Search Results (16)

The present study examined the impact of adding methionine (Met) and its conjugated form (Met-Met) on Cornu aspersum snails. The primary focus was on the animals’ growth performance, the chemical composition of their carcass (whole body without the shell), the mineral profile, and the mechanical properties of their shells. In two experiments conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, diets supplemented with varying levels of Met addition (0.3, 0.6, 1.4 g/kg feed) were used, and the effects of free methionine, Met-Met and their mixture (1.4 g/kg feed) were compared. The study incorporated measurements of body weight, shell width, and mortality of snails. Analyses encompassing protein, fat, sulphur amino acids, glutathione levels, oxidative stress indices (DPPH, TAC, TBARS), and macro- and micronutrient content of carcass and shells were conducted. The findings demonstrated that adding 1.4 g Met/kg feed significantly enhanced the shells’ weight gain (+56% vs. Control), shell weight (+56%) and crushing force (+135%). Furthermore, an increase in the Met content of the carcass was observed (+18%), along with elevated carcass Ca (+28%) and P (+30%) and higher shell Ca (+12%) and Zn (+87%), alongside reduced carcass Fe (−38%) and Cu (−19%). In Experiment II, the Met-Met group exhibited the highest carcass weight (+16% vs. Control), the greatest carcass-to-body weight ratio, and the highest proportion of mature individuals (+27%). Moreover, Met-Met supplementation improved Cu absorption and retention in the carcass (+19%). Also, the results suggest that the conjugated form of methionine may improve Cu absorption and storage in the carcass (+19%). The study’s findings indicate that methionine addition, especially in Met-Met form, can substantially impact the efficiency of C. aspersum farming, enhancing both the productivity outcomes and the quality of the product. That is particularly important in increasing the shell’s mechanical resistance and the carcass’s nutritional value. Full article

The progressive commercial deployment of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) raises concerns about their terrestrial ecotoxicity. We exposed adult Cornu aspersum (150 snails; five replicates of three animals per time-point) to 50 mg L⁻¹ MWCNT-dosed Lactuca sativa for 30 days and quantified five mechanistic biomarkers alongside survival. Hemocyte spread-cell area increased by 48% (from 243 ± 22 µm² at day 0 to 360 ± 18 µm² at day 14, p < 0.001). Lysosomal membrane stability (neutral red retention) fell twofold within 72 h and to 10 min by day 30 (controls ≈ 60 min), indicating early, persistent destabilization. Micronucleus frequency rose above the ecogenotoxic threshold of 5‰ after 7 days, peaking at 8.3 ± 0.7‰ on day 14 (p < 0.01). Hepatopancreas metallothionein concentrations doubled by day 3 (2.1 ± 0.3 vs. 1.0 ± 0.2 µg g⁻¹ ww in controls) and remained >150% of control throughout exposure, consistent with metal impurity mobilization. Acetylcholinesterase activity in cephalic tissue declined by 50% after 7 days and by 73% after 30 days, revealing sustained neurotoxicity. Despite these pronounced sub-individual disturbances, cumulative mortality reached only 19% at day 30, suggesting substantial, but finite, physiological compensation. Collectively, the data demonstrate that a 50 mg L⁻¹ dietary load of MWCNTs elicits rapid cytotoxic, genotoxic, and neurotoxic responses in C. aspersum that precede overt lethality, underscoring the utility of this gastropod and the chosen biomarker suite for monitoring nanotube contamination in agro-ecosystems and food-grade snail farming. Full article

The green synthesis of metal nanoparticles, mediated by extracts from various biological sources, leads to the formation of nanoparticles with unique characteristics and potential biomedical applications. In this study, a fraction of the mucus from the snail Cornu aspersum with MW > 20 kDa was used as a bioreducing and biostabilizing agent to obtain silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in different pH media (pH 1.5, 3.5, and 7.0). The AgNPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, XRD, and FTIR. The synthesis at pH 1.5 and pH 3.5 in the presence of two reducing agents (i.e., the C. aspersum mucus fraction with MW > 20 kDa and ascorbic acid [AsA]) resulted in the formation of well-formed spherical nanoparticles (NPs) with larger sizes (20–80 nm) than the NPs obtained at pH 7.0 (20–60 nm) in the presence of only one reducing agent. Furthermore, the biosynthesized AgNPs significantly inhibited the growth of medically significant pathogens such as Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis NBIMCC2353, Bacillus spizizenii ATCC 6633, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538, and Listeria innocua NBIMCC8755) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC8739, Salmonella enteitidis NBIMCC8691, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC 14028, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ATCC 17666) bacteria compared to output mucus. Full article

(1) Background: Hibernation in Lutrasil-covered enclosures led to elevated mortality rates for Cornu aspersum on Romanian farms. This two-year study evaluated the feasibility of adapting indoor hibernation technology to the Italian outdoor snail farming (IOSF) system as a solution for overwintering mature C. aspersum snails. (2) Methods: Body weight, survival rates, and mortality factors during key hibernation phases (purging and overwintering) were monitored in three commercial snail farms using different hibernation scenarios. Labor efficiency was evaluated, comparing the use of micro shelters vs. hand-picking for snail collection. We analyzed post-purging/post-hibernation weight loss and mortality in hibernation spaces with and without proper thermal insulation. Mortality causes were also investigated. (3) Results: Using micro shelters significantly reduced labor time for snail collection. Weight loss during purging, but not during overwintering, were similar between groups. Post-hibernation survival ranged from 69% to 79% for comparable hibernation durations. Significantly lower survival was associated with significantly higher weight loss and using hibernation spaces with minimal thermal insulation. Predators exerted a very limited effect on post-hibernation survival, with most death appearing to be related to environmental causes. (4) Integrating indoor hibernation into the IOSF system is a promising strategy for the successful rearing of C. aspersum in colder climates. Full article

Many biologically active compounds have been identified in the mucus of the garden snail Cornu aspersum, which are effective in the treatment of several diseases such as cancer, ulcers, wounds, etc. The incorporation of these compounds into the green synthesis of copper nanoparticles (CuONPs-Muc) was demonstrated in our previous study. Based on the synergistic effect of two reducing agents—C. aspersum snail mucus and ascorbic acid (AsA)—on CuSO₄.5H₂O, which also act as stabilizers of the resulting compound, a new method for the “green” synthesis of CuONPs-Muc is presented. Using two reducing agents has several advantages, such as forming spherical nanoparticles with a diameter of about 150 nm and reducing the formation time of CuONPs-Muc to 3 h. Analyses by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) show the formation of CuONPs-Muc, composed of a mixture of copper and copper oxide. This was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Another important advantage of CuONPs obtained by the new method with two reducing agents is the stronger inhibitory effect on the bacterial growth of some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, compared to CuONPs-Muc prepared with only one reducing agent, i.e., a fraction of mucus with an MW > 20 kDa. Full article

Heliciculture farms are susceptible to significant biotic issues that can impact snail breeding, among them, the entomofauna predation of snails. Predatory insects can cause damage to snail shells during predation, and sometimes, the specific type of damage may be characteristic of certain insect families or species. Under laboratory conditions, we analysed the predatory activity of the species Silpha tristis Illiger, 1798 (Coleoptera: Silphidae), Ocypus olens (Müller, 1764) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), Carabus (Macrothorax) morbillosus constantinus Kraatz, 1899 (Coleoptera: Carabidae), and Lampyris sardiniae Geisthardt, 1987 (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) against the gastropod Cornu aspersum (Müller, 1774) reared on snail farms located in the Sardinian region. The adult and larval stages of each species were tested, except for L. sardiniae, as only the larval stage preys upon snails. This study showed that among all of the species considered, only two insects were able to damage the shell of C. aspersum: C. morbillosus constantinus and O.olens. This may prove valuable in C. aspersum breeding for the recognition of specific lesions, even in the absence of the predator. Full article

The discovery and investigation of new natural compounds with antimicrobial activity are new potential strategies to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance. The presented study reveals, for the first time, the promising antibacterial potential of two fractions from Cornu aspersum mucus with an MW < 20 kDa and an MW > 20 kDa against five bacterial pathogens—Bacillus cereus 1085, Propionibacterium acnes 1897, Salmonella enterica 8691, Enterococcus faecalis 3915, and Enterococcus faecium 8754. Using de novo sequencing, 16 novel peptides with potential antibacterial activity were identified in a fraction with an MW < 20 kDa. Some bioactive compounds in a mucus fraction with an MW > 20 kDa were determined via a proteomic analysis on 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and bioinformatics. High homology with proteins and glycoproteins was found, with potential antibacterial activity in mucus proteins named aspernin, hemocyanins, H-lectins, and L-amino acid oxidase-like protein, as well as mucins (mucin-5AC, mucin-5B, mucin-2, and mucin-17). We hypothesize that the synergy between the bioactive components determined in the composition of the fraction > 20 kDa are responsible for the high antibacterial activity against the tested pathogens in concentrations between 32 and 128 µg/mL, which is comparable to vancomycin, but without cytotoxic effects on model eukaryotic cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Additionally, a positive effect, by reducing the levels of intracellular oxidative damage and increasing antioxidant capacity, on S. cerevisiae cells was found for both mucus extract fractions of C. aspersum. These findings may serve as a basis for further studies to develop a new antibacterial agent preventing the development of antibiotic resistance. Full article

Cornu aspersum, the land snail, is recognized as a suitable intermediate host of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus; however, there is little information both on larval development as well as on the intermediate host’s immune system reaction to the parasite. The aim of the study was to assess the histological reaction of C. aspersum’s immune system against A. abstrusus. Sixty-five snails were provided by a snail farm. Five of them were digested to assess the absence of natural parasitic infections. The remaining sixty were divided into five groups. Three groups of snails were infected with A. abstrusus using by-contact or injection methods; one group was injected only with saline solution and one group was left untreated as the control. The snails of group A were sacrificed and digested on study days 2, 10, and 18; snails of the other groups were collected and examined for histopathological analysis on study days 2, 10, and 18. On study day 2, in the infected snails, several free L1s were observed along with the absence of immune system reactions. On day 10, the L2s elicited an intense reaction in the internal layer of the muscular foot. On day 18, all L3s partially encapsulated by the snail’s immune system were observed in the outermost part of the muscular foot, which is near and among the goblet cells. This last finding suggests that L3s could be shed with the snail’s mucus and spread in the environment, representing an alternative route of transmission for this feline lungworm. Full article

The subspecies of the species Cornu aspersum, C. a. aspersum, and C. a. maximum are the dominant farmed species in Greece. The morphological and molecular polymorphism of the two aforementioned subspecies has not been studied in depth. In this study, the polymorphism of snails of the two subspecies derived from seven snail farms throughout Greece was studied using morphological and molecular markers. Firstly, the snail samples of both subspecies were categorized in three shell patterns based on shell color and existence of bands. The conducted population structure analysis revealed three major clusters among the farmed snail populations. As concerns genetic diversity, six loci (Ha5, Ha6, Ha8, Ha9, Ha10, and Ha11) were tested for their polymorphism. Genetic variation was reported within populations rather than among populations. Finally, the obtained data highlighted a common gene pool broodstock for snail farms throughout Greece. Full article

The intensive use of pesticides in agricultural areas and the resulting effects have created a need to develop monitoring programs for their active assessment at low cost. This research entails a biomonitoring study of the pesticides in an apple orchard, using juvenile Cornu aspersum (O. F. Müller, 1774) snails exposed in field microcosms. The snails were deployed at three different locations in the orchard area and were used to assess the temporal biomonitoring of 100 different semi-volatile and non-volatile pesticides. The study was performed over an 18-week period and targeted the center, the border, and the outside of the orchard. Results showed that greater levels of pesticides were detected at the center of the orchard as compared to the other sites. The type and level of the applied pesticide influenced its environmental dissipation, as significantly greater levels of semi-volatile pesticides were accumulated by the caged snails in comparison to non-volatile pesticides. The presence of semi-volatile pesticides in the snails outside the orchard revealed the usefulness of these species in the biomonitoring of off-site pesticide emissions. The findings of this study showed that C. aspersum can serve as a reliable and effective model organism for the active biomonitoring of pesticide emissions in agricultural sites. Full article

Nowadays, an increased interest in natural compounds with preventive or therapeutic potential for various diseases has been observed. Given the involvement of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer (GU) and the wide range of bioactive compounds isolated from snails, this study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Cornu aspersum (Müller, 1774) mucus on ethanol-induced GUs. Male albino mice were divided into Control, Ethanol, Mucus + Ethanol and Mucus + Omeprazole treated groups. The GUs were induced by administration of 96% ethanol (10 mL/kg, per os). One hour before ulcer induction, the mice of Mucus + Ethanol group were pretreated with mucus (20 mg/kg, per os), and the mice of Mucus + Omeprazole group were pretreated with omeprazole (20 mg/kg, per os). Ethanol administration caused grave lesions of gastric mucosa and a significant decrease of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione reductase (GR) activities. In the animals with mucus or omeprazole pre-administration compared to the Ethanol group, the following were observed: only a small number of hemorrhagic fields, significantly reduced GU index with calculated 73% protection by mucus and 78% protection by omeprazole, and significant recovery of mucosal GSH and SOD and GR activities. In addition, the mucus inhibited Helicobacter pylori growth. Thus, the protective effect of C. aspersum mucus on both gastric mucosa and gastric antioxidant potential in ethanol-induced GU model suggests that it may serve as a good tool for prevention of this disease. Full article

Peptides isolated from the mucus of Cornu aspersum could be prototypes for antibiotics against pathogenic bacteria. Information regarding the mechanisms, effective concentration, and methods of application is an important tool for therapeutic, financial, and ecological regulation and a holistic approach to medical treatment. A peptide fraction with MW < 10 kDa was analyzed by MALDI-TOF-TOF using Autoflex™ III. The strain Escherichia coli NBIMCC 8785 (18 h and 48 h culture) was used. The changes in bacterial structure and metabolic activity were investigated by SEM, fluorescent, and digital image analysis. This peptide fraction had high inhibitory effects in surface and deep inoculations of E. coli of 1990.00 and 136.13 mm²/mgPr/µMol, respectively, in the samples. Thus, it would be effective in the treatment of infections involving bacterial biofilms and homogenous cells. Various deformations of the bacteria and inhibition of its metabolism were discovered and illustrated. The data on the mechanisms of impact of the peptides permitted the formulation of an algorithm for the treatment of infections depending on the phase of their development. The decrease in the therapeutic concentrations will be more sparing to the environment and will lead to a decrease in the cost of the treatment. Full article

The metastrongyloid Aelurostrongylus abstrusus has an indirect lifecycle involving gastropod intermediate hosts. The widespread snail Cornu aspersum is an efficient intermediate host of A. abstrusus. As the temperature may influence the developmental rate of metastrongyloids from first (L1) to the third infective larval stage (L3) inside molluscs, this study evaluated the effect of two controlled temperatures on the development of A. abstrusus in C. aspersum. Overall, 300 snails were infected with 500 L1 of A. abstrusus and kept at ∼25 °C. Fifteen days post infection (D15), the overall developmental rate to L3 (0.8%) was assessed in a subset of 20 snails. The remaining gastropods were divided in 2 groups, i.e., 180 still kept at ∼25 °C (G1) and 100 hibernated at ∼4 °C (G2). On D30, the larval development was evaluated in 20 snails from each group, while another batch of 80 snails was selected random from G1 and hibernated at ∼4 °C (G3). The larval developmental rate was determined digesting 20 snails from each of the three groups on D45, D60, and D75. The higher mean developmental rate was registered in G1 (3.8%) compared to G2 (1.9%) and G3 (2.3%), indicating that the development to L3 of A. abstrusus in C. aspersum is positively influenced by the increase of temperature. Full article

(1) Background: Hibernation in pens covered with LFC was associated with high mortality of C. aspersum snails in Romanian snail farms. This three-year study aimed to develop a simple, but effective system for protecting breeders in colder climates. (2) Methods: The first phase investigated the (pre)hibernal burrowing behavior and the overwintering habitat choice. Protective structures based on straw, LFC, and/or HDPE were tested at pilot level (no snails). The most suitable system was applied under farm conditions. (3) Results: Wood and ridge-tile micro shelters were significantly preferred to corrugated iron micro shelters. Burrowing specimens acted as shallow-burrowers, and this behaviorwas significantly more common for looser soils. All pilot systems displayed significantly higher thermal protection efficiency compared to the sole use of LFC. The balance between straw moistening and thermal protection favored using structure soil/LFC/straw/10-cm air cushion/HDPE. Its use yielded significantly higher survival compared to the sole use of LFC. Most hibernating snails clustered together in large groups, attached on the lower surface of micro shelters. Predator occurrence appeared to marginally affect overwintering survival. (4) Conclusions: The “sandwich” system could be an effective solution for overwintering mature C. aspersum snails in colder climates. Full article

Natural products have long played a major role in medicine and science. The garden snail Cornu aspersum is a rich source of biologically active natural substances that might be an important source for new drugs to treat human disease. Based on our previous studies, nine fractions containing compounds with Mw <3 kDa; <10 kDa; <20 kDa; >20 kDa; >30 kDa>50 kDa and between 3 and 5 kDa; 5 and 10 kDa; and 10 and 30 kDa were purified from the mucus of C. aspersum and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). Seventeen novel peptides with potential antibacterial activity were identified by de novo MS/MS sequencing using tandem mass spectrometry. The different fractions were tested for antibacterial activity against Gram^─ (Pseudomonas aureofaciens and Escherichia coli) and Gram+ (Brevibacillus laterosporus) bacterial strains as well the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium perfringens. These results revealed that the peptide fractions exhibit a predominant antibacterial activity against B. laterosporus; the fraction with Mw 10–30 kDa against E. coli; another peptide fraction <20 kDa against P. aureofaciens; and the protein fraction >20 kDa against the bacterial strain C. perfringens. The discovery of new antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from natural sources is of great importance for public health due to the AMPs’ effective antimicrobial activities and low resistance rates. Full article