Gene expression profiling to characterize sediment toxicity--a pilot study using Caenorhabditis elegans whole genome microarrays.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Traditionally, toxicity of river sediments is assessed using whole sediment tests with benthic organisms. The challenge, however, is the differentiation between multiple effects caused by complex contaminant mixtures and the unspecific toxicity endpoints such as survival, growth or reproduction. The use of gene expression profiling facilitates the identification of transcriptional changes at the molecular level that are specific to the bio-available fraction of pollutants.

Results

In this pilot study, we exposed the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to three sediments of German rivers with varying (low, medium and high) levels of heavy metal and organic contamination. Beside chemical analysis, three standard bioassays were performed: reproduction of C. elegans, geno

SUBMITTER: Menzel R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2674462 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature