Determination of genotoxicity using the comet assay in marine organisms

• Grant number: 19/12115-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 30, 2019
• End date: January 29, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Principal Investigator: Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro
• Grantee: Gabriel Rampazzo Magalhães
• Supervisor: Morin Bénédicte
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Tecnologia (FT). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université Bordeaux 1, France
• Associated to the scholarship: 17/22010-9 - Toxicity of sediments under the influence of the Santos submarine outfall using the marine amphipod Parhyale hawaiensis, BP.IC

Abstract

Pollution is a big concern these days and among environmental pollutants, genotoxic compounds are very important because they can cause adverse effects in the reproduction, development and growth of the exposed biota. To prevent these damages, it is important to assess the genotoxic potential of environmental samples using effect-based tools. DNA damage can be evaluated by the comet assay, which is a sensitive, fast and reliable tool. Therefore, the aim of this internship is to evaluate the genotoxicity of microplastic samples collected in the sand or sediment with the comet assay. Samples will be collected in Arcachon Bay, in the southwest of France. Microplastics found in the samples will be characterized and quantified. Back in Brazil, the comet assay will be applied in the hemolymph of the marine amphipod Parhyale hawaiensis to evaluate the genotoxicity of sediments and microplastics samples. The internship will be developed at the Laboratory Environnements et Paléoenvironnements Océaniques et Continentaux (EPOC), UMR 5805, - Université de Bordeaux, France, under supervision of Dr. Bénédicte Morin. (AU)