Duration: 2009 - 2012

Leader

• Prof. Dr. Henner Hollert

Coordination

• Dr. Steffen Keiter

Cooperation partners

• Institute of Toxicology and Genetics Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Hydrotox GmbH
• Aquatic Toxicology and Ecology, Institute for Zoology, University of Heidelberg
• GAIAC - Research Institute for Ecosystem Analysis and Assessment

Goal of the present research project is the development of a combined vertebrate-based sediment contact assay to investigate teratogenicity, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, mutagenicity and Ah-receptor agonists as well as to analyze the gene expression (microarray and qRT-PCR) in embryos of the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Combined, these goals will contribute to:

1. the development of useful test systems for a comprehensive assessment of the bioavailable toxicity in sediments
2. achieve more knowledge about the related cellular mechanisms
3. clarify the causality of the biological effects.

The long-term target of this project is to develop a DNA-chip containing selected genes which can be used for the screening of sediments.

Homepage

• http://www.bio5.rwth-aachen.de/DanTox/index.html

Publications

Keiter S., Peddinghaus S., Feiler U., von der Goltz B., Hafner C., Ho N.Y., Rastegar S., Otte J.C., Ottermanns R., Reifferscheid G, Strähle U., Braunbeck T., Hammers-Wirtz M., Hollert H. (2010): DanTox - ein BMBF-Verbundprojekt zur Ermittlung spezifischer Toxizität und molekularer Wirkungsmechanismen sedimentgebundener Umweltschadstoffe mit dem Zebrabärbling (Danio rerio). UWSF - Z Umweltchem Ökotox 22 (2), 94-98.

Keiter S., Peddinghaus S., Feiler U., von der Goltz B., Hafner C., Ho N.Y., Rastegar S., Otte J.C., Ottermanns R., Reifferscheid G, Strähle U., Braunbeck T., Hammers-Wirtz M., Hollert H. (2010): DanTox - A novel joint research project using zebrafish (Danio rerio) to identify specific toxicity and molecular modes of action of sediment-bound pollutants. J Soils Sed 10 (4), 714-717.