Ecotoxicogenomics
Ecotoxicogenomics for biomarkers of exposure to pollutants in the aquatic indicator species, Daphnia magna
In order to implement the most advanced practices for ensuring water quality, rapid and accurate screens are necessary to identify water bodies and additionally the design and production of new chemicals for manufacturing or agriculture require effective methods to predict their environmental toxicity. We are developing genomic methods that will allow for rapid assessment of water quality using an oligo microarray assay based on the common water bioassay organism, Daphnia magna. We are identifying gene expression signatures of aquatic environmental toxicity with the Daphnia magna microarray.
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Development for biosensors for munitions compound based on signature gene expression of fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas
The objective of this project is to identify gene biomarkers of exposure to munitions constituents (MCs) and gene markers indicative of toxic mode of action in the organism, Fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas. The gene biomarkers are examined for their ability to identify and quantitate levels of different MCs in groundwater. Assays will also be examined for ability to discriminate between toxic stress due to non-target pollutants (e.g. agrochemicals, bacterial degradation products of MCs, or petrochemicals) and target MCs.
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We are part of a unique collaboration of research scientists, chemists and engineers investigating the physical properties and toxicity of commercially relevant silver nanowires. Our work uses both human and fish cellular-based assays and in vivo assays with Daphnia magna. We are investigating toxicity through high-throughput cellular assays (high content screening), acute LC50 determination and genomics studies.
Relevant Recent Publications
Using Gene Expression to Assess the Status of Fish from Anthropogenically Influenced Estuarine Wetlands.
Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Aug 17. [Epub ahead of print]
- Poynton HC, Taylor NS, Hicks J, Colson K, Chan S, Clark C, Scanlan L, Loguinov AV, Vulpe C, Viant MR.
Metabolomics of microliter hemolymph samples enables an improved understanding of the combined metabolic and transcriptional responses of Daphnia magna to cadmium.
Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Apr 15;45(8):3710-7.
- Poynton HC, Lazorchak JM, Impellitteri CA, Smith ME, Rogers K, Patra M, Hammer KA, Allen HJ, Vulpe CD.
Differential gene expression in Daphnia magna suggests distinct modes of action and bioavailability for ZnO nanoparticles and Zn ions.
Environ Sci Technol. 2011 Jan 15;45(2):762-8.
- Connon RE, Beggel S, D'Abronzo LS, Geist JP, Pfeiff J, Loguinov AV, Vulpe CD, Werner I.
Linking molecular biomarkers with higher level condition indicators to identify effects of copper exposures on the endangered delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus).
Environ Toxicol Chem. 2011 Feb;30(2):290-300.
- Gust KA, Wilbanks MS, Guan X, Pirooznia M, Habib T, Yoo L, Wintz H, Vulpe CD, Perkins EJ.
Investigations of transcript expression in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) brain tissue reveal toxicological impacts of RDX exposure.
Aquat Toxicol. 2011 Jan 17;101(1):135-45.
- Perkins EJ, Chipman JK, Edwards S, Habib T, Falciani F, Taylor R, Van Aggelen G, Vulpe C, Antczak P, Loguinov A.
Reverse engineering adverse outcome pathways.
Environ Toxicol Chem. 2011 Jan;30(1):22-38.
- Lewinski NA, Zhu H, Jo HJ, Pham D, Kamath RR, Ouyang CR, Vulpe CD, Colvin VL, Drezek RA.
Quantification of water solubilized CdSe/ZnS quantum dots in Daphnia magna.
Environ Sci Technol. 2010 Mar 1;44(5):1841-6.
- Connon RE, Geist J, Pfeiff J, Loguinov AV, D'Abronzo LS, Wintz H, Vulpe CD, Werner I.
Linking mechanistic and behavioral responses to sublethal esfenvalerate exposure in the endangered delta smelt; Hypomesus transpacificus (Fam. Osmeridae).
BMC Genomics. 2009 Dec 15;10:608.
- Garcia-Reyero N, Poynton HC, Kennedy AJ, Guan X, Escalon BL, Chang B, Varshavsky J, Loguinov AV, Vulpe CD, Perkins EJ.
Biomarker discovery and transcriptomic responses in Daphnia magna exposed to munitions constituents.
Environ Sci Technol. 2009 Jun 1;43(11):4188-93.
- Poynton HC, Zuzow R, Loguinov AV, Perkins EJ, Vulpe CD.
Gene expression profiling in Daphnia magna, part II: validation of a copper specific gene expression signature with effluent from two copper mines in California.
Environ Sci Technol. 2008 Aug 15;42(16):6257-63.
- Poynton HC, Loguinov AV, Varshavsky JR, Chan S, Perkins EJ, Vulpe CD.
Gene expression profiling in Daphnia magna part I: concentration-dependent profiles provide support for the No Observed Transcriptional Effect Level.
Environ Sci Technol. 2008 Aug 15;42(16):6250-6.
- Mager EM, Wintz H, Vulpe CD, Brix KV, Grosell M.
Toxicogenomics of water chemistry influence on chronic lead exposure to the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas).
Aquat Toxicol. 2008 May 1;87(3):200-9.
