OCEANIX Tetrodotoxin (TTX)™
In a collaboration with the Republic of the Philippines, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, and the cities of Puerto Princesa and Cuyo, Oceanix began a research project focusing on the Horseshoe Crab on the island of Cuyo, Philippines, to protect the endangered species and to culture it within safe location.
Project Overview
Similar to Keyhole Limpets, horseshoe crabs do not have hemoglobin in their blood and also use hemocyanin to carry oxygen. The copper present in hemocyanin makes their blood blue.
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They are invertebrates, meaning that they lack a spine. Unlike vertebrates, horseshoe crabs do not have hemoglobin in their blood, but instead use hemocyanin to carry oxygen. Because of the copper present in hemocyanin, their blood is blue. Their blood contains amebocytes, which play a similar role to the white blood cells of vertebrates in defending the organism against pathogens. Amebocytes from the blood of L. polyphemus are used to make Limulus amebocyte lysate, which is used for the detection of bacterial endotoxins in medical applications.
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Due to overfishing, the population of Horseshoe Crabs have made them an endangered species. The goal of the colloboration between the Phillipines Government and Oceanix to research the medical benefits in the species’ anatomy, while also protecting and repopulating them in the environment. Horseshoe crabs live primarily in and around shallow ocean waters on soft sandy or muddy bottoms. They occasionally come onto shore to mate. Oceanix began building containment areas along the beachside of the island of Cuyo.
