Developing the marine amphipod Parhyale hawaiensis as a new platform for germ cells mutagenicity assessment

• Grant number: 22/04482-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Mutagenesis
• Principal Investigator: Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro
• Grantee: Marina Tenório Botelho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Tecnologia (FT). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Current tests for germ cell mutagenicity evaluation are basically conducted in rodents. However, models using mammals have been increasingly questioned from an ethical and social point of view. Regulatory agencies demand mutagenicity assessment in germ cells, because the mechanism of action in germ cells may differ from somatic cells, leading to different results. DNA damage that occurs in germ cells can lead to gene mutations and/or chromosomal aberrations, which are transmitted to the progeny and may affect future generations. The scientific community highlights the need to develop alternative models as well new techniques and assays for mutagenicity assessment in germ cells. Therefore, the objective of this work is to develop and apply a new platform for germ cell mutagenicity assessment using the marine crustacean Parhyale hawaiensis. This amphipod has been commonly used in genetic, evolutionary and ecotoxicological studies. This species has well-described embryonic and germ cell development and techniques for transgenesis, gene knockdown and knockout have been already established. We developed a protocol to evaluate genotoxicity and mutagenicity in hemocytes of P. hawaiensis, so we believe we could go a step further assessing germ cells' DNA damage.

Scientific publications

(4)

(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)

BOTELHO, MARINA TENORIO; MILITAO, GABRIELY GROTO; BRINKMANN, MARKUS; UMBUZEIRO, GISELA DE ARAGAO. Toxicity and mutagenicity studies of 6PPD-quinone in a marine invertebrate species and bacteria. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, v. 64, n. 6, p. 7-pg., 2023-07-17. (20/04628-8, 22/04482-9)

BOTELHO, MARINA TENORIO; UMBUZEIRO, GISELA DE ARAGA. Designing and applying a methodology to assess sperm cell viability and DNA damage in a model amphipod. Science of The Total Environment, v. 950, p. 11-pg., 2024-08-09. (22/04482-9, 20/04628-8)

DE FARIAS, NATALIA OLIVEIRA; RODRIGUES, AMANDA ROCHA; BOTELHO, MARINA TENORIO; MAGALHAES, GABRIEL RAMPAZZO; RAISANEN, RIIKKA; FREEMAN, HAROLD S.; UMBUZEIRO, GISELA DE ARAGAO. The natural anthraquinone dye emodin: Eco/genotoxicological characterization for aquatic organisms. Food and Chemical Toxicology, v. 189, p. 8-pg., 2024-05-22. (20/04628-8, 21/06369-2, 23/07768-3, 22/04482-9)

MAGALHAES, GABRIEL RAMPAZZO; MILITAO, GABRIELY FERNANDA GROTO; DE FARIAS, NATALIA OLIVEIRA; DE ALBUQUERQUE, ANJAINA FERNANDES; BOTELHO, MARINA TENORIO; RAISANEN, RIIKKA; FREEMAN, HAROLD S.; DE ARAGAO UMBUZEIRO, GISELA. Acryloyl esters of emodin for waterless dyeing and toxicological studies. COLORATION TECHNOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 9-pg., 2023-10-12. (22/04482-9, 21/06369-2, 20/04628-8)