The impact of food transmitted endocrine disruptors on animal and human health

食物传播的内分泌干扰物对动物和人类健康的影响

• 批准号: 2441943
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Reading
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2441943
• 关键词: impact; food; transmitted; endocrine; disruptors

Microplastics are becoming a global problem in providing safe and healthy food for everyone. Microplastics do not biodegrade, and can absorb bioactive chemicals, which enter and persist throughout the food chain. The level of microplastics contamination in the environment has grown exponentially in recent decades, and now it is recognized as a harmful agent, representing a potential yet unexplained risk to human health. Microplastics can carry various contaminants, such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which interfere with growth, development and reproduction of animals, can alter behaviour and can even interfere with higher level brain functions, such as cognition. While there is evidence for toxic effects of microplastics on animals of aquatic ecosystems, the consequences of microplastic contamination for food safety and human health is unknown.This project will investigate how food-delivered microplastics and their carried bioactive compounds alters biology and health of terrestrial animals in order to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms. The project focuses on determining the impact of microplastics and Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on cognitive and social behaviours as well as longevity by modifying signalling through conserved nuclear hormone receptors (NR), such as estrogen and testosterone receptors. The project will utilize two models: an established mammalian cell culture system to identify cellular targets of the endocrine disruptors and the simple Nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans model to obtain insight into whole-animal defects upon exposure, such as behaviour, cognition and aging. Results of this project will be used to gain insight on the impact of microplastics and their contaminants on human health and disease. This study will provide crucial evidence on the level and types of health risks that exposure to microplastic particles could pose and will provide insight into the molecular mechanisms involved.This project represents a uniquely diverse training opportunity as the successful applicant will experience and learn various complimentary research techniques, will use multiple model systems and be exposed to different research environments by joining on this project led by four research groups (Drs Kevei, Connolly, Vasudevan and Arnott) at two locations (University of Reading and Queen's University Belfast).Students will use genetic, molecular, cell biology and behavioural techniques in their study. The student will be part of a vibrant endocrine and food science group at the University of Reading and Queens University Belfast, with an opportunity to get training in teaching pedagogy. Apart from benefiting from a highly collaborative scheme, the student will also have an opportunity to network with potential overseas collaborators.

在为每个人提供安全健康的食品方面，微塑料正在成为一个全球性的问题。微塑料不会生物降解，可以吸收生物活性化学物质，这些化学物质进入整个食物链并持续存在。近几十年来，环境中的微塑料污染水平呈指数级增长，现在它被认为是一种有害物质，对人类健康构成了潜在的但无法解释的风险。微塑料可以携带各种污染物，如干扰动物生长、发育和繁殖的内分泌干扰物(EDCs)，可以改变行为，甚至可以干扰更高水平的大脑功能，如认知。虽然有证据表明微塑料对水生生态系统中的动物有毒性作用，但微塑料污染对食品安全和人类健康的影响尚不清楚。本项目将调查食品传递的微塑料及其携带的生物活性化合物如何改变陆地动物的生物学和健康，以确定潜在的分子机制。该项目的重点是确定微塑料和内分泌干扰化学品(EDCs)对认知和社会行为以及寿命的影响，方法是通过保守的核激素受体(NR)改变信号，如雌激素和睾酮受体。该项目将利用两个模型：一个是已建立的哺乳动物细胞培养系统，以确定内分泌干扰物的细胞靶标；另一个是简单线虫--秀丽线虫模型，以深入了解暴露后整个动物的缺陷，如行为、认知和衰老。该项目的成果将用于深入了解微塑料及其污染物对人类健康和疾病的影响。这项研究将为暴露在微塑料颗粒中可能造成的健康风险的水平和类型提供关键证据，并将为分子机制提供洞察。该项目代表着一个独特的多样化培训机会，因为成功的申请者将体验和学习各种免费的研究技术，将使用多种模型系统，并通过在两个地点(雷丁大学和贝尔法斯特女王大学)领导的四个研究小组(凯维博士、康诺利、瓦苏德万和阿诺特)参与这个项目，接触到不同的研究环境。学生将在他们的研究中使用遗传学、分子、细胞生物学和行为技术。这名学生将成为雷丁大学和贝尔法斯特女王大学一个充满活力的内分泌和食品科学小组的一员，并有机会接受教育学教学培训。除了受益于高度合作的计划外，学生还将有机会与潜在的海外合作者建立网络。