Jellyfish (eBook)

Gian Luigi Mariottini - Biologist (MSc) and Physician (MD), qualified to the practice of both Biologist and Physician professions. Fellow of the Provincial Medical and Odontological Register (Genova), of the Italian Society of Experimental Biology (SIBS) and of the Solidarity, Projects and Resources for Africa (SpeRA) University Board. Since 1987 deals with biological and environmental research, ecology, toxicology, ecotoxicology and cell cultures, studying in particular extracts from marine organisms. In the past he was training biologist at the Chemico-Clinical and Microbiological Analyses Laboratory of the San Martino Hospital, Genova, and titular of a scholarship from the "e;Associazione Bambino Emopatico Oncologico"e; carrying out research on neuroblastoma at the Giannina Gaslini Pediatric Hospital of Genova. To date he works at the Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV) of the University of Genova, where he was member of examination boards and was planner, tutor and teacher of technical courses about the knowledge of the chemical and biological laboratory, cell culture methods and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). He has been involved in several national and international research projects and working groups, is member of the Editorial Board and reviewer for several international scientific journals, Guest Editor for special issues of journals and books, and author of over 150 publications, among which publications in extenso, books, book chapters, and conference abstracts. Cnidarian jellyfish are among the most elegant and dazzling organisms inhabiting the global aquatic environment, due to their various and sometimes striking colours as well as their long and dense tentacle structures. Despite their extreme beauty, jellyfish are also considered as a very dangerous and venomous organism. Their genetic makeup provides them with batteries of intracellular capsules (nematocysts) produced by the Golgi apparatus of specialized cells (cnidocytes) from which the whole phylum Cnidaria takes the name (from the Greek II1/2II'I*, which means "e;nettle"e;). As a matter of fact, some of these organisms are known as "e;sea nettles"e; and present a considerable amount of danger to bathers and sea-workers in several coastal zones around the world. Therefore, the occurrence of jellyfish blooms constitutes a serious threat from a sanitary and economical point of view, preventing humans from visiting beaches, coasts, and coastal waters by interfering with bathing and other recreational and vocational activities linked to the sea. In addition, the connection between jellyfish outbreaks and global environmental changes has been taken very seriously over the past few years. Indeed, human influence and worsening environmental conditions have induced many species to adapt to new situations, bringing about physiological and behavioural modifications. Notwithstanding these negative aspects, jellyfish are considered a resource to be exploited in the fields of drug discovery and as new prospects for human nutrition in countries where the use of such creatures as a food source is not traditional. This book aims to present an up-to-date view about the research on jellyfish by taking into account their ecological role, dynamics and distribution, health aspects and global implications connected to recurrent outbreaks, and the current and future prospects for utilization of these organisms in the fields of drug discovery, ecotoxicology and human nutrition.Target Audience:This title can be of interest for scientists engaged in different fields of study (ecology, environment, exploitation of resources, taxonomy, physiology, etc.).It can be useful also for chemists due to the health aspects linked to jellyfish stinging.Furthermore, the implications in drug discovery and in human nutrition make this title suitable also for pharmacologist and nutritionists.At last, this title could make itself attractive also from the popular point of view for not strictly expert people.