Developing an Adverse Outcome Pathway for metabolic Nuclear Receptor-binding compounds in Atlantic cod

Descripción del proyecto

Cómo alteran los contaminantes ambientales el comportamiento del bacalao atlántico

Las sustancias químicas de origen humano continúan acumulándose en el entorno natural. Nuevas pruebas señalan que esta contaminación podría tener efectos sutiles sobre el comportamiento de los organismos acuáticos. El proyecto NRgCod, financiado con fondos europeos, realizará avances en el campo de la toxicología ambiental mediante la aplicación del concepto de ruta de resultados adversos en el bacalao atlántico, una especie centinela que tiende a acumular en su hígado graso contaminantes perturbadores del metabolismo energético. El equipo del proyecto utilizará una técnica de corte preciso del hígado y desarrollará ensayos con el marcador luciferasa «in vitro» para identificar la actividad de receptores nucleares tras la exposición a dichos contaminantes y vincular estos efectos con cambios conductuales. El desarrollo de rutas de resultados adversos en una especie de importancia ecológica como el bacalao es muy relevante para determinar los efectos ecológicos de la exposición a contaminantes.

Objetivo

Environmental contaminants are accumulating in oceans and marine food webs and thereby pose a risk for both ecosystem and human health. In my MSCA-project, I aspire to bring the field of environmental toxicology to the next level by applying my track-record in developing Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) in the model organism zebrafish to the sentinel species Atlantic cod. The renowned Environmental Toxicology laboratory of Prof. Anders Goksøyr at the University of Bergen (UiB), is specialised in interactions of human-made chemicals with nuclear receptors (NRs) in Atlantic cod. Contaminant activated NRs can be the initiating molecular event leading to a cascade of responses, disrupting energy metabolism and culminating in an adverse outcome at behavioural level. At UiB, I will be trained in applying the precision-cut liver slicing technique and in developing in vitro luciferase reporter assays to identify NR activity after exposure to major legacy and emerging contaminants. I will then translate my knowledge on mechanisms leading to behavioural effects in zebrafish larvae, to the Atlantic cod. I will be supported by the Environmental Chemistry Group at the Institute of Marine Research (secondment) providing expertise on larval Atlantic cod toxicology and lipid chemistry. Developing AOPs in an ecologically relevant species is a young field of research but of high relevance to defining the ecological consequences of contaminant exposures. This project will innovatively expedite the Environmental Toxicology research and underline my ambitions to become an independent academic group leader. I will further sharpen my academic profile by profiting from UiB’s unique Centre of Excellence in Biology Education (bioCEED) which will enhance my skills in modern supervising and teaching techniques. The proposal addresses pressing scientific questions by integrating the expertise and network of both the host and me while shaping my profile on the way to become a leading scholar.