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Diazinon treatment and
recovery
 Sequence of opening
with impending
death
Cilia are a sensitive
Indicator of
perturbation
Cilia beating halts
with
a chemical insult
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Project
Summary:
Sub-chronic disruption of
water supplies poses both a real and
lesser-perceived public panic threat to water
supply usage, especially in large metropolitan
areas. This research investigates the sub-chronic
disruption of water supply systems by 1) broad
spectrum detection of contaminants using the zebra
mussel Dreissena polymorpha as an ambient, whole
organism sensory probe; and 2) use of mussel
ciliated epithelium for toxin specific
quantification of contaminant threats. The
research thesis focuses on the use of the zebra
mussel response as a sensitive sentinel system for
municipal water supply.
Organism
Response:
The broad-spectrum detection of
chemical contaminants uses a 'mussel monitor' for
tracking shell opening of eight mussels. The
initial response is a decrease of the time the
shell is opened. This is followed by a recovery if
the insult is sub-acute (top figure) or death if
the insult is acute (second figure).
Cilia Response:
Cilia are
desirable biological assay components used as
highly sensitive biomonitors. Cilia structure and
function is remarkably conservative in all animals
that possess them. They are essentially the same
in protozoan, mussel or human, thus a very direct
human connection can be made. Cilia abnormalities
are related to numerous human diseases.
A wide variety of chemo-insults are know to
modify or shutdown cilia function. The lower
figure depicts a close-up of the third figure
showing a pesticide induced permanent metachronic
dyskinesis (cilia death). Provisional dyskinesis
(temporary shutdown), and disruption of
antiplectic and symplectic (beating) patterns may
also result.
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About WATER
