Projects / Programmes
Impact of ecotoxins on human health and quality of life
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.03.00 |
Medical sciences |
Neurobiology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B007 |
Biomedical sciences |
Medicine (human and vertebrates) |
| B725 |
Biomedical sciences |
Diagnostics |
| B740 |
Biomedical sciences |
Pharmacological sciences, pharmacognosy, pharmacy, toxicology |
| B790 |
Biomedical sciences |
Clinical genetics |
| B720 |
Biomedical sciences |
General practice, medical training |
ecotoxins, diagnostics, detection, protein phosphatases, inhibition, MRI, MRS, comet assay, laser scanning confocal microscopy, carcinogenesis, tumor promotion, hepatotoxicity
Researchers (9)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Water eutrophication is a global problem also present in Slovenia. This facilitates the growth of blooms of microorganisms that may, and in fact they often do, produce potent toxins. Some of the toxins have already been detected in the water resources in Maribor. Therefore the health of population may be at a severe risk, especially when low doses of hepatotoxins are chronically present in food or water supplies. The proposed study will grant the development of procedures for the early detection of ecotoxins, and new insight into the mechanisms of acute and chronic toxicity. Microcystins are one of the most spread and harmful ecotoxins produced by cyanobacteria. These toxins lead to an acute liver failure with lethal intra hepatic haemorrhages. Recent reports have shown that acute intoxication with these substances is a real and serious threat to human population. Even more important is the chronics exposure of population to low doses of microcystins. These substances are powerful tumor promoters and carcinogens. Therfore it is not surprising that a legislation is being prepared in the EU, where the maximal allowable concentrations of microcystins will be set. It seems that the limit will be at the microcystins levels that cannot be detected with the presently available methods. The proposed project consists of the following specific aims: 1.) development and testing of an accurate and rapid assay for the detection of microcystins based on hepatocyte cultures in order to increase the sensitivity and replace animal testing 2.) to assess the risk of population due the chronic exposure in endangered areas 3.) to develop and apply simple and efficient diagnostic procedures to detect acute intoxication and to develop the diagnostic procedures for assessment the possible chronic effects of microcystins by means of MRI 4.) introduction and application of a rapid and accurate detection of genotoxicity of ecotoxins 5.) to prepare a publication with instructions and suggestions for the actions in the case of detection of microcystins in food or drinkable water supplies.
