New methodological article published in Analytical Biochemistry
A methodological article about the work of our former PhD student Marie-Aline Pierrard and our PhD student Kathleen Roland has been accepted for publication in Analytical Biochemistry. It is related to fish peripheral blood mononuclear cells preparation for future monitoring applications. This article presents the results obtained in two fish species, the Vietnamese catfish and the European eel and reported data on proteomic analysis. Abstract
New article published in Journal of Proteomics
We are proud of our former PhD student, M-A Pierrard, whose one of her thesis chapter has just been accepted for publication in Journal of Proteomics. This journal is one of the best scientific journals in the field of proteomics with an impact factor of 5.074.
The title of the article is « Proteomic analysis of blood cells in fish exposed to chemotherapeutics: Evidence for long term effects ». This work highlights long term effects of malachite green, a common desinfectant used in fish aquaculture, on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells proteome from Asian catfish intended for human consumption. It is the first study to report long term effects of a xenobiotic on fish proteome since 116 protein spots showed differential expression after one month of decontamination.
The article can be found at this address : http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1874391912001121
Proteomics on fish blood cells in vitro exposed to a desinfectant
Our former PhD student Marie-Aline Pierrard has succeeded to publish a research paper in Aquatic Toxicology. This article is now online at the address : http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166445X12000707?v=s5
This article originally investigated the proteomic responses of blood cells in vitro exposed to the desinfectant malachite green. These cells came from the Vietnamese catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, an important fish cultured in Vietnam. These data suggest that low concentrations of MG could affect the mitochondrial metabolic functions, impair some signal transduction cascades and normal cell division, stimulate DNA repair and disorganize the cytoskeleton. This is an important step forward in ecotoxicoproteomics to use in vitro models to establish the mechanisms of toxicity of xenobiotics.
Thesis defence of Jessica Douxfils next thursday
Our PhD student Jessica Douxfils will present her PhD dissertation next thursday, the 1st of March, at 2:00 pm in the auditorium B4. The title of her thesis is : « Fish Domestication in Aquaculture: Modulations of Stress Physiology and Immune System in a Percid fish, the Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis L.)« .
Abstract :
In cultured fish, stress is regarded as an important cause of impaired health, and particularly resistance to infectious disease, since it can directly or indirectly affect the immune system. Methods to reduce stress responses associated with such immunosuppressive effects are thus actively searched out. It is assumed that domestication may be associated with a reduction in stress responsiveness because stress-resistant animals may be positively selected along captive rearing as a result of an improved fitness. Fish domestication is very recent and the adaptive potential to farming conditions may still be high for numerous species including Eurasian perch for which adaptability to captivity conditions is not yet clarified. Read more…
Thesis defence of M-A Pierrard next wednesday
Marie-Aline Pierrard will present her PhD dissertation next wednesday, December 21st, in room CH2 at 10:00 am. The title of her dissertation is : « RESPONSES OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELLS TO MALACHITE GREEN IN THE ASIAN CATFISH COMBINING IN VITRO AND IN VIVO APPROACHES ».
Abstract : Malachite green (MG) is used as antiseptic to prevent and treat parasites, fungal and bacterial infections in fish. This disinfectant has been controversial and reported to have carcinogenic properties in mammals and to cause significant toxic effects in fish. Prohibited for use on fish intended for human consumption, this chemical and its residues are still commonly detected in fish products. Our concern is more about the rearing of one particular species, the Asian catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, one of the most economically important fish worldwide. The repeated violations concerning this species raise some questions on human health and risk assessment. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were chosen to allow regular sampling in a limited invasive way. Through the combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, some potential routes of research on the toxicity of MG in fish PBMC were highlighted. Proteomic analyses performed on both approaches suggested that MG could lead to possible disturbances of DNA transcription and replication as well as of DNA repair processes, potential disruption of normal cell division, disorganization of the cytoskeleton, modification of the expression of several molecular chaperones as well as of proteins linked to the ubiquitin proteasome system. Studies on MG toxicity should focus on the mitochondria that seemed to be an important target of the prohibited disinfectant. Read more…
Article about the workshop « Ecotox-Wallonia »
An article has been published in the University of Namur newspaper « Libre cours » (in french) about the workshop organised by our laboratory last October : « Ecotox-Wallonia »
Two laboratories :
Laboratory of Ecophysiology and Ecotoxicology
(PI: Patrick Kestemont)
Systems Ecotoxicology Laboratory
(PI: Frédéric Silvestre)
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