terms of average annual abundance (124 spec./m2) and biomass (0.270 g/m2) of benthic organisms. This is due to the low susceptibility of the Shakhbulag River to anthropogenic and zoogenic impacts and the relative stability of rocky and vegetated biotopes. In both ecosystems, the maximum development of benthic fauna occurs in spring and early summer. Glossiphonia paludosa (Carena, 1824), Sphaerium solidum (Normand, 1844) and Habrophlebia fusca(Curtis, 1834) were first indicated for the fauna of Nakhchivan. Rare species Helix pomatia (Linnaeus, 1758) and Epallage fatime Charpentier, 1840, which are widespread in the current water bodies of the study area, were recommended to be included in the Red Books of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan.

Data of bioaccumulation and biomagnification from soil in biota nettle-snail (Urtica dioica, L and Helix pomatia,L) of heavy metal (Pb, Zn, Ni) pollution of mining activity in Mitrovica.

ABSTRACT
 In this research project, we measured the impact and distribution of the activity of minning Trepça Complex in Mitrovica on the concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Ni) in soil, plant (Urtica dioica,L) and shell of snail (Helix pomatia).
 Introdiction: Large quantities of these metals come from natural and anthropogenic sources including mining activity, agriculture, pesticide use, industrialization, and inadequate disposal of mineral waste and artificial fertilizers. These inorganic pollutants are deposited in the soil, water, and atmosphere in various forms of complexes and are thus transmitted from plants, animals to humans. Climatic factors such as winds, rains, and temperatures are believed to be major contributors to the spread over time and space of heavy metals in the environment.
 Materials and methods: Soil samples, nettle plant (Urtica dioica, L), and snail (Helix pomatia, L), were collected from the selected pollution source of mine Trepça complex at distances of 1km, 2km, and 5km in the radius circles divided into four geographical areas. Also the control samples are collected in unpolluted site Opoja-Dragash municipalty. The samples were digested in microwave at 2000C for 45 min and have been read in flame absorber Analyticjena Contra AAA.
 Results: Higher concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Ni were recorded in the southern parts of the country compared to that control with significant differences (p<0.01). Bioaccumulation and biomagnification levels of these heavy metals have also been recorded in the roots, stalks, and leaves of the stinging nettle plant (Urtica dioica, L) as well as in snail shells (Helix pomatia, L.).
 Conclusions: The results show that the stinging nettle plant has translocated larger amounts of these heavy metals especially Pb along with the vegetative organs wherefrom these they are carried in the snail shell, which is fed on the stinging nettle plant.
 Also, results shown that the nettle plant Urtica dioica can be used in phytoremediation process whereas snail Helix pomatia can be used like bioindicator of heavy metal pollution.
 

Evolution of Cd2+ and Cu+ binding in Helix pomatia metallothioneins.

Metallothioneins (MTs) are small proteins present in all kingdoms of life. Their high cysteine content enables them to bind metal ions, such as Zn2+, Cd2+, and Cu+, providing means for detoxification and metal homeostasis. Three MT isoforms with distinct metal binding preferences are present in the Roman Snail Helix pomatia. Here, we use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to follow the evolution of Cd2+ and Cu+ binding from the reconstructed ancestral Stylommatophora MT to the three H. pomatia MT (HpMT) isoforms. Information obtained from [15N,1H]-HSQC spectra and T2 relaxation times are combined to describe the conformational stability of the MT-metal complexes. A well-behaved MT-metal complex adopts a unique structure and does not undergo additional conformational exchange. The ancestor to all three HpMTs forms conformationally stable Cd2+ complexes and closely resembles the Cd2+-specific HpCdMT isoform, suggesting a role in Cd2+ detoxification for the ancestral protein. All Cu+-MT complexes, including the Cu+-specific HpCuMT isoform, undergo a considerable amount of conformational exchange. The unspecific HpCd/CuMT and the Cu+-specific HpCuMT isoforms form Cu+ complexes with comparable characteristics. It is possible to follow how Cd2+ and Cu+ binding changed throughout evolution. Interestingly, Cu+ binding improved independently in the lineages leading to the unspecific and the Cu+-specific HpMT isoforms. C-terminal domains are generally less capable of coordinating the non-cognate metal ion than N-terminal domains, indicating a higher level of specialization of the C-domain. Our findings provide new insights into snail MT evolution, helping to understand the interplay between biological function and structural features toward a comprehensive understanding of metal preference.

Effect of Lead, Nickel, and Zinc Pollution in Some Parameters of Oxidative Stress in Hepatopancreas of Snail <i>Helix pomatia</i> L. in Power plant of Obiliq

Effect of Lead, Nickel, and Zinc Pollution in Some Parameters of Oxidative Stress in Hepatopancreas of Snail <i>Helix pomatia</i> L. in Power plant of Obiliq

The influence of environmental stressful conditions on the interaction between heat shock proteins and chaperone-assisted proteins in land snails, Helix pomatia L.

Snails are often exposed to high variability of ambient temperatures, thus in response to that, they function for prolonged periods in a dormant state. It is known that molecular chaperones (like heat shock proteins (HSPs)) fulfill important functions in maintaining cell homeostasis and the cellular responses to stress, and that they are activated in many different species upon exposition to various environmental stressors. HSPs defend organisms from the harmful consequences of heat shock and potentially alternative stressors too. After thorough consideration, we decided to identify proteins that interact with HSP70 and HSP90 in Helix pomatia Linnaeus, 1758 snails under extreme thermal (low and high) and photoperiod (short and long) conditions and at hypometabolic/active states as a response to environmental stress. Identification of proteins that interact with HSPs can define a new tool in molecular basis of adaptation to temperature stress in snails. After performing co-immunoprecipitation and Western blot, we obtained results showing that HSP70 interacts with hemocyanin alphaN and alphaD, and with other isoforms of hemocyanin–hemocyanin beta as well as with Na+/K+-ATPase, whereas HSP90 interacts with hemocyanin alphaN. It means that the chaperones are likely to affect the most important life-supporting systems of snails like respiration and ionic conductivity.

Kynurenic Acid Levels and Kynurenine Aminotransferase I, II and III Activities in Ganglia, Heart and Liver of Snail Helix Pomatia.

Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a tryptophan metabolite along the kynurenine pathway, is an endogenous antagonist of glutamate ionotropic excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors and the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). The involvement of KYNA in various pathological conditions and during the aging process is significant. KYNA synthesis from L-kynurenine (L-KYN), through the action of several kynurenine aminotransferases (KATs), is present in the central nervous system (CNS) and periphery of mammals. We were interested in investigating the ability of the brain and peripheral organs of Helix pomatia snails to synthesize KYNA, in an in vitro study. In comparative studies between rat and snail, we looked for the synthesis of KYNA in the liver. We then looked for an effect of age on KYNA synthesis. Ten shell parameters of the Helix pomatia snail were used to establish an Age Rating Scale (ARS), i.e. body weight, shell weight, shell length, width and height, shell opening length and width, lip width, number of shell turns and external shell growth rings. An age of the snails was determined according to the ARS and the snails were divided into three groups, i.e. young, middle and old age. Homogenates of dissected regions, i.e. cerebral ganglia (CG), subpharyngeal ganglia (SG) consisting of pedal, visceral and pleural ganglia, heart and liver, were examined. KYNA was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and KAT activities were measured by an enzymatic method. With respect to ARS, an evaluation of the age of the snails between young (1-2 years), middle (5-7 years) and old (9-13 years) showed significant differences (p<0.001). Analysis of KYNA levels in different snail tissues, i.e. CG, SG, heart and liver, showed an occurrence in the low femtomolar range. Marked and significant increases of KYNA were found in the liver of middle and old age groups. In the SG, KYNA decreased significantly with age. There were no differences in KYNA levels between groups in CG and heart. The lowest KAT activity was found in CG and SG (5 pmol/mg/h), while in heart and liver the values were visibly higher (between 8 and 80 pmol/mg/h). Only in the liver, and exceptionally only for KAT I, the activity increased significantly with age, i.e. up to 14 years. No age-related changes in KAT I, II and III activities were found in CG and SG. Snail liver shows a different pattern of KAT activities compared to the rat liver. Regions of the CNS and periphery of the snail Helix pomatia are able to synthesize KYNA due to KAT activities. In the snail liver, KAT I activity increased with age. Notably, there was no age-related increase in KAT activities in the heart and especially in the CNS of Helix pomatia, indicating significant differences from mammals. A moderate KYNA metabolism in the Helix pomatia snail in the periods studied, up to 14 years, could be a physiological phenomenon that protects organs from possible functional insufficiency due to high KYNA levels, as has been suggested. It is reasonable to search for the factor(s) that could regulate the concentration of KYNA in the body of the snail.

The AMP deaminase of the mollusk Helix pomatia is an unexpected member of the adenosine deaminase-related growth factor (ADGF) family.

We report here the first occurrence of an adenosine deaminase-related growth factor (ADGF) that deaminates adenosine 5' monophosphate (AMP) in preference to adenosine. The ADGFs are a group of secreted deaminases found throughout the animal kingdom that affect the extracellular concentration of adenosine by converting it to inosine. The AMP deaminase studied here was first isolated and biochemically characterized from the roman snail Helix pomatia in 1983. Determination of the amino acid sequence of the AMP deaminase enabled sequence comparisons to protein databases and revealed it as a member of the ADGF family. Cloning and expression of its cDNA in Pichia pastoris allowed the comparison of the biochemical characteristics of the native and recombinant forms of the enzyme and confirmed they correspond to the previously reported activity. Uncharacteristically, the H. pomatia AMP deaminase was determined to be dissimilar to the AMP deaminase family by sequence comparison while demonstrating similarity to the ADGFs despite having AMP as its preferred substrate rather than adenosine.

The Roman snail (Gastropoda: Helicidae) is not a generalist herbivore, but shows food preferences for Urtica dioica and plant litter

ABSTRACT The food preferences and palatability of different plant species for snail and slug species in arable fields has been a major area of research in the past. The assumed diet of Helix pomatia (Linnaeus, 1758), however, provides an example of the limited knowledge of snail diets in nonagricultural habitats. This species has been described as a generalist herbivore, although it showed preferences for individual plant species in another study. Helix pomatia is considered a pest species, while also being listed as endangered in several Red Lists. In this study, the feeding activity of eight subpopulations of H. pomatia were recorded in a nature reserve in Cottbus, Germany, from April to October 2021 to understand food preferences and feeding behaviour. Along with the plant species on which feeding was observed, the height of feeding in the vegetation, shell width and height, number of whorls, and exposure to direct sunlight at observation sites were recorded. Results indicate that H. pomatia prefers Urtica dioica, and plant litter, which accounted for 35% and 44% of all observed feeding interactions respectively, as food resources, while generally only feeding on 27 of 143 available plant species. The importance of U. dioica as a food resource for 19 other terrestrial snail species is confirmed by 18 previous studies. In H. pomatia, analysis of the width and height of shells indicated that smaller, juvenile snails consumed plant material significantly higher up in vegetation as compared to adult snails, which fed closer to the ground. Awareness of the preference in H. pomatia for U. dioica as a food resource may be beneficial for land managers regarding the impact of this snail as an agriculture pest to crops. Urtica dioica is a very important food plant for terrestrial snails, and could play an important role in future species conservation strategies.

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Studies of Irradiated Grape Snails (Helix pomatia) and Investigation of Biophysical Parameters.

A study of grape snails (Helix pomatia) using the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy method, where shells were exposed to ionizing gamma radiation, indicated that the effect of radiation up to certain doses results in the emergence of magnetic properties in the organism. The identification of the EPR spectra of the body and shell parts of the control and irradiated grape snails separately showed that more iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles are generated in the body part of the grape snail compared to the shells. A linear increase in free radical signals (g = 2.0023) in the body and shell parts of grape snails, and a non-monotonic change in the broad EPR signal (g = 2.32) characterizing iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles was determined depending on the dose of ionizing gamma radiation. Additionally, the obtained results showed that grape snails can be used as bioindicators for examining the ecological state of the environment. At the same time, the radionuclide composition of the body and shell parts of the grape snails and their specific activities were determined by CANBERRA gamma spectroscopy. The FTIR spectra of mucin, a liquid secreted by snails, were recorded.

A new product from Helix pomatia and the method of its production

The article considers and studies the need to find and develop new sources of protein, as well as biologically active substances, methods of their production and processing, used both for obtaining livestock products and in other areas of human economic activity. One of the most promising areas is snail farming, represented by edible species of land snails. This article covers the development of a method for obtaining a new type of raw material from Helix pomatia (grapevine snail) and the study of its qualitative characteristics. All studies were conducted according to standard, generally accepted and developed practice. As a result of the research work, a method for obtaining the grapevine snail lyophilizate was developed, tested, proposed and implemented, which contributes to an increased content of biologically active substances, better nutritional value and high quality of the obtained products with a long shelf life. The study of the quality indicators of the products obtained by the developed method took place in compared with well–known and long-established techniques: the use of a dehydrator at a temperature of +35°C and a drying cabinet at +105°C. The analysis of the chemical and amino acid composition of the compared products from the grapevine snail showed superiority in crude protein content within 2.1–2.9 % absolute, therefore, essential amino acids in Helix pomatialyophilizate. Thus, the effectiveness of the established method for obtaining the grapevine snail lyophilizate with the prospect of using it in various industries and areas of production activity has been proven.

Therapeutic Fractional Doses of Ionizing Radiation Promote Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Enhanced Invasiveness, and Altered Glycosylation in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells.

The clinical outcome of radiation therapy is restricted due to the acquired radio-resistance of a subpopulation of tumour cells that may cause tumour relapse and distant metastasis. While the effects of ionizing radiation (IR) such as DNA damage and cell stress are well-documented, the potential role of IR in inducing invasive potential in cancer cells has not been broadly studied, therefore we aimed to investigate it in this study. MCF-7 cells irradiated with 0 Gy (control) or 2 Gy X-ray therapeutic doses of IR were assessed for cell viability, percentage of apoptotic cells, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, DNA fragmentation, Matrigel invasion, assessment of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and Helix pomatia agglutinin (HPA) binding at 30 min, 4- or 24-h post-IR. Reduction in cell viability, increase in apoptotic cells, ROS positive cells, and DNA fragmentation were observed, while functional invasiveness and EMT were exacerbated together with altered glycosylation in MCF-7 cells irradiated with 2 Gy X-ray compared to control cells. These findings indicate that despite the detrimental effects of 2 Gy X-ray IR on MCF-7 cells, a subpopulation of cells may have gained increased invasive potential. The exacerbated invasive potential may be attributed to enhanced EMT and altered glycosylation. Moreover, deregulation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) following IR may be one of the elements responsible for these changes, as it lies in the intersection of these invasion-promoting cell processes.