Molecular Aquatic Toxicology

The Molecular Aquatic Toxicology (MAT) research group focuses on the investigation of the molecular mechanisms driving the toxicological responses of aquatic ecosystems exposed to environmental stressors. In a time where persistent and emerging contaminants, such as heavy metals, PFAS, complex chemical mixtures, and microplastics, together with climate change conditions pose significant risks to wildlife and humans, our research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these different environmental stressors affect aquatic life at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecosystem levels. By integrating molecular tools, ecotoxicology, and ecology, we are connecting specific biological functions with broader ecological and health outcomes.

Our research focuses on the long-term effects of pollutants, using zebrafish as a key model organism due to the genetic and physiological similarities they share with humans. This allows us to not only assess the impact of environmental pollution on aquatic ecosytems but also to investigate its potential consequences for human health. For the investigation underlying cellular and subcellular effects we utilize different bioassays and novel methods employing various cell lines. We are especially interested in understanding the synergistic and antagonistic effects of chemical mixtures in complex environmental samples, such as sediments, and their impact on molecular processes in aquatic species under climate change conditions. Furthermore, our research into environmental epigenetics examines how pollutants can affect gene expression through epigenetic alterations that may be passed down across generations. This provides critical insights into how pollution affects both present and future populations, with important implications for adaptation and evolution.

For this, we apply cutting-edge techniques such as gene expression analysis, epigenetic profiling, and metagenomics to assess the toxicological effects of pollutants at a molecular level. We employ bioaccumulation assays and precision tools like ICP-MS to quantify toxic substances in tissues and sediments, while also utilizing machine learning to identify biomarkers that predict long-term and transgenerational effects of chemical exposures. Field studies are a crucial part of our research, ensuring the environmental relevance of our research and we validate interesting findings with controlled laboratory experiments to uncover detailed mechanistic insights.

Through collaborations with international research institutions, regulatory bodies, and industry partners, we aim to transfer our research into strategies for environmental protection, improving risk assessments, and informing policy makers. The results of our work contribute to environmental protection and have implications for human health risk assessments. In addressing the long-term effects of pollution on ecosystems, we contribute to global sustainability goals and provide insights that help prevent the adverse consequences of pollution for future generations.