Observations on the surface structure of Aurelia solida (Scyphozoa) polyps and medusae

Turk, Valentina (author), Fortič, Ana (author), Kos Kramar, Maja (author), Tušek-Žnidarič, Magda (author), Štrus, Jasna (author), Kostanjšek, Rok (author), Malej, Alenka (author)

The surface structures and mucus layers that form an interface between the epithelial layer of organisms and their external environment were studied in the bloom-forming moon jellyfish (Aurelia solida, Scyphozoa) from the northern Adriatic. The surface of the polyps revealed epithelial ciliated cells and numerous nematocysts, both non-discharged and discharged. Cilia were also the most prominent features on the surface of adult medusa, protruding from the epidermal cells and with microvilli surrounding the base. Histochemical methods and various microscopy techniques (light/epifluorescence and electron microscopy) confirmed the presence of abundant mucus around polyps and on the surfaces of adult medusa, and that the mucus contained acidic and neutral mucins. The observed mucus secretions on the exumbrella surface of the medusae were in the form of granules, flocs, and sheets. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses confirmed the presence of various microbes in the mucus samples, but not on the epithelial surfaces of the polyps or the exumbrella of the medusae.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Aurelia solida, polyp, medusa, surface microlayer, mucus, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), histology
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 14 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 13, iss. 6, art. 244
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135632
• UDC: 574.5
• ISSN on article: 1424-2818
• DOI: 10.3390/d13060244
• COBISS.SI-ID: 65992451
• Publication date in RUL: 22.03.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Diversity
• Shortened title: Diversity
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1424-2818
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517523737

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.06.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: Aurelia solida, polip, meduza, sluz

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P1-0237
• Name: Raziskave obalnega morja