Use of the Crustacean Artemia franciscana for Alternative Biotests

Abstract

Use of the crustacean Artemia franciscana for alternative biotests of the second generation was studied, and possible experimental design and applications of such tests outlined. In addition to the classical use in ecotoxicology, the test can be used in pharmacology as well, or to monitor the effects of ionizing radiation in co-exposure with some chemical compounds. The synergistic effect of co-exposure of PCB (DELOR 103), cadmium chloride and potassium dichromate with beta 89 Sr irradiation was shown. We also demonstrated the anti-oxidative and pro-oxidative effects of the ascorbic acid in dependence on its concentration. Use of the pharmaco-toxicological screening in search for the novel inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases was demonstrated as well, showing that Artemia franciscana may be used as a suitable biosensor instead of the expensive tests on higher vertebrates.

Selected Morphological Changes in Artemia franciscana after Ionizing Radiation Exposure

“…We used salt water with salinity of 47 g L -1 and pH value of 7.6 ± 0.1 in our experiments (Sterba 1983;Dvořák et al 2010 Hydration and hatching were carried out within 24 h at temperature of 25°C. The nauplius stages were divided after hatching into 6 plastic bottles each with a volume of 1 L. Due to retaining a sufficient amount of the air, only 250 mL of salt water solution with approximately 100 individuals were put into each bottle.…”

Solar Salterns and Pollution: Valorization of Some Endemic Species as Sentinels in Ecotoxicology

“…The test is carried out in salt water for 24 h. Dead organisms are counted using a magnifier [162]. Artemia salina may be used as a suitable biosensor instead of carrying out expensive tests on higher vertebrates [163]. A biotest using A. salina to monitor the cumulative effects of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in sediments has been published [164].…”

“…A biotest using A. salina to monitor the cumulative effects of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in sediments has been published [164]. Dvořák et al [163] demonstrated the possibility of using A. salina for biotests of the second generation as a sensor for the coexposure of a number of agents at various concentrations, such as trace metals and ionizing irradiation. The SiO 2 @NBDBIA material is used as biosensing probe for oxoanions (CrO 4 2− , Cr 2 O 7 2− , and MnO 4 − ) in the living organism A. salina through fluorescence imaging [165].…”