Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2010
Abstract
Currently, very little data exist on the exposure of soil biota to engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), in spite of soils being an important potential sink for ENPs. Though, data on exposure are essential to determine whether or not, or to which extent, a hazard constitutes a risk. This knowledge gap is mainly due to difficulties in tracing ENPs in soils where natural nanoparticles are abundant. We used neutron activated ENPs as tracers and examined the exposure (uptake, excretion and internal distribution) of nanoparticles of cobalt (Co NPs 3.9 ± 0.8 nm) and silver (Ag NPs 20.2 ± 2.5 nm) in the earthworm Eisenia fetida, and compared this to soluble cobalt and silver salts. Accumulation patterns were highly different for cobalt and silver. Concentrations of cobalt in worms after 4 weeks exposure reached 88% and 69% of the Co ions and Co NPs concentrations in food, respectively, while corresponding values for Ag ions and Ag NPs were 2.3% and 0.4%. Both Ag NPs and Ag ions in earthworms were excreted rapidly, while only 32% of the accumulated Co ions and Co NPs were excreted within a 4 months depuration period. High accumulation of cobalt was found in blood, and to a lesser extent in the digestive tract. Sequential extraction and centrifugal ultrafiltration provided useful information on metal speciation, dissolution and bioavailability of Co NPs and Ag NPs. Both Ag NPs and Ag ions were strongly bound to soil constituents, whereas Co NPs and Co ions were largely found as water soluble species, in good agreement with the results from the uptake study.
Abstract
The exponential increase in the use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in a variety of commercially available products has raised concerns about their release into environmental compartments. Soils in particular have been pointed out as a major environmental sink for ENMs, e.g. through the application of sewage sludge to soil. However, data are scarce on the fate of ENMs in soils and on their bioavailability to organisms once ENMs interact with the soil matrix. The main reason for this knowledge gap has been the methodological challenges to trace and quantify ENMs in complex matrices like soils due to the presence of abundant natural nanoparticles (e.g. clays, iron oxides, organic matter). Methods able to overcome this hurdle will be introduced, as well as their limitations. The aim of this lecture is to present the current state of knowledge on the fate, behavior and toxicity of some of the most commercialized ENMs (carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, metal and metal oxides) in terrestrial ecosystems. We will see the potential modifications ENMs may undergo in soils, namely agglomeration, adsorption to soil constituents, dissolution of particles, effects of pH and organic matter on their speciation, and how these parameters can influence their transport in soil and their bioavailability to organisms. Ecotoxicity will also be addressed, through studies on bacteria, nematodes and earthworms.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Bjørn Olav Rosseland Chhatra Mani Sharma Reidar Borgstrøm Marit Almvik Ole Martin EkloAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Gunnhild Riise Tore Krogstad Inggard Blakar Elin L. Gjengedal Ståle Haaland Johnny Kristiansen Kristine Naas Torgeir Reierstad Aleksandra Trnic Romarheim Johnson Rutsinda Sara ZambonAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Emmanuel Lapied Claire Coutris Elara Moudilou Jean-Marie Exbrayat Deborah H. Oughton Erik JonerAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Hans Geir Eiken Rune Andreassen Alexander Kopatz I WartiainenAbstract
The use of non-invasive sampling of hairs and scats in wildlife genetics opens the possibility for sampling and analyzing living populations of brown bears (Ursus arctos). The aims of this study have been to develop a quality assured approach for genetic assignment of individual identity of brown bears and to generate a population database that can be used for research, conservation management and forensics. Non-invasive genetic sampling was performed by collection of scats and hairs in the field during the time period from 2004 to 2008. Hair traps were applied to collect hairs from bears in selected geographical areas in 2007 and 2008. Genotypes from 13 STR loci were determined for 232 Norwegian bears. Initial analysis of the entire sample indicated a high level of substructure, and the sample was divided in four geographically different populations consisting of 206 individuals for further validation of the markers. Ten STRs (G1D, G10L, Mu05, Mu09, Mu10, Mu15, Mu23, Mu50, Mu51 and Mu59) conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations with only minor deviations, while the remaining three STR loci (G1A, Mu26 and G10B) were subjected to further molecular analysis. The average estimate of population substructure for Norwegian bears using 10 STRs (FST) was determined to be 0.1, while the estimate for inbreeding (FIS) was -0.02. Accounting for the FST-value, the average probability of identity (PIave) was 5.67 x 10-10 and the average probability of sibling identity (PIsib) was 1.68 x 10-4. Accreditation in accordance with the international standard ISO17025 was achieved for the described laboratory approach in 2009. We suggest that this approach and STR markers should also be considered to be used for other populations of brown bears in Northern Europe in order to ensure a common quality of the data as well as to facilitate exchange of information in conservation genetics.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Jens Rohloff Per Winge Jahn Davik May Bente Brurberg Keithanne Mockaitis Vladimir Shulaev Stephen K, Randall Atle M. Bones Muath AlsheikhAbstract
In order to support functional genomics research in octoploid (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) and diploid (F. vesca) strawberry, a customized Fragaria microarray chip was developed as a joint collaboration between Graminor Breeding Ltd. and NTNU. F. vesca cDNA sequences were provided by The Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University (an assembly of >3 million reads from GS-FLX Titanium - Roche/454 Life Sciences sequencing), and about 59,000 publicly available Fragaria EST sequences were uploaded from NCBI. In addition, ~190 Mb of preliminary draft genome sequences from F. vesca were provided by the Strawberry Genome Sequencing Consortium (courtesy to V. Shulaev). cDNAs used as templates for probe design were validated by BlastN against the F. vesca draft genome excluding cDNAs of microbial origin. Genes not represented in the cDNA collection were identified by screening F. vesca draft genome against protein sequences from Arabidopsis thaliana, Vitis vinifera, Ricinus communis and Populus trichocarpa. Exon sequences from genes not found in the cDNAs were included. In total, 43723 unique 60-mer probes were designed and the Agilent eARRAY tool was used to produce a 4x44k format microarray chip. Fragaria chip applicability and feasibility for transcriptional profiling was investigated using either abiotic (low temperature) or biotic (pathogenic fungi) stress treatment. Microarray data will be subsequently integrated with other omics data to address gene-regulatory networks and biological functions. Cold acclimation experiments were focused on short- and long-term effects in meristematic tissue, and revealed the up-regulation of ~100 cold-responsive genes (transcription factors, dehydrins, enzymes), and transcripts involved in starch breakdown and raffinose biosynthesis. Beside central metabolism, secondary metabolism was also strongly modulated as seen by changes in the expression of flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes. Time-course studies of transcriptional responses in F. vesca accessions showing contrasting resistance toward the pathogen Phytophthora cactorum are in progress, and will be presented in-depth.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered