Comparative performance of benthic models exposed to contaminated sediments using molecular and biochemical biomarkers

• Grant number: 24/09608-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Lucas Buruaem Moreira
• Grantee: Félix Augusto Silva de Andrade
• Host Institution: Instituto do Mar (IMar). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/00068-8 - Whole transcriptome analysis of benthic organisms as models to estimate toxic effects of contaminated sediments in marine environments, AP.BTA.JP

Abstract

Benthic models for sediment toxicity testing are lmited in Brazil, and for those already used, knowledge is incipient about the toxicity mechanisms, and sublethal effects triggered at different levels of biological organization. Two important models include the burrowing amphipod Tiburonella viscana, which is highly sensitive to contaminants, and the tanaid Monokalliapseudes schubarti, which is tolerant to different compounds. For these species, standardized protocols focus only on lethal effects, therefore, the objective of this project is to investigate the sensitivity performance of T. viscana and M. schubarti when exposed to environmental samples of sediments and also to contaminants of emerging concern, such as the biocide DCOIT. From exposure in the laboratory, total RNA will be isolated and transcripts will be assessed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The choice of molecular targets will be based on differentially expressed genes (DEG) obtained from transcriptomes analyzed in the main project to which this proposal is linked. Next, biochemical biomarkers will be assessed for evaluating responses at different levels of biological organization, thus corroborating the initiating events of toxic effects and also validating the adverse effect pathways, which will be developed and integrated for both species through Adverse Outcome Pathways. (AU)