Goal 1: to identify unique protein and metabolite expression patterns in biofluids that are linked to higher-level adverse outcomes and are specific to individual environmental stressors

Biofluids like epidermal mucus, blood plasma, and saliva contain critical information about an organism’s health status. Biofluids are also very dynamic and contain thousands of biomolecules that relate to nutritional status, response to stressors, and overall animal (or human) health. Most importantly, biofluids offer the opportunity to study animal health in a minimally invasive and non-lethal manner, so that we can reduce and refine the use of animals in environmental research.

In our lab, we aim to characterize groups of proteins and metabolites from biofluids that exhibit unique molecular expression patterns (MEPs) during molecular initiating and key events so that they can be specifically linked to a particular environmental stressor and an environmental adverse outcome pathway (AOP). These MEPs could then be used as a diagnostic tool to identify exposure to environmental stressors (i.e., chemical contamination, harmful algal blooms, heat stress, or nutrient limitation) and for monitoring early events that could be detected before full-scale population and ecological level events have occurred (analogous to the canary in the coal mine). An MEP might also be identified to gain a mechanistic understanding of a contaminant of emerging concern that is less characterized in order to identify potential environmental impacts and aid in the establishment of novel adverse outcome pathways.

Goal 2: to expand our knowledge of biofluid function in vertebrate fish by determining the phenotypic plasticity of protein and metabolite abundance in blood plasma and epidermal mucus

To achieve this objective, the research program will determine to what extent different types of molecules (i.e., nuclear receptors, enzymes, hormones, or structural molecules) are represented in blood plasma and epidermal mucus, and if possible, from where (i.e., what tissues, organs, or organ systems) those molecules originate. For instance, classes of proteins that are more likely to increase or decrease concentration when specific organ systems or signaling pathways become challenged by environmental factors will be identified, along with temporal variation and the dynamic range of that response. Other complicating factors will also be considered, such as how those proteins differ between vertebrate sexes, or under different dietary conditions, and at varying stages of physiological development. This information will determine baseline variation typical of “normal” physiology and will be used to help eliminate the inclusion of false positive molecules from the MEPs determined by goal 1 activities.

Goal 3: to develop and improve new approach methods to reduce our use of and impact on animals in ecotoxicology research

Traditionally, ecotoxicologists have used lethal methods and short-term bioassays to derive “endpoints” for toxicological and risk assessments. With new innovations in artificial intelligence, remote sensing, modelling, molecular techniques, and in vitro cell culture systems, there are many new possible methods (new approach methodologies, or NAMs as they are called) which could improve our ability to train biologists, conduct risk assessments, and predict toxicological impacts – that could simultaneously reduce the number of animals used in ecotoxicology research and/or reduce the impacts caused by ecotoxicology research. In particular, our lab aims to learn and incorporate new innovations into our routine lab work – including cell culture, sensing, and bioinformatics paired with high-level statistical modelling using large dataset (also known as artificial intelligence) to reduce the use of animals in research while simultaneously increasing our knowledge and ability to protect ecosystems from anthropogenic stressors.