Carmen S. Zitta

Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina | UFSC · Departamento de Biologia Celular, Embriologia e Genética

This work evaluated the inclusion of seaweed in artificial diet of Paracentrotus lividus sea urchins weighing between 11 and 14 g to test its effect on growth and gonadal yield. Initially, multiple-choice feeding preference assays were conducted using 20% fresh and dried specimens of Laminaria digitata, Sargassum muticum, and Ulva lactuca seaweeds...

This study investigated the resistance of Pacific white shrimp (L. vannamei) to hypothermal shock when treated with extracts from the brown seaweeds Sargassum filipendula and Ascophyllum nodosum, either by immersion for postlarvae or as a dietary supplement for juveniles. Post-larvae were exposed to seaweed extracts at concentrations of 20, 50, 100...

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is one of the most widely used inorganic materials as nanostructures. Thus, human and environmental exposures to NMs are inevitable and concerns about possible risks induced by exposure to artificial nanomaterials (NMs) are growing. In this study, we synthesized and characterized ZnO nanorods (NRs) and amino-functionalized ZnO NRs...

This work aimed to improve the techniques for cultivating the species Gelidium floridanum, testing different sources of calcium. Tetraspores and explants were grown in the laboratory for 20 days with seawater enriched with 50% von Stosch solution and oyster or mussel shell powder (252 mg L⁻¹ and 336 mg L⁻¹), or calcium chloride (147 mg L⁻¹ and 295...

This work aimed to improve the techniques for cultivating the species Gelidium floridanum , testing different sources of calcium. Tetraspores and explants were grown in the laboratory for 20 days with seawater enriched with 50% von Stosch solution and oyster or mussel shell powder (252 mg L − 1 and 336 mg L − 1 ), or calcium chloride (147 mg L − 1...

This work aimed to establish the nutrient fertilization regime for indoor maintenance of Kappaphycus alvarezii seedlings during periods of low sea temperatures using biofloc effluent as a fertilizer. Moreover, we evaluated the development of seaweed seedlings after transplantation into the sea cultivation in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Seedlings were f...

Silicon oxide (SiO2) nanostructures (SiO2NS) are increasingly being incorporated into an array of products, notably in the food, pharmaceutical, medical industries and in water treatment systems. Amorphous SiO2NS have low toxicity, however, due to their great versatility, superficial modifications can be made and these altered structures require to...

Gelidium floridanum is a red seaweed of economic importance as it yields high-quality agar which is extracted exclusively from material harvested from natural beds. Phytoregulators have not been explored in macroalgal culture as a probable alternative for large-scale farming of seaweed. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the direct regeneration...

This work aimed to verify the effects of adding CO2 and irradiance to Kappaphycus alvarezii cultivation. Thalli were cultured in vitro for 2 weeks under low irradiance (50 μmol photons m−2 s−1) with the addition of CO2 according to the following concentrations: 142× 103 ppm (1CO2, 0.1 L min−1), 285 × 103 ppm (2CO2, 0.2 L min−1) and 428 × 103 ppm (3...

Background/aim: Glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most malignant primary brain tumor. New treatment strategies against the disease are urgently needed, as therapies are not completely efficient. In this study, we evaluated the antitumorigenic activity of the carotenoid fucoxanthin (Fx) on human GBM cells in vitro. Materials and methods: GBM1 cell via...

Genetic resistance is the main strategy to control one of the most destructive diseases of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L), i.e., the Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. phaseoli (Fop). However, little is known on host defense reactions in Fop-bean interaction. Thus, this work examined the defense mechanisms in root and hypocotyl t...

The objective of this study was to examine the cytotoxic effects of binary mixtures of Al2O3 and ZnO NPs using mouse fibroblast cells (L929) and human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) as biological test systems. The synergistic, additive, or antagonistic behavior of the binary mixture was also investigated. In toxicity experiments, cellular mor...

The abiotic and biotic factors of the environments are constantly changing, making sessile organisms, such as macroalgae, need to adjust to the given location. Two abiotic factors that change a lot are the nitrate (NO3−) concentration, thanks to the release of untreated sewage directly into the sea, and high irradiance due to the decrease in the oz...

Arsenic (As) is a ubiquitous contaminant in the environment and it is known to induce oxidative stress in aquatic organisms. In an attempt to remove As from water, some studies have suggested the titanium dioxide nanomaterial (nTiO2) as a promising alternative. However, it has been observed that nTiO2 can induce toxicity alone or in combination wit...

Pyropia is a genus of algae used in sushi. Nitrate (NO3⁻) is essential for its growth. Excess NO3⁻ is flushed into seawater, as a result of anthropogenic activities, increasing the potential for higher than normal concentrations which could be harmful to both algae and humans. This study aims to evaluate the effect of NO3⁻ on the morphology, ultras...

O objetivo deste estudo foi medir a intensidade de PAR, RUVA e RUVB durante um ano em Florianópolis. As medições ocorreram todas as segundas, quartas e sextas-feira às 10:00, às 11:00, às 12:00, às 13:00 e às 14:00. As maiores intensidades de PAR foram observadas em janeiro, seguidas de fevereiro, novembro e dezembro. As maiores intensidades de RUV...

Aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3 NPs) can be found in different crystalline phases, and with the emergence of nanotechnology there has been a rapid increase in the demand for Al2O3 NPs in different engineering areas and for consumer products. However, a careful evaluation of the potential environmental and human health risks is required to asses...

Spores settlement and development are the bottleneck for macroalgae habitat‐forming species resilience. These processes are directly related to temperature, a global stressor protagonist of ocean warming. The toxic effects of local pollutants such as copper may be worsened under a global warming scenario. Therefore, in this paper we investigated th...

In 1998 Critchley and Ohno published the book Seaweed resources of the world presenting a synthesis of knowledge on the subject from different regions and countries globally. One chapter by E.C. Oliveira was focused on Brazil. In this article, we present an update of the economically relevant species of Brazilian seaweeds, and their distribution al...

The role of the crystalline structure on the toxicity of two phases of Al2O3 NPs, alpha (α-Al2O3 NPs) and eta (η-Al2O3 NPs), was investigated in this study. Different techniqueswere employed for the characterization of the Al2O3 NPs and multiple toxicological endpoints were used to assess the toxicity toward mouse neuroblastoma (N2A) and human bron...

There are few studies on nanoplastic that propose the quantification of the amount ingested combined with the evaluation of the toxic effects on aquatic organisms. In this paper, we propose two methods to quantify the amount of polystyrene nanoplastic (PSNP) ingested by Daphnia magna: fluorescence intensity, where a fluorescent monomer (F) is added...

Acanthophora spicifera (M.Vahl) Børgesen is a macroalga of great economic importance. This study evaluated the antioxidant responses of two algal populations of A. spicifera adapted to different abiotic conditions when exposed to ultraviolet‐A+ultraviolet‐B radiation (UV‐A+UV‐B). Experiments were performed using the water at two collection points f...

This study aimed to examine evidence of direct interaction among actin, myosin and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) in the polarization and formation of the tetraspore germ tube of Gelidium floridanum. After release, tetraspores were exposed to cytochalasin B, latrunculin B, LY294002 and BDM for a period of 6 hours. In control samples, formatio...

Carpospores of Pyropia acanthophora var. brasiliensis are dispersion and reproduction units responsible for giving rise to the diploid filamentous structure of this alga's life cycle. The present study assesses the anthropogenic impact of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on morphology and ultrastructure, spore viability, autofluorescence of chloroplasts...

Amorphous silica (SiO2) nanostructures are described in the literature as having low toxicity and are widely used in many industrial products. However, surface modifications, such as amine-functionalization, can result in increased cytotoxicity. In this study, amorphous SiO2 nanostructures (SiO2 NS) were synthesized and amine-functionalized with tw...

Ocean warming is increasing and scientific predictions suggest a rise of up to 4°C in sea water temperatures. The combination of a polluted and warmer environment may be detrimental for aquatic species, especially for primary producers such as seaweeds. This study investigated the potential for interactive effects of an increased seawater temperatu...

The production of acid mine drainage of (AMD) is one of the main phenomena responsible for much of the degradation of water and soil resources. Organisms present at sites contaminated by AMD can have the potential to bioaccumulate heavy metals, stimulating their application in bioremediation processes. Ulothrix sp. LAFIC 010 was identified among th...

Pyropia represents most domesticated seaweed in the world. Therefore, we aimed to determine if cultivation of the red macroalga Pyropia acanthophora E. C. Oliveira and Coll (Rhodophyta: Bangiales) under laboratory conditions would affect the presence and concentration of secondary metabolites. To accomplish this, experiments were performed with amb...

We investigated physiological responses of Ulva australis to metals and their implications for biomonitoring and management tool. To determine the capacity of Ulva to accumulate metals over the short-term, we undertook an in situ experiment where we transplanted thalli to sites with different levels of metal pollution. After 12 days, arsenic, coppe...

Salinity is an important abiotic factor since it is responsible for the local and/or regional distribution of algae. In coastal regions, salinity changes with prevailing winds, precipitation and tide, and particularly in extreme intertidal conditions. Acanthophora spicifera is a red seaweed that occurs in the supratidal region in which changes in a...

This research evaluated the effect of zinc (Zn) on the ultrastructure and the photosynthetic efficiency of a common green alga. Ulva australis was grown in the laboratory for 7days under a range of different Zn concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 100μgL(-1)). Growth rate (Gr), photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm and ETRmax), photosynthetic pigments, and met...

Halodule wrightii is an ecologically important seagrass; however, little is known about the adaptation of this species in the context of environmental change, particularly changes arising from alterations in salinity of coastal ecosystems. This study aimed to determine the effects of different salinities on growth, morphology, leaf ultrastructure,...

Chlamydomonas acidophila LAFIC-004 is an acidophilic strain of green microalgae isolated from coal mining drainage. In the present work, this strain was cultivated in acidic medium (pH 3.6) under phototrophic, mixotrophic, and heterotrophic regimes to determine the best condition for growth and lipid production, simultaneously assessing possible mo...

Increase of harmful radiation to the Earth's surface due to ozone depletion results in higher exposure to harmful ultraviolet- B radiation (UV), while fluctuations in seawater salinity may alter water density, ionic concentration, nutrient uptake, and osmotic pressure. This study evaluated the effects of salinity and UV on metabolism and morphology...

Sargassum cymosum was exposed to cadmium (Cd) to determine any physiological and ultrastructural effects. To accomplish this, S. cymosum samples were cultivated under photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) and Cd (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mg L(-1)) during 7 and 14 days in laboratory-controlled conditions (0 mg L(-1) Cd at both exposure times as cont...

Chemical fixation is a critical step in the analysis of the ultrastructure of seaweeds because the wrong approach can compromise the ability to distinguish fine-scale cellular composition. Fixation agents, fixation time and type of tissue are important factors to consider for transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and not every protocol is suitabl...

In this study, we examined the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UV) at the thalli of Aglaothamnionuruguayense (W.R. Taylor) N.E. Aponte, D.L. Ballantine & J.N. Norris exposed to two different conditions of radiation: PAR (control) and PAR + UVA + UVB for 3 h per day during 7 days. The effects of radiation on growth rates, photosynthetic pigments, c...

Spores of Pleopeltis lepidopteris (Polypodiaceae) were stored under different temperatures. Samples of spores were stored at room temperature, under refrigeration at 7 ± 1 °C (1 and 8 months), and in liquid nitrogen (1 and 8 months). After storage, spore viability and gametophyte development were analyzed. When stored at room temperature, spores of...

The release, adhesion, and germination of tetraspores determine the successful development of the red seaweed Gelidium floridanum. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of salinity on the initial development of G. floridanum tetraspores. To accomplish this, tetraspores were released and allowed to germinate under salinity of 24, 28,...

In South America, increased UVB radiation has become an important environmental issue that is potentially threatening aquatic ecosystems. Considering that species exhibit different degrees of sensitivity to UVB radiation and that embryos are more sensitive than organisms at later life stages, the aim of this study was to characterize the effects of...

The in vitro effect of cadmium (Cd) on apical segments of the red macroalga Pterocladiella capillacea was examined. Over a period of 7 days, the segments were cultivated with a combination of different salinities (25, 35, and 45 psu) and Cd concentrations ranging from 0.17 to 0.70 ppm. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Cd exposure at vari...

This study aimed to determine the effects of cadmium (Cd) on apical segments of Pterocladiella capillacea (S. G. Gmelin) Santelices & Hommersand. For 7 days, these segments were cultivated under different salinities (25, 35 and 45 psu) and different Cd concentrations (0.17-0.70 ppm Cd). The samples were processed for light and confocal microscopy t...

The effects of the heavy metals copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) on Sargassum cymosum were evaluated by determining uptake capacity, growth rates, photosynthetic efficiency, contents of photosynthetic pigments and phenolic compounds, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging capacity, and morphological and cellular changes. S. cymosum was cultivate...

As both food and source of a kappa-carrageenan, Hypnea musciformis represents a species of great economic interest. It also synthesizes substances with antiviral, anti-helminthic and anti-inflammatory potential and shows promise for use as a bioindicator of cadmium. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of seawater from three urbanize...

By evaluating carotenoid content, photosynthetic pigments and changes in cellular morphology, growth rates, and photosynthetic performance, this study aimed to determine the effect of cadmium (Cd) on the development of young gametophytes of Gelidium floridanum. Plants were exposed to 7.5 and 15 μM of Cd for 7 days. Control plants showed increased f...

Spindle inhibitors and phytoregulators are substances largely used to improve the growth of plants with commercial interest. This study analyzes the effects of colchicine (Ch) and oryzalin (Oz), two spindle inhibitors, on the survival and growth rates of Kappaphycus alvarezii micropropagules when combined in cultures with such phytoregulators as in...

Copper and lead, as remnants of industrial activities and urban effluents, have heavily contaminated many aquatic environments. Therefore, this study aimed to determine their effects on the physiological, biochemical, and cell organization responses of Hypnea musciformis under laboratory conditions during a 7-day experimental period. To accomplish...

Little is known about the morphology and location of macromolecules, especially proteins and carbohydrates, in vegetative and reproductive structures of mangrove species, including Bostrychia radicans. Therefore, to gain a better understanding of tetrasporogenesis in B. radicans, cytochemical, structural and ultrastructual analyses were performed....

The effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and copper (Cu) on apical segments of Pterocladiella capillacea was examined under two different conditions of radiation, PAR (control) and PAR+UVA+UVB (PAR+UVAB), and three copper concentrations, ranging from 0 (control) to 0.62, 1.25 and 2.50 μM. Algae were exposed in vitro to photosynthetically active rad...

This study investigates the pattern and performance of cellular structures during the early development of zygotes and embryos of Sargassum cymosum. The early development S. cymosum germlings has already been characterized and compared with the pattern of development established for all fucoid algae, in which the zygote remains attached to the rece...

The in vitro effect of cadmium (Cd) on apical segments of Pterocladiella capillacea was examined. Over a period of 7 days, the segments were cultivated with the combination of different salinities (25, 35, and 45 practical salinity units) and Cd concentrations, ranging from 0.17 to 0.70 ppm. The effects of Cd on growth rates and content of photosyn...

This study investigated the effects of radiation (PAR+UVA+UVB) on the development and growth rates of young gametophytes of Gelidium floridanum. In addition, photosynthetic pigments were quantified, carotenoids identified, and photosynthetic performance assessed. Over a period of 3 days, young gametophytes were cultivated under laboratory condition...

The metabolic profile of the brown macroalga Sargassum cymosum was analyzed after 7 days of laboratory cultivation in three salinities (30, 35, and 40 psu) and four irradiation treatments for 3 h per day: PAR-only (control; 70 μmol photons m−2 s−1), PAR+UVA (0.70 W m−2), PAR+UVB (0.35 W m−2), and PAR+UVA+UVB. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) levels, pro...

The morphological and structural aspects of red algae chloroplasts are described in this chapter. Structural and physiological features of the red algal chloroplast demonstrate the occurrence of an endosymbiotic event. Structural features of the red algal chloroplast include phycobilisomes, plastoglobuli, genophores, ribosomes, and pyrenoids in som...

Gelidium floridanum W.R. Taylor tetraspores are units of dispersal and are responsible for substrate attachment. This study aimed to examine evidence of direct interaction between germ tube formation and Golgi activity during tetraspore germination of G. floridanum. After release, the tetraspores were incubated with brefeldin A (BFA) in concentrati...

The photoacclimation responses of the brown macroalga Sargassum cymosum were studied to determine its cytochemical and ultrastructural organization, as well as photosynthetic pigments and performance. S. cymosum was cultivated in three salinities (30, 35 and 40 psu) under four irradiation treatments: PAR-only, PAR+UVA, PAR+UVB and PAR+UVA+UVB. Plan...

We undertook a study of Porphyra acanthophora var. brasiliensis to determine its responses under ambient conditions, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and PAR+UVBR (ultraviolet radiation-B) treatment, focusing on changes in ultrastructure, and cytochemistry. Accordingly, control ambient samples were collected in the field, and two differen...

Kappaphycus alvarezii is a red alga that is commercially important as a source of carrageenan. Since K. alvarezii presents large phenotypic plasticity and rarely develops reproductive structures in culture, identification of gametophytic and tetrasporophytic phases in cultivation systems are difficult. The aim of this study was to determine the plo...

This study analyzes the callus ontogeny of the Kappaphycus alvarezii brown strain tetrasporophyte using micropropagation and tissue culture. Calli were induced from axenic explants and grown for 2 months. Ontogenic analysis was made in explants collected from days 7 to 60 of culture and observed under light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM...

Kappaphycus alvarezii was cultured in vitro under salinities ranging from 15 to 55psu for 35days to determine the differential effect on growth rate, carrageenan yield, and cellular structure. Plants kept in 15psu died after 3days, while plants cultured in 55psu presented low growth rates during the entire experimental period (0.28% day−1). Plants...

The euryhaline red alga Caloglossa grows mainly in brackish environments of tropical and temperate regions, as mangroves and estuaries. In mangrove ecosystems, this species occurs associated with Bostrychia, often being referred as "Bostrychietum". This macroalgal association grows as epiphytes on pneumatophores, stems and roots, being an important...