Das Projekt "Emmy Noether-Nachwuchsgruppen, Development and risk assessment of transgenic environmentally-friendly insect pest control methods for fruit flies and mosquitoes" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Universität Gießen, Institut für Phytopathologie und Angewandte Zoologie, Abteilung Angewandte Entomologie.Various species of pest insects cause substantial damage to agriculture every year, or transmit deadly diseases to animals and humans. A successful strategy to control pest insect populations is based on the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), which uses the release of mass-reared, radiation sterilized male insects to cause infertile matings and thus reduce the pest population level. However, irradiation is not applicable to every insect species. Thus, new strategies based on genetic modifications of pest insects have been developed or are currently under investigation.The goal of the proposed research is to improve the development and ecological safety of genetically engineered (GE) insects created for enhanced biological control programs, including the SIT and new strategies based on conditional lethality. A major concern for GE insect release programs is transgene stability, and maintenance of their consistent expression. Transgene loss or intra-genomic movement could result in loss of strain attributes, and may ultimately lead to interspecies movement resulting in ecological risks. To address potential transgene instability, a new transposon vector that allows post-integration immobilization will be tested in the Mediterranean, Mexican and Oriental fruit fly tephritid pest species. In addition, the system will be established in the mosquito species Aedes and Anopheles - carriers of dengue and malaria.Random genomic insertion is also problematic for GE strain development due to genomic position effects that suppress transgene expression, and insertional mutations that negatively affect host fitness and viability. Diminished transgene expression could result in the unintended survival of conditional lethal individuals, or the inability to identify them. To target transgene vectors to defined genomic insertion sites having minimal negative effects on gene expression and host fitness, a recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE) strategy will be developed that. RMCE will also allow for stabilization of the target site, will be tested in tephritid and mosquito species, and will aid to the development of stabilized target-site strains for conditional lethal biocontrol. This will include a molecular and organismal evaluation of an RNAi-based lethality approach. Lethality based on an RNAi mechanism in the proposed insects would increase the species specificity and having multiple targets for lethality versus one target in existing systems. By seeking to improve transgene expressivity and stabilization of transposon-based vector systems, this proposal specifically addresses issues related to new GE insects by reducing their unintended spread after field release, and by limiting the possibilities for transgene introgression.
Das Projekt "Ecological-physical linkages in fluvial eco-hydromorphology" wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Technische Universität Dresden, Institut für Wasserbau und Technische Hydromechanik.Recent discussions on the path eco-hydromorphic research has followed in the past decades highlight the need for greater ecological input into this field. Traditional approaches have been criticized for being largely correlation-based (Vaughan et al., 2009) ecological black boxes (Leclerc, 2005) and strongly relying on weak, disproven and/or outdated assumptions about the dynamics of stream biota (Lancaster & Downes, 2010). In recognition of this, process-oriented research aiming at elucidating and quantifying causal mechanisms has been proposed as a promising approach, though challenging, to study the relations between flow, morphodynamics and biological populations in running waters. In terms of levels of biological organization, it has been recognized that processes determining the response of aquatic biota to hydromorphological alteration occur mainly at the population level. In this sense, relating demographic rates to flow and morphology seems to offer great potential for progress (Lancaster & Downes, 2010). Thus, tapping into existing ecological knowledge (e.g., key patch approach for habitat networks, Verboom et al. 2001; metapopulation theory, Levins 1970; Hanski & Gaggiotti 2004, landscape-scale estimations of habitat suitability and carrying capacity, Reijnen et al. 1995; Duel et al. 1995 2003; population-level viability estimations; Akçakaya 2001; resource utilization scales, ONeill et al. 1988; habitat-use patterns, Milne et al. 1989) in order to link ecology to hydromorphology at a more fundamental level constitutes an important path towards better science and management.
Das Projekt "Cytotoxicity of nanoparticles independent from oxidative stress" wird/wurde gefördert durch: European Center for Nanotoxicology (EURO-NanoTox). Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: ZMF - Center for Medical Research.The use of nano-sized materials offers exciting new options in technical and medical applications. On the other hand, adverse effects on cells have been reported and may limit their use. In addition to physico-chemical parameters like contamination with toxic elements, fibrous structure and high surface charge, the generation of radical species was identified as key mechanism for cytotoxic action of nanoparticles. The cytotoxic potential of nanoparticles in the absence of radical generation is less well investigated. This study aims to investigate the size-dependent effect of carboxyl polystyrene particles on cells derived from various organs was studied to identify potential adverse effects of these particles. Particles were characterized in different solutions to assess the influence of the medium on size and surface charge. Viability, membrane integrity, apoptosis, proliferation and generation of oxidative stress were investigated. In addition the intracellular localization of the particles was recorded.
Das Projekt "Scenarios for the transport system and energy supply and their potential effects (STEPS)" wird/wurde gefördert durch: Kommission der Europäischen Gemeinschaften Brüssel. Es wird/wurde ausgeführt durch: Buck Consultants International B.V., Department of Economics, Spatial Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.Objective: To achieve the tasks of Research Domain 1.10, the proposed project STEPS has the following overall objective:to develop, compare and assess possible scenarios for the transport system and energy supply of the future taking into account the state of the art of relevant research within and outside of the 6th RTD Framework and such criteria as the autonomy and security of energy supply, effects on the environment and economic, technical and industrial viability including the impact of potential cost internalisation and the interactions between transport and land use.To achieve this overall objective, STEPS has chosen a two-way approach. As the task description mentions research and assessment, modelling and forecasting activities on the one hand and co-ordination, comparison and dissemination activities on the other, the consortium has come up with a work plan consisting of two main activity 'lines': A Co-ordination activities (clustering meetings, dissemination, publications etc.); B Supporting research activities (scenario development, evaluation and assessment). These two lines of activities are closely related and constantly influencing each other. In all phases of the project,the interlinking of the two 'paths' will ensure a fruitful cross-fertilisation. Moreover, the chosen approach offers an added value to a project plan strictly confined to one of the two activities (research and co-ordination/dissemination).To achieve the project's goals, a well-balanced consortium of renowned research institutes, experienced in the fields of scenario-building and modelling, transport research and energy has been composed. Together with external experts, representatives of governments and other relevant authorities, market parties and transport and energy organisations, this consortium will make the possible consequences on the transport systems and energy supply of the future of the implementation of transport innovations, or the lack thereof, clear'.