Metformin (MET) is an anti-diabetic pharmaceutical with a large-scale consumption, which is increasingly detected in surface waters. However, current knowledge on the generational effects of MET exposure in the metabolism of non-target... more
Metformin (MET) is an anti-diabetic pharmaceutical with a large-scale consumption, which is increasingly detected in surface waters. However, current knowledge on the generational effects of MET exposure in the metabolism of non-target organisms is limited. The present study aimed at investigating the effects of MET in the model freshwater teleost Danio rerio, following a generational exposure (from egg up to 9 months exposure) to environmentally relevant concentrations ranging from 361 ng/L to 13 000 ng/L. Biochemical markers were used to determine cholesterol and triglycerides levels, as well as mitochondrial complex I activity in males and females zebrafish liver. mRNA transcript changes were also assessed in the liver of both sexes by means of an exploratory RNA-seq analysis and expression levels of key genes involved in the energy metabolism and lipid homeostasis, i.e. acaca, acadm, cox5aa, idh3a, hmgcra, prkaa1, were determined using qRT-PCR analysis. The findings here reporte...
Research Interests:
The adverse effects of certain environmental chemicals have been recently associated with epigenome’s modulation. Although the changes in the epigenetic signature are still not integrated into hazard and risk assessment, they are... more
The adverse effects of certain environmental chemicals have been recently associated with epigenome’s modulation. Although the changes in the epigenetic signature are still not integrated into hazard and risk assessment, they are interesting candidates for linking environmental exposures to altered phenotypes given that these changes may be passed across multiple non-exposed generations. Here, we addressed the effects of simvastatin (SIM), one of the most prescribed human pharmaceuticals, in epigenetic regulators of the amphipod Gammarus locusta, as a proxy to support its integration in hazard and environmental risk assessment. SIM is a known modulator of epigenome in mammalian cell lines, and has been reported to impact G. locusta ecological endpoints at environmentally relevant levels. G. locusta juveniles were exposed to three SIM concentrations (0.32, 1.6 and 8 µg.L-1), for 15 days. The basal expression of selected epigenetic regulators was determined, along with the quantificat...
Research Interests:
In this work, zebrafish embryo bioassays were performed to assess the efficiency of microalgae in the removal of acetaminophen from water. Chlorella sorokiniana (CS), Chlorella vulgaris (CV) and Scenedesmus obliquus (SO) were the strains... more
In this work, zebrafish embryo bioassays were performed to assess the efficiency of microalgae in the removal of acetaminophen from water. Chlorella sorokiniana (CS), Chlorella vulgaris (CV) and Scenedesmus obliquus (SO) were the strains used for water treatment. Toxic effects on zebrafish embryo caused by effluents from microalgae treatment were compared with those observed under exposure to experimental solutions with known concentrations of acetaminophen. The three microalgae strains allowed for the reduction of acetaminophen concentration and its toxic effects, but CS was the most efficient one. At the end of the batch culture, a 67% removal was provided by CS with a reduction of 62% in the total abnormalities on the exposed zebrafish embryo. On the other hand, toxic effects observed under exposure to effluents treated by microalgae were alike to those determined for acetaminophen experimental solutions with equivalent concentration. Thus, it may be inferred that microalgae biod...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This work deals with a preliminary study aimed at evaluating the efficiency of three different microalgae strains, namely Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus in the bioremediation of diclofenac contaminated... more
This work deals with a preliminary study aimed at evaluating the efficiency of three different microalgae strains, namely Chlorella sorokiniana, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus in the bioremediation of diclofenac contaminated water. For this purpose, microalgae were cultured in bubbling column photobioreactors (PBRs) under batch operation until the end of the exponential growth phase. For the three strains, the concentration of diclofenac in the PBRs aquatic medium decreased along microalgae growing, which pointed to biodegradation as the main removal mechanism. Among the three strains, S. obliquus was the most capable to reduce diclofenac concentration (99% removal from an initial concentration of 25,000 μg l). However, such a large removal does not guarantee an efficient treatment since transformation products (TPs) exceeding the concentration and/or toxicity of the parent compound may be generated during biodegradation of diclofenac. Thus, for a comprehensive evaluati...
Research Interests:
Simvastatin (SIM), a hypocholesterolaemic compound, is among the most prescribed pharmaceuticals for cardiovascular disease prevention worldwide. Several studies have shown that acute exposure to SIM causes multiple adverse effects in... more
Simvastatin (SIM), a hypocholesterolaemic compound, is among the most prescribed pharmaceuticals for cardiovascular disease prevention worldwide. Several studies have shown that acute exposure to SIM causes multiple adverse effects in aquatic organisms. However, uncertainties still remain regarding the chronic effects of SIM in aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of SIM in the model freshwater teleost zebrafish (Danio rerio) following a chronic exposure (90 days) to environmentally relevant concentrations ranging from 8 ng/L to 1000 ng/L. This study used a multi-parameter approach integrating distinct ecologically-relevant endpoints, i.e. survival, growth, reproduction and embryonic development, with biochemical markers (cholesterol and triglycerides). Real Time PCR was used to analyse the transcription levels of key genes involved in the mevalonate pathway (hmgcra, cyp51, and dhcr7). Globally, SIM induced several effects that did not fo...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Methyl farnesoate (MF) is an arthropod hormone that plays a key role in the physiology of several arthropods' classes being implicated in biological processes such as molting and reproduction. The development of an analytical... more
Methyl farnesoate (MF) is an arthropod hormone that plays a key role in the physiology of several arthropods' classes being implicated in biological processes such as molting and reproduction. The development of an analytical technique to quantify the levels of this compound in biological tissues can be of major importance for the field of aquaculture/apiculture conservation and in endocrine disruption studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a simple and sensitive method to measure native levels of MF in the tissue of three representative species from different arthropods classes with environmental and/or economic importance. Thus, a new approach using whole organisms and the combination of matrix solid-phase dispersion with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was developed. This method allows quantifying endogenous MF at low levels (LOQs in the 1.2-3.1ng/g range) in three arthropod species, and could be expanded to additional arthropod classes. The ...
Research Interests:
Triclocarban (TCC), a common antimicrobial agent widely used in many household and personal care products, has been widely detected in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Due to its high lipophilicity and persistence in the aquatic ecosystems,... more
Triclocarban (TCC), a common antimicrobial agent widely used in many household and personal care products, has been widely detected in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. Due to its high lipophilicity and persistence in the aquatic ecosystems, TCC is of emerging environmental concern. Despite the frequently reported detection of TCC in the environment and significant uncertainties about its long term effects on aquatic ecosystems, few studies have addressed the chronic effects of TCC in aquatic organisms at ecologically relevant concentrations. Therefore, we aimed at testing a broad range of biological responses in the amphipod Gammarus locusta following a chronic (60 days) exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of TCC (100, 500 and 2500ng/L). This work integrated biochemical markers of oxidative stress (catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and lipid peroxidation (LPO)) and neurotransmission (acetylcholinesterase (AChE)) with several key ecological endpoints, i.e. ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Pharmaceuticals, such as simvastatin, act on specific metabolic processes, becoming potentially toxic to aquatic organisms and to human populations. In this study, the amphipod, Gammarus locusta, was chronically exposed to a broad range... more
Pharmaceuticals, such as simvastatin, act on specific metabolic processes, becoming potentially toxic to aquatic organisms and to human populations. In this study, the amphipod, Gammarus locusta, was chronically exposed to a broad range of sublethal concentrations of simvastatin and was subjected to a histopathological evaluation using bright-field and fluorescence microscopy, with application of qualitative and quantitative biomarkers. The results show non-monotonic dose-response curves of physiological alterations on the hepatopancreas, likely reflecting alterations in the metabolism of carbohydrates, enzymatic activity and lipid storage. Females presented a higher ability to react to the pharmaceutical than males, which can be connected with higher energy demands associated, at least in part, to their reproductive functions. MARTINS, C., NEUPARTH, T., COSTA, M.H., SANTOS, M.M. & COSTA, P.M. (2013). Toxicological effects of a pharmaceutical, simvastatin, in Gammarus locusta: histo...
Research Interests:
A population agent-based model of marine amphipod Gammarus locusta was designed and implemented as a basis for ecological risk assessment of chemical pollutants impairing life-history traits at the individual level. We further used the... more
A population agent-based model of marine amphipod Gammarus locusta was designed and implemented as a basis for ecological risk assessment of chemical pollutants impairing life-history traits at the individual level. We further used the model to assess the toxic effects of aniline (a priority hazardous and noxious substance, HNS) on amphipod populations using empirically-built dose-response functions derived from a chronic bioassay that we previously performed with this species. We observed a significant toxicant-induced mortality and adverse effects in reproductive performance (reduction of newborn production) in G. locusta at the individual level. Coupling the population model with the toxicological data from the chronic bioassay allowed the projection of the ecological costs associated with exposure to aniline that might occur in wild populations. Model simulations with different scenarios indicated that even low level prolonged exposure to the HNS aniline can have significant lon...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Zoology, Plant Biology, Crustacea, Taxonomy, Ecology, and 4 moreHydrobiology, Case Study, DNA fingerprinting, and The
Literature data and data obtained with modelling tools were compiled to derive the physicochemical behaviour of 24 priority Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS), as a proxy to improve environmental, public health and political issues in... more
Literature data and data obtained with modelling tools were compiled to derive the physicochemical behaviour of 24 priority Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS), as a proxy to improve environmental, public health and political issues in relation to HNS spills. Parameters that rule the HNS behaviour in water and those that determine their distribution and persistence in the environment, such as fugacity, physicochemical degradation, biodegradation, bioaccumulation/biotransformation and aquatic toxicity, were selected. Data systematized and produced in the frame of the Arcopol Platform project was made available through a public database (http://www.ciimar.up.pt/hns/substances.php). This tool is expected to assist stakeholders involved in HNS spills preparedness and response, policy makers and legislators, as well as to contribute to a current picture of the scientific knowledge on the fate, behaviour, weathering and toxicity of priority HNS, being essential to support future improv...
Research Interests:
Emerging pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, may pose a considerable environment risk. Hypocholesterolaemic drugs such as statins are among the most prescribed human pharmaceuticals in western European countries. In vertebrates, this... more
Emerging pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, may pose a considerable environment risk. Hypocholesterolaemic drugs such as statins are among the most prescribed human pharmaceuticals in western European countries. In vertebrates, this therapeutic class disrupts the cholesterol synthesis by inhibiting the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), responsible for the limiting step in the mevalonate pathway. Recently, functional studies have shown that statins competitively inhibit HMGR in vertebrates and arthropods, two taxa that have diverged over 450 million years ago. Importantly, chronic simvastatin exposure disrupts crustacean reproduction and development at environmentally relevant concentrations. Hence, a fundamental question emerges: what is the taxonomic scope of statins-induced HMGR inhibition across metazoans? Here, we address this central question in a large sampling of metazoans using comparative genomics, homology modelling and molecular docking. Sequence alignment of metazoan HMGRs allowed the annotation of highly conserved catalytic, co-factor and substrate binding sites, including residues highjacked for statin binding. Furthermore, molecular docking shows that the catalytic domains of metazoan HMGRs are highly conserved regarding interactions, not only with HMG-CoA, but also with both simvastatin and atorvastatin, the top prescribed statins in Europe and USA. Hence, the data indicates that both statins are expected to competitively inhibit metazoan's HMGRs, and therefore all metazoan taxa might be at risk. The environmental relevance of these findings are discussed and research priorities established. We believe that the conceptual framework used in this study can be applied to other emerging pollutants and assist in the design of toxicity testing and risk assessment.
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Ecotoxicology, Principal Component Analysis, Evaluation, Risk assessment, DNA damage, and 35 moreComparative Study, Portugal, Biological Sciences, DNA, Heavy metals, Environmental Sciences, Toxicity, Estuaries, Animals, Sediments, Environmental Variables, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Sediment, Polychlorinated Biphenyl, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, PCB, Comet Assay, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Risk Assessment, Gel electrophoresis, Tom, Dde, Organic Matter, Environmental, Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance, Geologic Sediments, Total Organic Matter, Clinical Allergy and Immunology, Pel, Blood Plasma, Vc, DNA fragmentation, Redox Potential, and Random Allocation
The aim of the current study was to investigate the sublethal effects of copper-spiked sediments in the amphipod Gammarus locusta during a 28-d test. Measurements of copper (Cu) body-burden and metallothionein (MT) induction were... more
The aim of the current study was to investigate the sublethal effects of copper-spiked sediments in the amphipod Gammarus locusta during a 28-d test. Measurements of copper (Cu) body-burden and metallothionein (MT) induction were integrated with organism and population level endpoints to provide evidence for cause-effect of Cu contamination. The most relevant sub-lethal effects detected in this study were the stimulation of growth and reproduction at the highest treatment (4.9 mgCu/kg dry wt.). Bioaccumulation of Cu (95 µgCu/g dry wt.) and higher (p< 0.001) synthesis of MT (1.7 mg /g dry wt.) were seen in males from that treatment compared to control, suggesting that the observed effects were associated with Cu contamination. Although the effects of Cu were evident both on growth and reproduction, the results of the reproductive output, namely higher offspring production is regarded as a direct consequence of faster growth rates. As an interpretation for this unexpected condition...
Pharmaceuticals, such as simvastatin, act on specific metabolic processes, becoming potentially toxic to aquatic organisms and to human populations. In this study, the amphipod, Gammarus locusta, was chronically exposed to a broad range... more
Pharmaceuticals, such as simvastatin, act on specific metabolic processes, becoming potentially toxic to aquatic organisms and to human populations. In this study, the amphipod, Gammarus locusta, was chronically exposed to a broad range of sublethal concentrations of simvastatin and was subjected to a histopathological evaluation using bright-field and fluorescence microscopy, with application of qualitative and quantitative biomarkers. The results show non-monotonic dose-response curves of physiological alterations on the hepatopancreas, likely reflecting alterations in the metabolism of carbohydrates, enzymatic activity and lipid storage. Females presented a higher ability to react to the pharmaceutical than males, which can be connected with higher energy demands associated, at least in part, to their reproductive functions. MARTINS, C., NEUPARTH, T., COSTA, M.H., SANTOS, M.M. & COSTA, P.M. (2013). Toxicological effects of a pharmaceutical, simvastatin, in Gammarus locusta: histo...
Research Interests:
A population agent-based model of marine amphipod Gammarus locusta was designed and implemented as a basis for ecological risk assessment of chemical pollutants impairing life-history traits at the individual level. We further used the... more
A population agent-based model of marine amphipod Gammarus locusta was designed and implemented as a basis for ecological risk assessment of chemical pollutants impairing life-history traits at the individual level. We further used the model to assess the toxic effects of aniline (a priority hazardous and noxious substance, HNS) on amphipod populations using empirically-built dose-response functions derived from a chronic bioassay that we previously performed with this species. We observed a significant toxicant-induced mortality and adverse effects in reproductive performance (reduction of newborn production) in G. locusta at the individual level. Coupling the population model with the toxicological data from the chronic bioassay allowed the projection of the ecological costs associated with exposure to aniline that might occur in wild populations. Model simulations with different scenarios indicated that even low level prolonged exposure to the HNS aniline can have significant lon...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Ecotoxicology, Reproduction, Crustacea, Life history, Ecology, and 22 morePopulation Dynamics, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Longevity, Female, Animals, Male, Temperature, Standardisation, Cost effectiveness, Life Expectancy, Life Cycle, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Toxicity Tests, Life Table, Reference Values, Life Span, Sodium Chloride, Temperature Effect, Chronic Toxicity, Life tables, and Toxicity Testing
Research Interests: Zoology, Plant Biology, Crustacea, Taxonomy, Ecology, and 4 moreHydrobiology, Case Study, DNA fingerprinting, and The
Research Interests: Environmental policy, Environmental Management, Risk assessment, Water Pollution, Multidisciplinary, and 11 moreEnvironmental Risk, Scientific Communication, Environmental Effect, Aquatic organisms, Marine Environment, Risk Assessment, Weight of Evidence, Physico chemical Properties, Hazardous Substances, Environment, and Oceans and Seas
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Reproduction, Environmental Monitoring, Rivers, Marine And Environmental Pollution, DNA damage, and 30 moreMortality, Portugal, Biological Sciences, Growth, Heavy metals, Environmental Sciences, Amphipoda, Population, Sex ratio, Animals, Metallothionein, Population Growth, Lipid peroxidation, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Biomarker, Sex Factors, Analysis of Variance, Time Factors, Growth rate, Environmental Pollutants, Hormesis, Weight of Evidence, Organic Matter, Acute Toxicity, Geologic Sediments, Whole Body, Benthic Communities, Malondialdehyde, Chronic Toxicity, and Toxicity Testing
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Principal Component Analysis, Risk assessment, Portugal, Biological Sciences, Heavy metals, and 19 moreEnvironmental Sciences, Animals, Environmental Variables, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Polychlorinated Biphenyl, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Comet Assay, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Risk Assessment, Gel electrophoresis, Organic Matter, Environmental, Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance, Geologic Sediments, Total Organic Matter, Clinical Allergy and Immunology, Blood Plasma, and DNA fragmentation
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
ABSTRACT We analysed the relationships between different categories of genotoxicity biomarkers using Sparus aurata as model organism and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) as a well-described genotoxicant agent. DNA damage was assessed by means of... more
ABSTRACT We analysed the relationships between different categories of genotoxicity biomarkers using Sparus aurata as model organism and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) as a well-described genotoxicant agent. DNA damage was assessed by means of agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE), micronuclei (MN) and flow cytometry (FC) assays. MN assay was carried out in mature erythrocytes, while the other assays were performed with all blood cell types. Both the AGE and MN assays detected significant DNA damaging effects of B[a]P, whereas almost no DNA damage was observed by FC assay. Yet, AGE and MN assays differed in the patterns of response observed. The cycles of DNA damage and repair detected in the AGE assay were not apparent in MN assay, where the genotoxic insult was consistently detected overtime.