https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index ${session.getAttribute("locale")} 5 https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:30777 Wed 02 Mar 2022 14:25:53 AEDT ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:24555 Eisenia fetida, and the soil health was investigated. C-nZVI at concentration level of 3 g kg^-1 soil showed no effect on the survival of E. fetida in the three soil types. However, varying effects such as concentration-dependent increase in tissue iron concentration, lipid peroxidation, and damage to DNA molecules by C-nZVI were observed. C-nZVI at an exposure concentration of 60 mg kg^-1 soil induced oxidative stress in E. fetida. Tissue Fe concentration appeared correlated to the DNA damage. Oxidative stress and DNA damage may explain the toxicity mechanisms of nZVI to E. fetida.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:11:31 AEDT ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:24675 Eisenia fetida is a terrestrial organism, which can be used to diagnose sub-lethal concentrations of PFOA by using molecular biomarkers. In order to identify potential molecular biomarkers, we have exposed E. fetida to 10 mg/kg of PFOA in soil for 8 months. The mRNA isolation, sequencing, transcriptome assembly followed by differential gene expression studies have revealed that genes that are involved in apoptotic process, reproduction, calcium signalling, neuronal development and lipid metabolism are predominantly affected. Highly specific genes that are altered by PFOA can be further validated and used as biomarker to detect sub-lethal concentrations of PFOA in the soil.]]> Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:10:52 AEDT ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:25426 Eisenia andrei to estimate the pollutant-induced stress. In this study, comet assay was used as an additional endpoint to evaluate the genotoxicity of weathered hydrocarbon contaminated soils containing 520 to 1450 mg hydrocarbons kg^-1 soil. Results showed that significantly higher DNA damage levels (two to sixfold higher) in earthworms exposed to hydrocarbon impacted soils. Interestingly, hydrocarbons levels in the tested soils were well below site-specific screening guideline values. In order to explore the reasons for observed toxicity, the contaminated soils were leached with rainwater and subjected to earthworm tests, including the comet assay, which showed no DNA damage. Soluble hydrocarbon fractions were not found originally in the soils and hence no hydrocarbons leached out during soil leaching. The soil leachate's Electrical Conductivity (EC) decreased from an average of 1665 ± 147 to 204 ± 20 µS cm^-1. Decreased EC is due to the loss of sodium, magnesium, calcium, and sulphate. The leachate experiment demonstrated that elevated salinity might cause the toxicity and not the weathered hydrocarbons. Soil leaching removed the toxicity, which is substantiated by the comet assay and soil leachate analysis data. The implication is that earthworm comet assay can be included in future eco (geno) toxicology studies to assess accurately the risk of contaminated soils.]]> Fri 03 Dec 2021 10:33:55 AEDT ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:34310 Eisenia fetida is a sentinel organism in soil which can be used to diagnose the health of the soil. In order to identify potential molecular markers from Eisenia fetida to diagnose the presence of benzo(a) pyrene in soil, we exposed the organism to sub-lethal (10 mgKg^-1) concentrations for a period of eight months and carried out transcriptome analysis. From the transcriptome, we have identified differentially expressed genes. Results showed that benzo(a)pyrene has altered the expression of calcium binding and calcium homeostasis, apoptotic process, cytoskeletal proteins, protein transport, nucleotide binding, lipid metabolism, peripheral neuronal development, cell division, wound healing and processing genes at transcription level. Several of the genes we reported here were not reported earlier. The highly up regulated and down regulated genes could be used as a molecular marker to diagnose the presence of benzo(a)pyrene in the soil.]]> Fri 01 Apr 2022 09:28:26 AEDT ]]>