Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), a little shark species, at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole. Credit: Etty Bachar-Wikstro ̈m.
Sharks exhibit a remarkable ability to recover from wounds sustained in the wild, showing an apparent strength that distinguishes them from other fish. Although this recovery capability has actually not been clinically documented under regulated laboratory conditions, some of the chemical compounds discovered in shark skin may have substantial biomedical capacity.
Research on Shark Skin Biochemistry.
To examine this possibility, two dermatology researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden performed research study on a small shark, the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), and other cartilaginous fish types at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole. Their goal is to comprehend the unique biochemistry of the skin of these animals. Previous research study on sharks in other laboratories has actually led to the development of a brand-new antibiotic, and the discovery of biochemical pathways appropriate to cystic fibrosis research study.
Jakob Wikström, associate professor of dermatology and principal private investigator at Karolinska, and Etty Bachar-Wikström, senior researcher, examined the skin mucus of two types of sharks and their close relatives, little skates, at the MBL. Unlike the vast majority of fish species, which have relatively smooth skin safeguarded by a thick, slimy layer of mucus, sharks have rough skin that feels like sandpaper. It wasnt obvious whether this skin has a protective mucus layer at all.
To examine this possibility, 2 dermatology scientists from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden brought out research study on a little shark, the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), and other cartilaginous fish types at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole. Jakob Wikström, associate professor of dermatology and primary private investigator at Karolinska, and Etty Bachar-Wikström, senior scientist, examined the skin mucus of 2 types of sharks and their close relatives, little skates, at the MBL. Unlike the vast bulk of fish species, which have fairly smooth skin protected by a thick, slimy layer of mucous, sharks have rough skin that feels like sandpaper.” Much more is known about fish biology than shark biology, for apparent factors,” Wikström stated. Sharks are likewise fish, of course, however 99 percent of fish are bony types (Osteichthyes), unlike the cartilaginous sharks and skates (Chondrichthyes), he pointed out.
The chain catshark (Scyliorhinus retifer) is one of four elasmobranch types (sharks, skates, rays, and sawfish) known to be biofluorescent. Credit: Jakob Wikström and Etty Bachar-Wikstro ̈m.
” Much more is learnt about fish biology than shark biology, for obvious factors,” Wikström stated. “Fish are easier to manage, and theres a bigger industrial interest in them.” Sharks are likewise fish, naturally, but 99 percent of fish are bony types (Osteichthyes), unlike the cartilaginous sharks and skates (Chondrichthyes), he mentioned.
The initial results of their research on the mucus layer were just recently released in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. “Our aim in this paper was to define shark skin at the molecular level, which hasnt been done in-depth,” Bachar-Wikström said.
Their study found a very thin mucous layer on shark skin that is chemically different from that of bony fish. The shark mucus is less acidic, practically neutral, and turns out to be more chemically comparable to some mammalian mucus, including some human mucus, than to bony fish mucus, she said.
Prospective Biomedical Applications.
Its more evidence that “the molecular biology of sharks is unique,” Wikström said. “Theyre not just another fish swimming around. They have a distinct biology, and there are probably great deals of human biomedical applications that one might derive from that. When it comes to mucin [ a main element of the mucus], one can imagine various wound care topical treatments that could be established from that.” Wound-treatment products have already been originated from codfish, he said, and “I think its possible that one might make something comparable from sharks.”.
Bachar-Wikström included, “Besides the human importance, its also crucial to identify these amazing animals, and to know more about them and how they survive in their environment … I believe that this is just the very first action to even deeper molecular understanding.”.
Ongoing Research and Future Prospects.
The pair have a series of papers in the works to further identify the distinct biochemical homes of these species, which include chain catsharks (Scyliorhinus retifer) and the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea) together with spiny dogfish. These papers consist of thorough studies of the various cell types in the skin on a single-cell level and likewise look in more information at the healing abilities of shark skin.
” Animals that are far away [from us] evolutionarily can still provide us extremely important information that is relevant for people,” Wikström stated.
While a lot of research has been done on the wound recovery of zebrafish, he stated, “nobody has actually really done it on sharks to the very same degree, so its interesting since we really do not understand what were going to discover. Its explorative research.”.
The researchers said the MBL offered special resources that made this work possible, consisting of a big collection of specimens of the appropriate species, and professionals who are highly experienced in working with them. “Its truly a distinct competence they have,” Wikström said. “There are not many places in the United States or the world where they have it.”.
Reference: “Identification of Novel Glycans in the Mucus Layer of Shark and Skate Skin” by Etty Bachar-Wikstrom, Kristina A. Thomsson, Carina Sihlbom, Lisa Abbo, Haitham Tartor, Sara K. Lindén and Jakob D. Wikstrom, 19 September 2023, International Journal of Molecular Sciences.DOI: 10.3390/ ijms241814331.
The research study was moneyed by HudFonden.