Article
Environmental Sciences
Victoria E. Restivo, Karen A. Kidd, Michael G. Surette, Mark R. Servos, Joanna Y. Wilson
Summary: The study found that the microbiome of fish gut content was altered downstream of WWTP effluent outfalls, potentially leading to negative health outcomes. Fish collected at different sites had distinct bacterial communities, with upstream samples dominant in Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, and downstream samples increasingly abundant in Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Daniel R. Oliveira, Brendan N. Reid, Sarah W. Fitzpatrick
Summary: Genetic diversity is crucial for a species to adapt and withstand environmental pressures, with studies showing that sites with higher genetic variation are better equipped to handle stress. For species with limited dispersal, fragmented populations, and reduced genetic diversity, the lack of adaptive variation may lead to a higher risk of local extinction.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jon M. Luiken, Tony Gamble, Peter B. Berendzen
Summary: This study compared the population genomic structure of rainbow darter in river networks with different glacial histories, revealing a lasting influence of historic glaciation on the genetic structure of populations. The populations in different environments displayed distinct genetic structures, with evidence of population expansion and colonization patterns following glacial retreat. These results emphasize the importance of considering geological and climatic history as well as the life history of organisms when interpreting spatial genetic patterns.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Keegan A. Hicks, Meghan L. M. Fuzzen, Hadi A. Dhiyebi, Leslie M. Bragg, Patricija Marjan, Jessie Cunningham, Mark E. Mcmaster, Nivetha Srikanthan, Kirsten E. Nikel, Maricor J. Arlos, Mark R. Servos
Summary: For over a decade, intersex has been observed in rainbow darter populations living downstream wastewater treatment plants in the Grand River, Ontario, Canada. This study aimed to understand intersex development in adult male fish by investigating intersex induction, windows of exposure, and recovery potential. The results showed that adult male fish exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) exhibited similar intersex rates as those observed in the wild populations, and intersex incidence was higher during spawning compared to periods of recrudescence. Additionally, the study found that adult male fish did not recover from intersex even after a 22-week period in clean water.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karyn Robichaud, Paul M. Craig
Summary: Wastewater effluent is a stressor for aquatic organisms' metabolism. This study identified the presence of miRNA in darter mitochondria and predicted their role in regulating translation of mitochondrial genes. Experimental results confirmed the relationship between miRNA abundance and cytochrome c oxidase activity in darters.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B-BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Carli M. M. Baum, Dana L. L. Winkelman, Ryan M. M. Fitzpatrick
Summary: Changes in water temperature, particularly during winter months, due to wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in the North American Great Plains can negatively affect reproductive cues and success of aquatic ectotherms, such as the johnny darter. Our study evaluated the effects of temperature and duration on reproductive success in the laboratory to inform water quality criteria for the South Platte River Basin.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Catherine M. Adams, Dana L. Winkelman, Paula A. Schaffer, Daniel L. Villeneuve, Jenna E. Cavallin, Michael Ellman, Kelvin Santana Rodriguez, Ryan M. Fitzpatrick
Summary: River water temperatures are increasing globally, especially in urban systems. The effluent inputs from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in winter cause water temperatures to rise, affecting the reproductive timing of certain fish species. A study conducted in Colorado found that downstream of WWTP effluent discharge sites, the water temperatures were higher, and female fish experienced accelerated reproductive development compared to upstream. Water quality and spring water temperatures did not explain the variations in reproductive development.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sheng Gao, Xiaolong Wu, Lingling Wang, Tiao Bu, Adolfo Perrotta, Giuseppe Guaglianone, Bruno Silvestrini, Fei Sun, C. Yan Cheng
Summary: Emerging evidence suggests that environmental toxicants like cadmium and PFOS may disrupt Sertoli cell and testis function through signaling proteins and cascades similar to pharmaceuticals. This indicates that toxicants may be interfering with physiological mechanisms that support spermatogenesis. Manipulating the expression of these signaling proteins could potentially manage toxicant-induced male reproductive dysfunction.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Kirsten E. Nikel, Gerald R. Tetreault, Patricija Marjan, Keegan A. Hicks, Meghan L. M. Fuzzen, Nivetha Srikanthan, Emily K. McCann, Hadi Dhiyebi, Leslie M. Bragg, Pam Law, Dominika Celmer-Repin, Sonya Kleywegt, Jessie Cunningham, Thomas Clark, Mark E. McMaster, Mark R. Servos
Summary: Municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent can adversely affect aquatic life, but major upgrades in the Central Grand River have significantly reduced pollution levels. Prior to the upgrades, rainbow darters showed disruptions in various biological aspects, but these were no longer significant after the improvements. Capital investments in wastewater treatment have corresponded with a reduction in adverse responses in fish in the receiving environment.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jiye Zhang, Huihui Chen, Tianheng Tong, Ruimin Liu, Saihong Yan, Xuefang Liang, Christopher J. Martyniuk, Jinmiao Zha
Summary: Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) exposed to different concentrations of Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) showed varying physiological and molecular toxic effects, including changes in filtration rate, histopathological changes, and induction of apoptosis. This study provides important insights into the toxicity and hazards of BUVSs in benthic organisms.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Fisheries
Paulina Bahamonde, Winfred Espejo, Jose Celis, Isis-Yelena Montes, Ricardo O. Barra
Summary: Anthropogenic activities have led to an increase in trace elements in the environment, which can have harmful effects on biota. Seabirds, especially gulls, are used as bioindicators of environmental pollution and have been found to accumulate high levels of trace elements. However, the research on lesser-known trace elements in gulls is limited, and future studies should focus on these elements.
LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emma Ivantsova, Isaac Konig, Christopher L. Souders II, David McNabney, Denina D. B. Simmons, Christopher J. Martyniuk
Summary: Blood pressure medication atenolol, a beta-blocker detected in wastewater systems, has negative effects on early stages of zebrafish development. It affects survival, heart rate, mitochondrial function, lipid and amino acid profiles, and locomotor activity. Atenolol decreases heart rate and alters lipid content in zebrafish at environmentally relevant levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohsen Asadi, Femi F. Oloye, Yuwei Xie, Jenna Cantin, Jonathan K. Challis, Kerry N. McPhedran, Warsame Yusuf, David Champredon, Pu Xia, Chantel De Lange, Seba El-Baroudy, Mark R. Servos, Paul D. Jones, John P. Giesy, Markus Brinkmann
Summary: Wastewater surveillance is useful for understanding the spread of COVID-19 in communities. This study developed the Wastewater Viral Load Risk Index (WWVLRI) to interpret wastewater surveillance results. The index considers the reproduction number, clinical data, daily per capita concentrations of virus particles in wastewater, and weekly viral load change rate. It provides a valuable resource for decision-makers and health authorities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Philip J. Schmidt, Nicole Acosta, Alex H. S. Chik, Patrick M. D'Aoust, Robert Delatolla, Hadi A. Dhiyebi, Melissa B. Glier, Casey R. J. Hubert, Jennifer Kopetzky, Chand S. Mangat, Xiao-Li Pang, Shelley W. Peterson, Natalie Prystajecky, Yuanyuan Qiu, Mark R. Servos, Monica B. Emelko
Summary: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is commonly used in environmental microbiology, including the detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the traditional log-linear standard curve model used in qPCR has limitations in explaining data at low concentrations. By integrating probabilistic modeling concepts, a new model has been developed that can better represent standard curve data at low concentrations while maintaining compatibility with the log-linear regression model at high concentrations. This improved modeling approach allows for exploration of random error mechanisms and quantification of uncertainty in qPCR-based concentration estimates.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nazish Iftikhar, Isaac Konig, Cole English, Emma Ivantsova, Christopher L. L. Souders II, Imran Hashmi, Christopher J. J. Martyniuk
Summary: The broad-range bacteriostatic antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) has been found to have sub-lethal toxicity effects on developing zebrafish embryos and larvae, including decreased survivability, delayed hatch, and induced malformations. It also triggers an inflammatory response and alters the expression of genes related to apoptosis. These findings contribute to the understanding of antibiotic toxicity in aquatic organisms and provide a foundation for environmental risk assessment of SMX and other antibiotics.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cole D. English, Kira J. Kazi, Isaac Konig, Emma Ivantsova, Christopher L. Souders Ii, Christopher J. Martyniuk
Summary: Zebrafish larvae were exposed to different concentrations of Ifosfamide, and RNA-seq analysis revealed 21 microRNAs that were associated with Ifosfamide exposure. This study provides valuable insights for the advancement of regulatory toxicology and biomarker discovery in aquatic environments.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohamed Hamed, Christopher J. Martyniuk, Rashad E. M. Said, Hamdy A. M. Soliman, Ahmed E. A. Badrey, Elhagag A. Hassan, Hani N. Abdelhamid, Alaa G. M. Osman, Alaa El -Din H. Sayed
Summary: This study reports the presence of pyrogallol in wastewater in Egypt for the first time. Acute and sub-acute toxicity experiments were conducted to evaluate the toxic effects of pyrogallol on catfish. The results showed that pyrogallol exposure caused morphological changes, hematological and biochemical alterations, indicating potential risks to aquatic species.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Paulina Andrea Bahamonde, Gustavo Chiang, Gabriela Mancilla, Tamara Contador, Caudio Quezada-Romegialli, Kelly Roland Munkittrick, Chris Harrod
Summary: This study examined the ecology of brown trout and native fish species in two adjacent rivers in Chilean Patagonia. The results showed that brown trout dominated the fish community in terms of biomass and showed distinct diets in the two rivers. The study highlights the importance of understanding interactions between native and introduced species at local spatial scales.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wei Chi, Juanjuan Fu, Chris J. Martyniuk, Jiangyong Wang, Libin Zhou
Summary: This study investigates the collaboration of HIF-1 alpha A and HIF-1 alpha B in regulating mitophagy and apoptosis under hypoxic stress in cyprinid fish. The results show that HIF-1 alpha A induces apoptosis by promoting ROS generation and mitochondrial depolarization, while HIF-1 alpha B is primarily responsible for mitophagy induction, promoting ATP production to mitigate apoptosis.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Chunyu Lu, Di Peng, W. C. K. Udeesha Erandani, Kimberly Mitchell, Christopher J. Martyniuk, Vance L. Trudeau
Summary: The detection and quantification of hormones are crucial for assessing experimental models and diagnosing diseases. Traditional methods involve separate experiments, while the new approach allows simultaneous measurement of different categories of hormones. This study presents a novel sample processing strategy for the simultaneous extraction and detection of peptides, steroids, and proteins.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David W. Bertolatus, Larry B. Barber, Christopher J. Martyniuk, Huajun Zhen, Timothy W. Collette, Drew R. Ekman, Aaron Jastrow, Jennifer L. Rapp, Alan M. Vajda
Summary: In order to evaluate the relationships between anthropogenic impacts, contaminant occurrence, and fish health, fish exposures were conducted across different land use sites in the Shenandoah River watershed. The study found adverse reproductive outcomes and increased mortality in fish exposed to wastewater treatment plant effluent and agricultural impacts. Molecular biomarkers and hepatic metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles indicated variations in land use and contaminant profiles. This study demonstrated the linkages between human impacts, contaminant occurrence, and exposure effects, highlighting the increased risk of adverse outcomes in fish exposed to complex mixtures.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isaac Konig, Nazish Iftikhar, Evelyn Henry, Cole English, Emma Ivantsova, Christopher L. Souders II, Silvana Marcussi, Christopher J. Martyniuk
Summary: This study compared the toxicity of carvacrol, acetylcarvacrol, and fipronil to early staged zebrafish. The results showed that carvacrol and its derivative have lower acute toxicity compared to fipronil.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah J. Patuel, Cole English, Victoria Lopez-Scarim, Isaac Konig, Christopher L. Souders II, Emma Ivantsova, Christopher J. Martyniuk
Summary: This study evaluates the sub-lethal toxicity potential of broflanilide in early staged zebrafish and finds that the insecticide has minimal impact on survival and biochemical parameters of the fish but can induce neurotoxicity and motor dysfunction.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)