Projects

1 - 10 of 29 results

Search term:

The deorphanization of neuropeptide GPCRs in invertebrates and vertebrates using cellular screening assays. KU Leuven

Inge Mertens
Animal Physiology and Neurobiology
Neuropeptides play an important role in many physiological processes like reproduction, energy metabolism, memory, the biological clock and learning. The majority of these peptides exert their function by binding and subsequent activation of G-protein coupled receptors. These GPCRs are very frequently used in medicine as targets for the treatment of symptoms caused by diseases related with these processes. In the future, we would like to focus ...

Long-term effects of environmental change on invertebrates at the basis of marine food webs: A multigenerational, interspecies, interorder approach Ghent University

Marleen De Troch
Department of Biology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology

Global change is threatening coastal marine ecosystems, with potential severe impacts on nutrient shifts and food supply through the marine food web. This research proposal will study the effects of global change on primary consumers, i.e. marine copepods, and the potential consequences on food supply. It will focus on the fatty acids profiles, as a proxy for food quality, under short- and long-term scenarios of global change. Long-term ...

Effects of ocean warming on invertebrates at the basis of marine food webs: A multigenerational, interspecies, interorder approach Ghent University

Marleen De Troch
Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology

Global change is threathening coastal marine ecosystems, with potential severe impacts on nutrient shifts and food supply through the marine foodweb. This research proposal will study the effects of global change on primary consumers, i.e. marine copepods, and the potential consequences on food supply. It will focus on the fatty acids profile, as a proxy for food quality, under short- and long-term scenario's of global change. Long-term ...

Gnotobiotic Artemia brine shrimp as a model for studying the transcriptional, translational and epigenetic mechanisms responsible for immune 'imprinting' against infectious diseases in invertebrates Ghent University

Daisy Vanrompay
Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Animal production

Invertebrates, including shrimps, rely on their innate immunity to fight against pathogens. Innate immunity lacks the ability to show high degree of specificity and long-lasting memory. However, few reports claimed that invertebrates show some form of immunological specificity and memory similar to that of adaptive immunity in vertebrates. Using the gnotobiotic brine shrimp Artemia as model organism, this project aims to unambiguously prove ...

Toxicity of Perfluoralkyl Substances (PFAAs) to terrestrial invertebrates and songbirds. Effects at different levels of biological organization including behaviour and reproduction. University of Antwerp

Lieven Bervoets
Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology, Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE)
A group of environmental chemicals that has received increasing attention the last two decades are the Perfluoralkyl Substances or PFAAs. Since the 1950s, PFAAs have been used in high quantities because of their excellent surfactant behaviour in applications such as carpet coatings and food packaging. Their broad application and bioaccumulation potential has led to their worldwidedetection in biota. Few studies, however, have investigated the ...

Uptake kinetics, internal distribution and toxicity of metal mixtures in aquatic invertebrates after waterborne and dietary sediment exposure University of Antwerp

Maarten De Jonge
Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE)
Metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems is still an important environmental issue worldwide, posing a threat to living organisms, including humans. During the past decades interesting models have been developed in order to adequately predict and manage metal toxicity in both freshwater and marine ecosystems. Although these models have all gained increasing interest among scientific and regulatory communities around the world, they have been ...

Prediction of metal accumulation and sublethal effects in benthic invertebrates by means of the AVS-SEM model University of Antwerp

Hans Reynders
Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE)
In this project the relationship between metal concentrations in sediment and accumulation and effects in Chironomidae and Oligochaeta will be investigated. Special attention will be paid to the influence of AVS concentrations in sediment on the accumulation and chronic effects (energy reserves, ion and osmoregulation, growth and survival) of metals under laboratory and field conditions.

Effects of combined exposure to metal mixtures and natural stressors on aquatic invertebrates: relating changes in metal uptake to altered behavior and ecological effects. University of Antwerp

Lieven Bervoets
Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE)
Metals are posing a worldwide threat to aquatic ecosystems. In the natural environment trace metals most often occur in different mixtures, in which metals can strongly interfere with each other, producing antagonistic, synergistic or additional toxic effects. Besides the presence of pollutants also natural stressors such as fluctuating temperature, food shortages and predators are present that might negatively affect organisms and alter metal ...

Combined effects of metal mixtures and natural stressors on aquatic invertebrates: Relating changes in metal uptake to altered behavior and ecological effects. University of Antwerp

Lieven Bervoets
Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE)
Metals are posing a worldwide threat to aquatic ecosystems. In the natural environment trace metals most often occur in different mixtures, in which metals can strongly interfere with each other, producing antagonistic, synergistic or additional toxic effects. Besides the presence of pollutants also natural stressors such as fluctuating temperature, food shortages and predators are present that might negatively affect organisms and alter metal ...