Development and Application of Transgenic Biosensor Zebrafish for Assessing the Environmental Health Impacts of Anti-Androgens
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Exeter
Department Name: Biosciences
Abstract
Major worldwide attention has focused on the observations of disruptions of reproduction in both wildlife and human populations that can result from exposure to chemicals that interfere with the body's hormone signalling systems (so-called endocrine disrupting chemicals; EDCs). More recently, wider health effects for exposure to EDCs have been suggested in the human population, including associations with cardiovascular disease and obesity. Most studies on EDCs have focused on chemicals that mimic the female hormone oestrogen and there is substantial evidence that exposure to oestrogenic chemicals can result in reduced sperm count and quality in males, and cause various reproductive cancers. More recently chemicals that antagonise male sex hormones (androgens) action (so called anti-androgens) have been associated with malformations of the reproductive system. This class of chemicals is very widespread in the environment and has become of major environmental concern. We have spent 3 years developing a genetically engineered zebrafish with a convenient response system for detecting oestrogens (they fluoresce green in affected tissues) . This has provided us with an advanced model for studying where oestrogenic chemicals act in the body and for making assessments on their mechanisms of action and overall health effects.. In this project, we aim to develop novel transgenic biosensor fish for detecting androgen and anti-androgen activity. .We will do this in a transparent strain of zebrafish (casper ) allowing us to study (anti-)androgenic chemicals in all fish life stages, even adults, where normally natural pigmentation would mask the green fluorescence. The fluorescing protein we will use in these transgenic fish is called Kaede which will fluoresces green, but on exposure to UV light changes to a red colour and this will be especially useful to separate background expression of Kaede protein (due to the presence of natural androgens in the body) and for studies into chemical mixture effects. Having successfully engineered our (anti-)androgenic responsive zebrafish, we will expose them (embryos/larvae and adults) to a series of environmental anti-androgens (and androgens) to establish whole body responses and identify target tissues affected . These studies will also assess which life stages are the most sensitive/vulnerable to exposure to (anti)androgens. We will further study whole genome responses (responses of thousands of genes simultaneously) for selected target tissues and androgenic and anti-androgenic chemicals to identify in detail the genes, pathways and processes that are affected. We will then apply our fluorescing fish to investigate mixture effects to investigate for additive and other interactive effects across body target tissues. Finally, we will investigate the application of our zebrafish to test fort he presence of (anti-)androgenic activity in real world and complex environmental samples (for example effluents from wastewater treatment works). Collectively this work will help us understand how different (anti-) androgens confer different effects and toxicities in the natural environment. Findings from this project will be of considerable interest and potential benefit to a very wide section of the community including the following: - the medical profession, for better understanding the roles of natural androgens and anti-androgenic contaminants on health; - chemical and pharmaceutical industries, for chemical screening and testing to avoid unintended androgenic and anti-androgenic activity in produced chemicals, and the development of more effective and/or selective anti-androgenic pharmaceuticals for treatment therapies, - industry and government regulatory bodies, environment protection groups and the wider public to better protect the environment and humans from the effects of EDCs.
Publications
Green JM
(2016)
High-Content and Semi-Automated Quantification of Responses to Estrogenic Chemicals Using a Novel Translucent Transgenic Zebrafish.
in Environmental science & technology
Green JM
(2018)
Early life exposure to ethinylestradiol enhances subsequent responses to environmental estrogens measured in a novel transgenic zebrafish.
in Scientific reports
Lee O
(2015)
Transgenic fish systems and their application in ecotoxicology.
in Critical reviews in toxicology
Lee O
(2012)
Development of a transient expression assay for detecting environmental oestrogens in zebrafish and medaka embryos.
in BMC biotechnology
Lee O
(2012)
Biosensor zebrafish provide new insights into potential health effects of environmental estrogens.
in Environmental health perspectives
Moreman J
(2017)
Acute Toxicity, Teratogenic, and Estrogenic Effects of Bisphenol A and Its Alternative Replacements Bisphenol S, Bisphenol F, and Bisphenol AF in Zebrafish Embryo-Larvae.
in Environmental science & technology
Osborne OJ
(2016)
Sensory systems and ionocytes are targets for silver nanoparticle effects in fish.
in Nanotoxicology
Osborne OJ
(2013)
Effects of particle size and coating on nanoscale Ag and TiO2 exposure in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos.
in Nanotoxicology
Description | We have developed biosensor transgenic zebrafish that glow green when the water is polluted with endocrine disruption chemicals. Using the fish embryos we have discovered environmental oestrogens can alter gene expression in the brain, heart, liver and muscle. We also found embryos are particularly sensitive to the endocrine disruption chemicals possibly because many hormonal pathway are important in early embryonic development. Effect of such pollutants are normllay conserved between fish and human, therefore our finding is important for maintaining health of the wild animals as well as for healthcare for human. Our transgenic fish is also useful for assessment for water quality and therefore has a very strong potential for industrial applications. |
Exploitation Route | Our biosensor fish is very sensitive in detecting many environmental pollutants. This would be useful for chemical testing and also for testing polluted waters. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
URL | http://kudohlab.com |
Description | Lee, et al paper (2012). Biosensor zebrafish identify body target tissues for environmental estrogens. Env Health Perspect 120(7):990-6 Chosen as a Science Selection for the July issue of EHP. Paper had very wide media coverage, including in National Geographic and on televisions news programmes. |
First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Cultural |
Description | Advancing understanding of anaesthesia and analgesia in the zebrafish |
Amount | £576,085 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/V000411/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2020 |
End | 11/2023 |
Description | FLIP - Transgenic Zebrafish Embryos/Larvae for Systems-Wide Analysis of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals |
Amount | £155,515 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/L01548X/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2013 |
End | 02/2016 |
Description | Functional role(s) of oestrogen signalling on neuronal progenitor cell development and fate in the brain |
Amount | £467,070 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/L020637/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2014 |
End | 10/2017 |
Description | Japan Partnering Award -Engineering novel transgenic zebrafish with CRISPR/Cas9 technology |
Amount | £42,959 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/P025528/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 06/2021 |
Description | Metal/Metal Oxide Nanomaterials and Oxidative Stress- Are there Harmful Health Effects in Fish for Environmental Exposures? |
Amount | £409,385 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/L007371/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2014 |
End | 03/2018 |
Title | biosensor transgenic zebrafish |
Description | We have developed biosensor transgenic zebrafish that can detect endocrine disrupting pollutants such as environmental estrogens and androgens. The fish grow green in responce to the pollutants and tell us tissue type which is affected by the pollution. Each pollutant have different target tissue. We can learn tissue specific and dose specific impact of pollution in live embryos. These fish are highly useful for assessment of pollutant to the animals and human. |
Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - non-mammalian in vivo |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | We can use the fish embryos as a monitoring system for chemical pollutants as well as waste water. The system is potentially useful for waste water companies and environmental research institutions to monitor impact of pollution and to assess potential toxicities. |
URL | http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1104433/ |
Description | Engineering novel transgenic zebrafish with CRISPR/Cas9 technology |
Organisation | University of Yamanashi |
Department | Graduate School of Medical Science |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have recently received an approval of our project in the BBSRC Japan Parnering Award (BB/P025528/1) with the project "Engineering novel transgenic zebrafish with CRISPR/Cas9 technology". This is an extention of the previous NERC project for developing transgenic biosensor fish lines with aiming to further improve the sensitivity and specificity of the biosensor to monitor a variety of environmental pollutatnts. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our key partner, Professor Atsuo Kawahara at Yamanashi University in Japan is a world leading expert of novel applications using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology. Using the new award, we will visit Kawahara Lab. The host lab will provide the f acility and reagents, teaching us new technique and help us to test new transgenic vectors using tansient analyses. We will bring back to the tools and create novel transgenic fish in Exeter. |
Impact | We have secured a BBSRC Japan partnering awarad (BB/P025528/1) starting this Summer. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Partnerships for generating and sharing novel transgenic vector systems |
Organisation | University College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Established research partnerships with Masa Tada (UCL, London) |
Collaborator Contribution | Masa Tada has generated a transgenic zebrafish line TG[UAS:GFP]. This fish was used as the starting material to generate our own biosensor fish for endocrine disrupction chemicals. Because of this reason, Tada was named in the publication, Lee et al. Environ. Health. Perspect (2012) 120(7):990-6. |
Impact | publication, Lee et al. Environ. Health. Perspect (2012) 120(7):990-6. |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Dissemination / Communication |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Chemical Climate and Concerns for Fish - Now and in the Future Cefas Weymouth. Invited Presentation 2011 Endocrine disruption in fish in English rivers: Addressing the population level effects question. iSmithers International Conference on Endocrine Disruption, February , Zurich. Keynote 2011 Applying Molecular 'Systems Biology' for Establishing the Mechanisms and Functional Consequences of Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and other Emerging Contaminants in Fish. Astrazeneca, Brixham, UK 2011 Health Impacts of Environmental Oestrogens on Fish and Fish Populations. 6th International Symposium on Endocrine Disruptors, Copenhagen, Denmark, May 2011 Keynote Fish, Sex and Gender bending Chemicals, The Feminisation of Fish in English Rivers. South West Water, UK. May 2011. Invited Presentation Endocrine disruption in fish in English rivers: Addressing the population level effects question. 9th International Symposium on the Reproductive Physiology of Fish, Cochin, India, Keynote 2011 Applying Molecular Approaches to Understand the Functional Consequences of Endocrine Disruption in Fish. British Toxicological Society. Warwick. Keynote 2012 Development of our endocrine disruptor sensor fish was broadcased in the BBC (TV), Cbbc, National Geographic, Times and Independent (Webpage). (2012). Environmental Oestrogens and Sex in Fish. European Society for Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry. Bilbao, Spain. Keynote 2012 New systems for understanding the wider health impacts of Environmental Endocrine Disruptors and their mixtures in fish. Gordon Conference. Mount Snow Vermont, USA. Keynote. 2012 Environmental Endocrine Disruptors. Shaping the Future of Water. Harvard University, USA. Keynote. 2012 Application of molecular tools for advancing understanding on the impacts of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in Fish. French Endocrine Disruptor Research Programme, Paris. Keynote 2012 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/17753702 |