Project description
Impact of estrogenic and progestagenic endocrine disruptors on 3D trout cultures
Sex-steroid hormones act on aquatic organisms as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). This threat to aquatic ecosystems will be addressed by the EU-funded SPHEROTOX project, which will focus on in vitro testing of a complex of EDCs mixtures involving the EU watch listed pollutant ethinylestradiol and emergent progestins drugs. Researchers will develop and apply cutting-edge in vitro fish toxicity test tools involving single-cell and multi-cell type 3D spheroids of liver cells of brown trout (Salmo trutta). The team will explore the morphology and viability of 3D cultures using light and electron microscopy, including immunocytochemistry. In addition, researchers will study multi end-point biochemical assays in combination with Raman microspectroscopy and mechanistic insights of disruption and eventual biomarkers of fish exposure to progestins.
Objective
In recent years, an increasing number of emerging pollutants were identified in aquatic ecosystems, and one of the major concerns is the presence of sex-steroid hormones and mimics which act on aquatic organisms as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs). The proposed multidisciplinary project will have focus on in vitro testing of complex of EDCs mixtures: the EU watch listed pollutant ethinylestradiol with emergent progestins drugs (levonorgestrel and megestrol acetate), taking into account a standard versus a warming scenario, as a major global change issue. This will be done by developing and exploiting cutting edge in vitro fish toxicity test tools: single-cell and (new in fish studies) multi-cell type 3D spheroids of liver cells (hepatocytes, stellate cells and biliary epithelial cells) of brown trout (Salmo trutta). The project will explore the advantages of 3D cultures, which have been proved to be much more biologically realistic than common 2D cultures, in order to study: (i) their morphology and viability using light and electron microscopy, including immunocytochemistry; (ii) multi end-point biochemical assays in combination with Raman microspectroscopy (novel in 3D culture); (iii) mechanistic insights of disruption and eventual (still unavailable) biomarkers of fish exposure/effect as to progestins. Quantitative gene expression is the method of choice for this task, targeting specific genes related to lipid-metabolism, yolk and eggshell proteins and androgen/estrogen/progestin receptors. An additional innovative contribution of this project is developing new tolls for enforcing the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) in fish research. The project will bring to another level the collaboration between the applicant and the host mentor by bidirectional transfer of skills and expertise, while conducting a scientifically innovative project. The strategy will benefit persons while establishing grounds for long-term institutional benefits.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences hydrology limnology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.4. - SPREADING EXCELLENCE AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-WF-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
4099-002 PORTO
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.