Learning and applying microinjection for analysis of effects of toxicants on early life-stage development of Danio rerio

• Grant number: 25/10258-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Embryology
• Principal Investigator: Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro
• Grantee: Jessica Camila Miranda Cardoso
• Supervisor: Steve Wiseman
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Tecnologia (FT). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University Of Lethbridge, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/20276-5 - Sublethal effects of 6PPD-quinone on the immunotoxicological response and embryonic development of Parhyale hawaiensis, BP.IC

Abstract

Tests with zebrafish (Danio rerio) are used globally to characterize the adverse effects of natural and anthropogenic chemicals, including mixtures. Effects of chemicals on survival and the development of early life-stages of zebrafish are widely used. In general, the embryos are exposed to chemicals using aqueous exposures. More recently, a microinjection method has been developed for exposing embryos. This method allows precise doses of chemicals to be administered to each embryo, thus reducing any differences in exposure dosage between embryos and allowing the chemical to be fully absorbed by the fish. In 2024, our research group developed a collaboration with the laboratory of Professor Steven Wiseman, at the University of Lethbridge, to characterize the toxicity of natural dyes to zebrafish embryos by using the microinjection method. Toxicity of one dye, alizarin, has been completed, but toxicity assessment of two additional dyes, dermocybin and dermorubin, still need to be performed. The goal of this research internship is to learn the microinjection method and use it to characterize the toxicity of dermocybin and dermorubin to zebrafish embryos. Learning the microinjection method will allow our lab to use it in toxicity assessments with Parhyale hawaiensis, a model species in our laboratory. Thus, the skills acquired in this research internship will enhance the research abilities of both the applicant and the home research laboratory. (AU)