Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies

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Organizational Unit

Publications

Chironomus riparius proteome responses to spinosad exposure

Publication . Monteiro, Hugo R.; Pestana, João L.T.; Soares, A.M.V.M.; Devreese, Bart; Lemos, Marco F.L.

The potential of proteome responses as early-warning indicators of insecticide exposure was evaluated using the non-biting midge Chironomus riparius (Meigen) as the model organism. Chironomus riparius larvae were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of the neurotoxic pesticide spinosad to uncover molecular events that may provide insights on the long-term individual and population level consequences. The iTRAQ labeling method was performed to quantify protein abundance changes between exposed and non-exposed organisms. Data analysis revealed a general dose-dependent decrease in the abundance of globin proteins as a result of spinosad exposure. Additionally, the downregulation of actin and a larval cuticle protein was also observed after spinosad exposure, which may be related to previously determined C. riparius life-history traits impairment and biochemical responses. Present results suggest that protein profile changes can be used as early warning biomarkers of pesticide exposure and may provide a better mechanistic interpretation of the toxic response of organisms, aiding in the assessment of the ecological effects of environmental contamination. This work also contributes to the understanding of the sublethal effects of insecticides in invertebrates and their molecular targets.

2020Journal article

Open access

Insights into the restoration of tributyltin contaminated environments using marine bacteria from Portuguese fishing ports

Publication . Monteiro, Hugo R.; Moutinho, Ariana; Campos, Maria J.; Lemos, Marco F.L.; Esteves, Ana C.

Tributyltin (TBT) is an organotin chemical mainly used as biocide in marine antifouling paints. Despite the restrictions and prohibitions on its use, TBT is still an environmental problem due to its extensive application and subsequent release into the environment, being regarded as one of the most toxic chemicals released into the marine ecosystems. Microorganisms inhabiting impacted sites are crucial for their restoration since they have developed mechanisms to tolerate and break down pollutants. Nonetheless, transformation products resulting from the degradation process may still be toxic or, sometimes, even more toxic than the parent compound. The determination of the parent and degradation products by analytical methods, although necessary, may not be ecologically relevant since no information is provided regarding their ecotoxicity. In this study, marine bacteria collected from seven Portuguese fishing ports were isolated and grown in the presence of TBT. Bacteria that exhibited higher growth were used to bioremediate TBT-contaminated waters. The potential of these bacteria as bioremediation agents was evaluated through ecotoxicological assays using the sea snail Gibbula umbilicalis as model organism. Data suggested that some TBT-tolerant bacteria, such as Pseudomonas putida, can reduce the toxicity of TBT contaminated environments. This work contributes to the knowledge of TBT-degrading bacteria.

2021Journal article

Open access

A review of the order mysida in marine ecosystems: What we know what is yet to be known

Publication . Oliveira, Ana Filipa; Marques, Sónia Cotrim; Pereira, Joana Luísa; Azeiteiro, Ulisses Miranda

Mysids have a high ecological importance, particularly by their role in marine food chains as a link between the benthic and pelagic realms. Here we describe the relevant taxonomy, ecological aspects such as distribution and production, and their potential as ideal test organisms for environmental research. We also highlight their importance in estuarine communities, trophic webs, and their life history, while demonstrating their potential in addressing emergent problems. This review emphasizes the importance of mysids in understanding the impacts of climate change and their role in the ecology of estuarine communities. Although there is a dearth of research in genomic studies, this review emphasizes the relevance of mysids and their potential as a model organism in environmental assessment studies of prospective or retrospective nature and highlights the need for further research to enhance our understanding of this group’s ecological significance.

2023Journal article

Restricted access

Undaria pinnatifida (U. pinnatifida) bioactivity: Antioxidant, gastro-intestinal motility, cholesterol biosynthesis and liver cell lines proteome

Publication . Pedro, Bernardo; Guedes, Laura; André, Rebeca; Gaspar, Helena; Vaz, Pedro; Ascensão, Lia; Melo, Ricardo; Serralheiro, Maria Luisa

Undaria pinnatifida is a brown alga, largely used as food in oriental countries. The purpose of this work was to analyze several bioactivities that might be present in different food preparations, relating them with the compounds present in the extracts. Aqueous extracts cooked, like a soup, as well as used in a salad, by simulating U. pinnatifida digestion with pancreatin were prepared. The soup preparation had anti-acetylcholinesterase activity as well as 3-hydroxy3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibition capacity, the use of 1 mg/mL, for both enzymes, caused 50% enzyme activity inhibition. The extracts produced changes in HepG2 cell proteome, mainly in the 148 kDa proteins. U. pinnatifida in salads hardly released phlorotannins to the digestive tract. The in vitro studies suggested that a soup prepared from this seaweed could deliver bioactive compounds, phlorotannins and small peptides that may facilitate the gastro-intestinal motility and reduce the cholesterol biosynthesis.

2021Journal article

Open access

Asparagopsis armata exudate cocktail: the quest for the mechanisms of toxic action of an invasive seaweed on marine invertebrates

Publication . Silva, Carla; Simões, Tiago; Félix, Rafael; A.M.V.M., Soares; Barata, Carlos; Novais, Sara C.; Lemos, Marco F.L.

The seaweed Asparagopsis armata exhibits a strong invasive behavior, producing halogenated compounds with effective biological effects. This study addresses the biochemical responses to sublethal concentrations of A. armata exudate on the marine snail Gibbula umbilicalis whole body and the shrimp Palaemon elegans eyes and hepatopancreas. Antioxidant defenses superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST), oxidative damage endpoints lipid peroxidation (LPO) and DNA damage, the neuronal parameter acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and the fatty acid profile were evaluated. Results revealed different metabolic responses in both species. Despite previous studies indicating that the exudate affected G. umbilicalis’ survival and behavior, this does not seem to result from oxidative stress or neurotoxicity. For P. elegans, the inhibition of AChE and the decrease of antioxidant capacity is concomitant with the increase of LPO, suggesting neurotoxicity and oxidative stress as contributor mechanisms of toxicity for this species. Fatty acid profile changes were more pronounced for P. elegans with a general increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) with the exudate exposure, which commonly means a defense mechanism protecting from membrane disruption. Nonetheless, the omega-3 PUFAs arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) increased in both invertebrates, indicating a common regulation mechanism of inflammation and immunity responses

2021Journal article

Open access