Bioaccumulation, subcellular partition and biomarkers at different levels of biological organization of aquatic invertebrates exposed to metallic nanoparticles

Abstract

Obtaining data on physical-chemical aspects related to contamination by metallic nanoparticles (NPs) from the integration of chemical, molecular/biochemical analyzes and physiological/behavioral performance in different groups of animals is essential to determine the contamination pattern, mechanisms of action, pathways of effect and biological/ecological damages. In this context, the postdoctoral work plan focuses on obtaining answers to the following questions: (i) What is the effective bioavailability of emerging and non-emerging contaminants in the tissues of aquatic organisms? (ii) What are the genetic, biochemical and morphofunctional responses of shrimps and crabs to the presence of these contaminants in the organism? For that, shrimp of the species Litopenaeus vannamei and crabs of the species Ucides cordatus willl be exposed to metallic NPs and later evaluated for bioaccumulation, subcellular partition and cytogentoxic and physiological biomarkers.