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Annona G, Liberti A, Pollastro C, Spagnuolo A, Sordino P, De Luca P. Reaping the benefits of liquid handlers for high-throughput gene expression profiling in a marine model invertebrate. BMC Biotechnol 2024; 24:4. [PMID: 38243234 PMCID: PMC10799371 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-024-00831-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modern high-throughput technologies enable the processing of a large number of samples simultaneously, while also providing rapid and accurate procedures. In recent years, automated liquid handling workstations have emerged as an established technology for reproducible sample preparation. They offer flexibility, making them suitable for an expanding range of applications. Commonly, such approaches are well-developed for experimental procedures primarily designed for cell-line processing and xenobiotics testing. Conversely, little attention is focused on the application of automated liquid handlers in the analysis of whole organisms, which often involves time-consuming laboratory procedures. RESULTS Here, we present a fully automated workflow for all steps, from RNA extraction to real-time PCR processing, for gene expression quantification in the ascidian marine model Ciona robusta. For procedure validation, we compared the results obtained with the liquid handler with those of the classical manual procedure. The outcome revealed comparable results, demonstrating a remarkable time saving particularly in the initial steps of sample processing. CONCLUSIONS This work expands the possible application fields of this technology to whole-body organisms, mitigating issues that can arise from manual procedures. By minimizing errors, avoiding cross-contamination, decreasing hands-on time and streamlining the procedure, it could be employed for large-scale screening investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Annona
- Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources (RIMAR), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
| | - Assunta Liberti
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy.
| | - Carla Pollastro
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- TIGEM - Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, 80078, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonietta Spagnuolo
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Sordino
- Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Sicily Marine Centre, Messina, Italy
| | - Pasquale De Luca
- Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological Resources (RIMAR), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
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Beyer J, Song Y, Lillicrap A, Rodríguez-Satizábal S, Chatzigeorgiou M. Ciona spp. and ascidians as bioindicator organisms for evaluating effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals: A discussion paper. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 191:106170. [PMID: 37708617 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106170] [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: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
In context of testing, screening and monitoring of endocrine-disrupting (ED) type of environmental pollutants, tunicates could possibly represent a particularly interesting group of bioindicator organisms. These primitive chordates are already important model organisms within developmental and genomics research due to their central position in evolution and close relationship to vertebrates. The solitary ascidians, such as the genus Ciona spp. (vase tunicates), could possibly be extra feasible as ED bioindicators. They have a free-swimming, tadpole-like larval stage that develops extremely quickly (<20 h under favorable conditions), has a short life cycle (typically 2-3 months), are relatively easy to maintain in laboratory culture, have fully sequenced genomes, and transgenic embryos with 3D course data of the embryo ontogeny are available. In this article, we discuss possible roles of Ciona spp. (and other solitary ascidians) as ecotoxicological bioindicator organisms in general but perhaps especially for effect studies of contaminants with presumed endocrine disrupting modes of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonny Beyer
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, NO-0579, Oslo, Norway.
| | - You Song
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, NO-0579, Oslo, Norway
| | - Adam Lillicrap
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, NO-0579, Oslo, Norway
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Mercurio S, Moni L, Scarì G, Manenti R, Riva R, Pennati R. Fluorescence Properties of a Novel Isoquinoline Derivative Tested in an Invertebrate Chordate, Ciona intestinalis. Chembiochem 2021; 22:2140-2145. [PMID: 33871133 PMCID: PMC8251550 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
3‐Hydroxyisoquinolines (ISOs) and their tautomeric isoquinolin‐3‐ones are heterocycles with attractive biological properties. Here we reported the revisited synthesis of a highly functionalized ISO that showed blue fluorescence and the characterization of its biological properties in an invertebrate animal model, the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Larvae exposed to ISO at concentrations higher than 1 μM showed an intense fluorescence localized in the cell nuclei of all tissues. Moreover, exposure to ISO interfered with larval ability to swim; this neuromuscular effect was reversible. Overall, these results suggested that ISOs can have promising applications as novel fluorescent dyes of the cell nuclei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Mercurio
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Lisa Moni
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Genova, via Dodecaneso 31, 16146, Genova, Italy
| | - Giorgio Scarì
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Raoul Manenti
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133, Milano, Italy
| | - Renata Riva
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Genova, via Dodecaneso 31, 16146, Genova, Italy
| | - Roberta Pennati
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133, Milano, Italy
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Gazo I, Gomes IDL, Savy T, Besnardeau L, Hebras C, Benaicha S, Brunet M, Shaliutina O, McDougall A, Peyrieras N, Dumollard R. High-content analysis of larval phenotypes for the screening of xenobiotic toxicity using Phallusia mammillata embryos. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 232:105768. [PMID: 33592501 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, pollution of surface waters with xenobiotic compounds became an issue of concern in society and has been the object of numerous studies. Most of these xenobiotic compounds are man-made molecules and some of them are qualified as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) when they interfere with hormones actions. Several studies have investigated the teratogenic impacts of EDCs in vertebrates (including marine vertebrates). However, the impact of such EDCs on marine invertebrates is much debated and still largely obscure. In addition, DNA-altering genotoxicants can induce embryonic malformations. The goal of this study is to develop a reliable and effective test for assessing toxicity of chemicals using embryos of the ascidian (Phallusia mammillata) in order to find phenotypic signatures associated with xenobiotics. We evaluated embryonic malformations with high-content analysis of larval phenotypes by scoring several quantitative and qualitative morphometric endpoints on a single image of Phallusia tadpole larvae with semi-automated image analysis. Using this approach we screened different classes of toxicants including genotoxicants, known or suspected EDCs and nuclear receptors (NRs) ligands. The screen presented here reveals a specific phenotypic signature for ligands of retinoic acid receptor/retinoid X receptor. Analysis of larval morphology combined with DNA staining revealed that embryos with DNA aberrations displayed severe malformations affecting multiple aspects of embryonic development. In contrast EDCs exposure induced no or little DNA aberrations and affected mainly neural development. Therefore the ascidian embryo/larval assay presented here can allow to distinguish the type of teratogenicity induced by different classes of toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ievgeniia Gazo
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Observatoire Océanologique, 06230 Villefranche sur-mer, France; University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25, Vodňany, Czech Republic.
| | - Isa D L Gomes
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Observatoire Océanologique, 06230 Villefranche sur-mer, France
| | - Thierry Savy
- BioEmergences Laboratory, CNRS USR 3695, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lydia Besnardeau
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Observatoire Océanologique, 06230 Villefranche sur-mer, France
| | - Celine Hebras
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Observatoire Océanologique, 06230 Villefranche sur-mer, France
| | - Sameh Benaicha
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Observatoire Océanologique, 06230 Villefranche sur-mer, France
| | - Manon Brunet
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Observatoire Océanologique, 06230 Villefranche sur-mer, France
| | - Olena Shaliutina
- University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Alex McDougall
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Observatoire Océanologique, 06230 Villefranche sur-mer, France
| | - Nadine Peyrieras
- BioEmergences Laboratory, CNRS USR 3695, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Rémi Dumollard
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Observatoire Océanologique, 06230 Villefranche sur-mer, France
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