Whole transcriptome analysis of benthic organisms as models to estimate toxic effects of contaminated sediments in marine environments

• Grant number: 20/00068-8
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Young Investigators Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2021
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Lucas Buruaem Moreira
• Grantee: Lucas Buruaem Moreira
• Host Institution: Instituto do Mar (IMar). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Genbo Xu ; Igor Dias Medeiros ; Ítalo Braga de Castro ; Tomaso Patarnello
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/08901-4 - Whole transcriptome analysis of the Tanaid Monokalliapseudes schubarti exposed to contaminated sediments, BP.MS; 24/09608-6 - Comparative performance of benthic models exposed to contaminated sediments using molecular and biochemical biomarkers, BP.DD; 22/08963-1 - Biomarker responses of the amphipod Tiburonella viscana exposed to the antifouling biocide DCOIT in ocean acidification scenarios, BP.MS; + associated scholarships 22/14868-1 - Whole transcriptome analysis of the burrowing amphipod Tiburonella viscana exposed to contaminated sediments., BP.MS; 22/08189-4 - Sublethal responses of the tanaid Monokalliapseudes schubarti exposed to contaminated sediments., BP.IC; 22/07612-0 - Sublethal responses of the burrowing amphipod Tiburonella viscana exposed to contaminated sediments, BP.IC; 21/08471-9 - Whole transcriptome analysis of benthic organisms as models to estimate toxic effects of contaminated sediments in marine environments, AP.BTA.JP - associated scholarships

Abstract

Sediment toxicity bioassays are used for evaluation of the ecological risks produced by contaminants, which is related to biodiversity loss in benthic environments. In Brazil, there are few benthic models for these bioassays, and for those already established, the knowledge is incipient regarding the mechanisms of toxicity that are activated, generating effects at different levels of biological organization. Such models include the excavating amphipod Tiburonella viscana, which has a high sensitivity to contaminants, and the tanaid Monokalliapseudes schubarti, which has a tolerance to different substances. In this research project, we aim to investigate the molecular mechanisms of toxicity in these two species by using transcriptomic analysis of animals collected in the field and exposed to contaminated sediments in the laboratory. We hypothesize that this technique will provide evidence of initiating events of toxic responses in T. viscana, related to a higher susceptibility of the species, and also the potential activation of signaling pathways involved in the tolerance to contaminants of M. schubarti. The project is organized into three phases. In the first one, the experimental design is set to obtain the functional annotation of differential gene expression by using the RNA sequencing technique (RNAseq). The goal is to investigate the molecular mechanisms of tolerance in M. schubarti and activation of toxicity pathways in T. viscana that can be used as biomarkers. The second phase is focused on the validation through the gene expression analysis by means of the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR-Real time). The last phase is based on the analysis of biochemical biomarkers, and also lethal and sublethal endpoints (mortality and biomass, respectively), that can be associated with molecular responses. The results will be integrated into an adverse effect pathway framework (AOP). Therefore, the results of this project will provide relevant information on the biological aspects of the species, and also advances in marine ecotoxicology, since the use of a mechanistic approach in sediment evaluations is moving forward with the knowledge on this topic. (AU)

Scientific publications

(13)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RIBEIRO, VICTOR VASQUES; NOBRE, CAIO RODRIGUES; MORENO, BEATRIZ BARBOSA; SEMENSATTO, DECIO; SANZ-LAZARO, CARLOS; MOREIRA, LUCAS BURUAEM; CASTRO, ITALO BRAGA. Oysters and mussels as equivalent sentinels of microplastics and natural particles in coastal environments. Science of The Total Environment, v. 874, p. 12-pg., 2023-03-01. (20/08960-7, 21/08471-9, 20/00068-8)

NASCIMENTO DE SANTANA, DEBORA CRISTINA; PERINA, FERNANDO CESAR; LOURENCO, RAFAEL ANDRE; DA SILVA, JOSILENE; MOREIRA, LUCAS BURUAEM; DE SOUZA ABESSA, DENIS MOLEDO. evels of hydrocarbons and toxicity of water-soluble fractions of maritime fuels on neotropical invertebrate. ECOTOXICOLOGY, v. 30, n. 10, OCT 2021. (20/00068-8, 13/15482-0)

MIRANDA, DANIELE A.; ABESSA, DENIS M. S.; MOREIRA, LUCAS B.; MARANHO, LUCIANE A.; OLIVEIRA, LAURINEY G.; BENSKIN, JONATHAN P.; LEONEL, JULIANA. Spatial and temporal distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) detected after an aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) spill. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 204, p. 7-pg., 2024-06-04. (20/00068-8, 21/08471-9)

MARTINS, CESAR C.; MOREIRA, LUCAS BURUAEM; SUTILLI, MARINA; ABESSA, DENIS MOLEDO DE SOUZA. Unraveling sources of hydrocarbons in subtropical estuaries with distinct degrees of protection in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, Brazil. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 195, p. 10-pg., 2023-09-22. (13/15482-0, 20/00068-8, 21/08471-9)

MANDELLI, WANESSA GENTIL; ALVES, ALINE VECCHIO; ABREU, FIAMMA EUGENIA LEMOS; DE MORAIS, BRUNA SANTANA; ZANARDI-LAMARDO, ELIETE; CASTRO, ITALO BRAGA; CHOUERI, RODRIGO BRASIL; MOREIRA, LUCAS BURUAEM. Biomarkers responses in the amphipod Tiburonella viscana exposed to the biocide DCOIT and CO2-induced ocean acidification. Environmental Pollution, v. 372, p. 9-pg., 2025-03-12. (20/00068-8, 21/08471-9, 22/08963-1)

MANDELLI, WANESSA G.; PESTANA, BEATRIZ M.; CHOUERI, RODRIGO B.; ABESSA, DENIS M. S.; CASTRO, ITALO BRAGA; MOREIRA, LUCAS BURUAEM. Waterborne Toxicity to Neotropical Invertebrates and Hazard of Cigarette Butt Leachates in Marine Environments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, v. 43, n. 2, p. 11-pg., 2023-12-05. (20/03004-0, 20/00068-8, 19/13750-4, 21/08471-9)

POZO, KARLA; MOREIRA, LUCAS BURUAEM; KARASKOVA, PAVLINA; PRIBYLOVA, PETRA; KLANOVA, JANA; DE CARVALHO, MAYSA UEDA; MARANHO, LUCIANE ALVES; ABESSA, DENIS MOLEDO DE SOUZA. Using large amounts of firefighting foams releases per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into estuarine environments: A baseline study in Latin America. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 182, p. 8-pg., 2022-07-26. (21/08471-9, 20/00068-8)

NUNES, BEATRIZ ZACHELLO; MOREIRA, LUCAS BURUAEM; XU, ELVIS GENBO; CASTRO, ITALO BRAGA. A global snapshot of microplastic contamination in sediments and biota of marine protected areas. Science of The Total Environment, v. 865, p. 15-pg., 2023-01-05. (20/00068-8, 21/08471-9)

MOREIRA, LUCAS BURUAEM; CHOUERI, RODRIGO BRASIL; ABESSA, DENIS MOLEDO DE SOUZA. A consensus-based approach for the development of Site-specific Sediment Quality Values in an SW Atlantic region (Sao Paulo State, Brazil). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ADVANCES, v. 7, p. 9-pg., 2022-08-01. (13/15482-0, 21/08471-9, 20/00068-8)

NUNES, BEATRIZ ZACHELLO; HUANG, YUYUE; RIBEIRO, VICTOR VASQUES; WU, SIQI; HOLBECH, HENRIK; MOREIRA, LUCAS BURUAEM; XU, ELVIS GENBO; CASTRO, ITALO B.. Microplastic contamination in seawater across global marine protected areas boundaries. Environmental Pollution, v. 316, p. 12-pg., 2023-01-01. (20/00068-8, 21/08471-9)

ROSA, HYTALO DE SOUZA; MORENO, BEATRIZ BARBOSA; ZANARDI-LAMARDO, ELIETE; GRIZ, JULIA DE ARAGAO SOARES; MOREIRA, LUCAS BURUAEM; MEDEIROS, IGOR DIAS; CASTRO, ITALO BRAGA. Cigarette butt leachates induce alterations in gene expression and damage in health status of tropical oysters. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 215, p. 10-pg., 2025-06-01. (20/00068-8, 21/08471-9, 19/13750-4)

MONTE, CHRISTIANE DO NASCIMENTO; RODRIGUES, ANA PAULA DE CASTRO; DE CAMPOS, BRUNO GALVAO; MOREIRA, LUCAS BURUAEM; GREBBE, BEATRIZ; PAULY, GUACIRA DE FIGUEIREDO EUFRASIO; CRUZ, ANA CAROLINA FEITOSA; DA SILVA, LILIAN IRENE DIAS; CORDEIRO, RENATO CAMPELLO; ABESSA, DENIS MOLEDO DE SOUZA; et al. Influence of seasonality on the toxicity and metals bioavailability after the resuspension of sediments from a tropical estuary. ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE, v. 315, p. 13-pg., 2025-02-06. (18/23279-4, 21/06167-0, 20/00068-8, 20/03004-0, 16/02029-4, 17/10211-0, 21/08471-9)

CAMPOS, B. G.; MOREIRA, L. B.; PAULY, G. F. E.; CRUZ, A. C. F.; PERINA, F. C.; ABREU, F.; FILLMANN, G.; ABESSA, D. M. S.. Water and sediment toxicity and hazard assessment of DCOIT towards neotropical marine organisms. Environmental Pollution, v. 330, p. 9-pg., 2023-05-23. (16/02029-4, 21/06167-0, 20/00068-8, 20/03004-0, 21/08471-9, 18/23279-4, 17/10211-0)