Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health

伍兹霍尔海洋与人类健康中心（WHCOHH）将包括一个强大的综合性机构， 研究项目使用新的原位采样技术和建模方法来解决有害的 藻华（HAB）的动力学和机制研究，以扩大对HAB毒素效应的理解。的 总体目标是通过提高对海洋和海洋生物如何影响人类健康的认识， 环境过程影响产毒生物的种群动态， 暴露于其强大的神经毒素，这是一个严重的和潜在的人类健康威胁。该中心将 重点放在两个关键的有害藻华分类群：产生蛤蚌毒素负责麻痹 贝类中毒（PSP）和拟菱形藻属（Pseudo-nitzschia spp.）会产生软骨藻酸， 贝类中毒综合征。开发了新颖、有针对性、高效和数据丰富的采样方法 由申请人提出并在原位应用的研究表明，A. Fundyense Dynamics in Natural 环境与实验室研究推断的环境有很大不同， 流程.项目1将研究有毒Alexandrum物种的生理和行为因素， 这些因素的可塑性如何成为不同生境和不同生境下种群适应的基础 环境制度。项目2将建立在这些新的和基本的见解，水华调控， 建立模型，预测气候变化对有害藻华威胁的种群动态的影响。变异性 跨年份和不同生境的环境强迫将为未来的气候情景提供替代， 揭示了自然生态系统中有害生物的反应，这是提高预测能力的关键一步。 经常性的公共卫生风险，并量化未来风险。在伴随研究中，我们已经确定了特定的细胞， 斑马鱼模型中发育中的大脑是赤潮毒素的目标。新的细胞机制 包括软骨藻酸对少突胶质细胞髓鞘形成的影响。我们将定义 发育，低水平暴露于HAB毒素，并确定联合暴露于石房蛤毒素的影响 和软骨藻酸，以及可能的沉默神经毒性，在不同的生命阶段，在斑马鱼模型。研究 说明毒素对发育中的中枢神经系统的影响范围， 暴露于成人后果。海洋过程与人类接触的新联系将有助于确定 这些新机制对人类的危害。该中心的结构将促进研究的整合， 研究项目与教育和社区参与活动，包括与资源管理人员 和其他利益相关者。我们亦会提高市民对新出现的有害藻华问题的认识， 社区和开发新的教育材料和互动活动的K-12教室，并为公众 外展一个行政核心将建立一个结构，鼓励公开讨论规划，整合， 沟通和参与，并严格评估进展情况。

The Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health (WHCOHH) will comprise a strong and integrated set of research projects using novel in situ sampling technologies and modeling approaches to address harmful algal bloom (HAB) dynamics, and mechanistic studies to expand understanding of HAB toxin effects. The overall objective is to protect the public health through enhanced understanding of how oceanic and environmental processes affect the population dynamics of toxin-producing organisms, and the risks from exposure to their potent neurotoxins, a serious and potentially growing human health threat. The Center will focus on two key HAB taxa: Alexandrium fundyense that produces the saxitoxins responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. that produce domoic acid responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) syndrome. Novel, targeted, efficient, and data-rich sampling approaches developed by the applicants and applied in situ have revealed that critical aspects of A. fundyense dynamics in natural settings differ dramatically from those inferred from laboratory studies, and identified plasticity in these processes. Project 1 will examine the physiological and behavioral factors of toxic Alexandrium species, and how plasticity in these factors may underlie population adaptation in different habitats and different environmental regimes. Project 2 will build on these new and fundamental insights into bloom regulation and develop models to predict impacts of climate variation on population dynamics of HAB threats. Variability in environmental forcing across years and among habitats will provide a proxy for future climate scenarios, revealing responses of HABs in natural ecosystems, a key step toward improving predictive skill for this recurrent public health risk, and quantify future risks. In companion studies we have identified specific cells in the developing brain in the zebrafish model that are targets of HAB toxins. The novel cellular mechanisms include effects of domoic acid on myelination of oligodendrocytes. We will define the consequences of developmental, low-level exposure to HAB toxins, and determine the effects of combined exposure to saxitoxin and domoic acid, and possible silent neurotoxicity, at different life stages, in the zebrafish model. The studies address the scope of toxin effects in the developing central nervous system, potentially linking developmental exposures to adult consequences. Novel linking of oceanic processes to human exposure will help define the human risk due to these novel mechanisms. The Center structure will facilitate integration of the research, and of research projects with education and community engagement activities, including with resource managers and other stakeholders. We also will improve awareness of emerging HAB issues for the public health community and develop new educational materials and interactive activities for K-12 classrooms, and for public outreach. An Administrative Core will create a structure encouraging open discussion of planning, integration, communication and engagement, and in which progress is rigorously evaluated.