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

微塑料正在成为一个全球性问题，为每个人提供安全健康的食品。微塑料不会生物降解，可以吸收生物活性化学物质，这些化学物质进入并持续存在于整个食物链中。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，对人类健康构成潜在但无法解释的风险。微塑料可以携带各种污染物，如内分泌干扰化学物质（EDCs），干扰动物的生长，发育和繁殖，可以改变行为，甚至可以干扰更高层次的大脑功能，如认知。虽然有证据表明微塑料对水生生态系统的动物具有毒性影响，但微塑料污染对食品安全和人类健康的后果尚不清楚。该项目将研究食物中的微塑料及其携带的生物活性化合物如何改变陆生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）对认知和社会行为的影响，以及通过保守的核激素受体（NR）（如雌激素和睾酮受体）改变信号传导来延长寿命。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点，另一个是简单的线虫-秀丽隐杆线虫模型，以了解暴露后整个动物的缺陷，如行为、认知和衰老。该项目的结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。这项研究将提供关键证据，说明暴露于微塑料颗粒可能造成的健康风险的水平和类型，并将深入了解所涉及的分子机制。该项目代表了一个独特的多元化培训机会，因为成功的申请人将体验和学习各种免费的研究技术，我将使用多个模型系统，并通过加入由四个研究小组领导的这个项目，接触不同的研究环境（Drs Kevei，Connolly，Vasudevan和Arnott）在两个地点（阅读大学和贝尔法斯特女王大学）。学生将在学习中使用遗传、分子、细胞生物学和行为技术。该学生将成为阅读大学和皇后大学贝尔法斯特一个充满活力的内分泌和食品科学小组的一员，有机会获得教学法方面的培训。除了从高度合作的计划中受益外，学生还将有机会与潜在的海外合作者建立联系。

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.