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Yuan H, Yuan W, Duan S, Jiao K, Zhang Q, Lim EG, Chen M, Zhao C, Pan P, Liu X, Song P. Microfluidic-Assisted Caenorhabditis elegans Sorting: Current Status and Future Prospects. CYBORG AND BIONIC SYSTEMS 2023; 4:0011. [PMID: 37287459 PMCID: PMC10243201 DOI: 10.34133/cbsystems.0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been a popular model organism for several decades since its first discovery of the huge research potential for modeling human diseases and genetics. Sorting is an important means of providing stage- or age-synchronized worm populations for many worm-based bioassays. However, conventional manual techniques for C. elegans sorting are tedious and inefficient, and commercial complex object parametric analyzer and sorter is too expensive and bulky for most laboratories. Recently, the development of lab-on-a-chip (microfluidics) technology has greatly facilitated C. elegans studies where large numbers of synchronized worm populations are required and advances of new designs, mechanisms, and automation algorithms. Most previous reviews have focused on the development of microfluidic devices but lacked the summaries and discussion of the biological research demands of C. elegans, and are hard to read for worm researchers. We aim to comprehensively review the up-to-date microfluidic-assisted C. elegans sorting developments from several angles to suit different background researchers, i.e., biologists and engineers. First, we highlighted the microfluidic C. elegans sorting devices' advantages and limitations compared to the conventional commercialized worm sorting tools. Second, to benefit the engineers, we reviewed the current devices from the perspectives of active or passive sorting, sorting strategies, target populations, and sorting criteria. Third, to benefit the biologists, we reviewed the contributions of sorting to biological research. We expect, by providing this comprehensive review, that each researcher from this multidisciplinary community can effectively find the needed information and, in turn, facilitate future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yuan
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wenwen Yuan
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sixuan Duan
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Keran Jiao
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Chemistry,
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Quan Zhang
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Eng Gee Lim
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Min Chen
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Chun Zhao
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Peng Pan
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xinyu Liu
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Pengfei Song
- School of Advanced Technology,
Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Zhang N, Zhang W, Wang M, Li G, Ning J, Nie Y, Xian B, Huang Z, Chen W, Gao S. An automatic recognition method of nematode survival rate based on bright field and dark field experimental images. Technol Health Care 2023; 31:199-208. [PMID: 37038792 DOI: 10.3233/thc-236017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The survival rate of experimental animals is a very important index in chemical toxicity evaluation experiments. The calculation of nematode survival rate is used in many experiments. OBJECTIVE Traditional survival rate quantification methods require manual counting. This is a time-consuming and laborious work when using 384-well plate for high-throughput chemical toxicity assessment experiments. At present, there is a great need for an automatic method to identify the survival rate of nematodes in the experiment of chemical toxicity evaluation. METHODS We designed an automatic nematode survival rate recognition method by combining the bright field experimental image of nematodes and the dark field image of nematodes which is captured after adding Propidium Iodide dye, and used it to calculate the nematode survival rate in different chemical environments. Experiment results show that the survival rate obtained by our automatic counting method is very similar to the survival rate obtained by manual counting. RESULTS Through several different chemical experiments, we can see that chemicals with different toxicity have different effects on the survival rate of nematodes. And the survival rate of nematodes under different chemical concentrations has an obvious gradient trend from high concentration to low concentration. In addition, our method can quantify the motility of nematodes. There are also significant differences in the motility of nematodes cultured in different chemical environments. Moreover, the nematode motility under different chemical concentrations showed an obvious gradient change trend from high concentration to low concentration. CONCLUSION Our study provides an accurate and efficient nematode survival rate recognition method for chemical toxicology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Zhang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing, China
| | - Maoli Wang
- School of Cyber Science and Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, China
| | - Guojun Li
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing, China
| | - Junyu Ning
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing, China
| | - Yanmin Nie
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Xian
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhihang Huang
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Weiyang Chen
- School of Cyber Science and Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, China
| | - Shan Gao
- Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Key Laboratory of Diagnostic and Traceability Technologies for Food Poisoning, Beijing, China
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Yao Y, Zhang T, Tang M. A critical review of advances in reproductive toxicity of common nanomaterials to Caenorhabditis elegans and influencing factors. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119270. [PMID: 35398402 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, nanotechnology has rapidly developed. Therefore, there is growing concern about the potential environmental risks of nanoparticles (NPs). Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been used as a powerful tool for studying the potential ecotoxicological impacts of nanomaterials from the whole animal level to single cell level, especially in the area of reproduction. In this review, we discuss the reproductive toxicity of common nanomaterials in C. elegans, such as metal-based nanomaterial (silver nanoparticles (NPs), gold NPs, zinc oxide NPs, copper oxide NPs), carbon-based nanomaterial (graphene oxide, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, fullerene nanoparticles), polymeric NPs, silica NPs, quantum dots, and the potential mechanisms involved. This insights into the toxic effects of existing nanomaterials on the human reproductive system. In addition, we summarize how the physicochemical properties (e.g., size, charge, surface modification, shape) of nanomaterials influence their reproductive toxicity. Overall, using C. elegans as a platform to develop rapid detection techniques and prediction methods for nanomaterial reproductive toxicity is expected to reduce the gap between biosafety evaluation of nanomaterials and their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongshuai Yao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
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Cáceres Quijano MF, de Paula Ribeiro J, Josende ME, Santa-Helena E, De Falco A, Gioda CR, Gioda A. Assessment of the effects of seasonality on the ecotoxicity induced by the particulate matter using the animal model Caenorhabditis elegans. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 291:132886. [PMID: 34774904 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The present work aimed to establish potential changes in the ecotoxicological effects on C. elegans induced by the exposure of coarse (PM10) and fine (PM2.5) particulate matter collected during dry and rainy periods. We also analyzed the probable influence on the change of a city's activities as the mega-events result in air quality. The element levels evaluation was performed on PM, on the solutions of exposure, and C. elegans after exposure. Biochemical essays were performed to evaluate damage to C. elegans. The results showed that infrastructure works increased the levels of pollutants, generating increases in the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10. The biochemical results suggested effects mediated by different mechanisms, where PM2.5 induced an increase in antioxidant capacity with activation of the defense system and lipoperoxidation. Results suggest that PM10 reduces the antioxidant capacity and activates the glutathione S-transferase activity enzymatic action, but also induces lipoperoxidation in all groups of animals exposed to samples collected during the dry period of 2016. Individuals exposed to PM2.5 in 2017 wet and dry periods and PM10 in 2016 and 2017 dry periods shown a decrease in size compared to controls, while for fertility data, there was a decrease only in individuals exposed to PM2.5 in the periods that the highest levels of PM concentration. We conclude that despite the positive issues linked to the hosting of mega-events, their infrastructure requirements can compromise air quality and bring damage related to lipoperoxidation and physiological changes in the life cycle of biological systems, such as what happened to C. elegans exposed to tested extracts. Also, rainy events reduced the presence of these pollutants, washing the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joaquim de Paula Ribeiro
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, FURG, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Estrella Josende
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, FURG, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (FURG), Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Eduarda Santa-Helena
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Departamento de Química, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Anna De Falco
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Departamento de Química, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carolina Rosa Gioda
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, FURG, RS, Brazil
| | - Adriana Gioda
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Departamento de Química, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Zebrafish CYP1A expression in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans protects from exposures to benzo[a]pyrene and a complex polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon mixture. Toxicology 2020; 440:152473. [PMID: 32360973 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2020.152473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental toxicants primarily produced during incomplete combustion; some are carcinogens. PAHs can be safely metabolized or, paradoxically, bioactivated via specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes to more reactive metabolites, some of which can damage DNA and proteins. Among the CYP isoforms implicated in PAH metabolism, CYP1A enzymes have been reported to both sensitize and protect from PAH toxicity. To clarify the role of CYP1A in PAH toxicity, we generated transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans that express CYP1A at a basal (but not inducible) level. Because this species does not normally express any CYP1 family enzyme, this approach permitted a test of the role of basally expressed CYP1A in PAH toxicity. We exposed C. elegans at different life stages to either the PAH benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) alone, or a real-world mixture dominated by PAHs extracted from the sediment of a highly contaminated site on the Elizabeth River (VA, USA). This site, the former Atlantic Wood Industries, was declared a Superfund site due to coal tar creosote contamination that caused very high levels (in the [mg/mL] range) of high molecular weight PAHs within the sediments. We demonstrate that CYP1A protects against BaP-induced growth delay, reproductive toxicity, and reduction of steady state ATP levels. Lack of sensitivity of a DNA repair (Nucleotide Excision Repair)-deficient strain suggested that CYP1A did not produce significant levels of DNA-reactive metabolites from BaP. The protective effects of CYP1A in Elizabeth River sediment extract (ERSE)-exposed nematodes were less pronounced than those seen in BaP-exposed nematodes; CYP1A expression protected against ERSE-induced reduction of steady-state ATP levels, but not other outcomes of exposure to sediment extracts. Overall, we find that in C. elegans, a basal level of CYP1A activity is protective against the examined PAH exposures.
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