About the Research
The Environmental Health Program collaborates with scientists from the Functional and Molecular Bioassay Laboratory to apply and modify microbial and eukaryotic reporter bioassays to detect the presence of bioactive chemicals in environmental water samples. These analyses compliment analytical chemistry and biological datasets. The laboratory adapts and applies cell isolation and culture methods to measure cellular responses of fish immune and liver tissues exposure to contaminants or other stressors. Analyses include functional endpoints and quantitative gene expression analysis. In the instance of insufficient genetic data for the non-model species of interest, the laboratory establishes in-house de novo sequence databases via high throughput sequencing methods.
Key Analytical Capabilities
- Bioassay screening for genotoxic, mutagenic and endocrine active compounds
- In vitro screening and molecular/ functional response profiling of cultured cells
- Image analysis-based flow cytometry
- Automated cell imaging and High Content Screening
- Functional genomics, quantitative gene expression analysis (quantitative polymerase chain reaction [qPCR] or digital, absolute copy measurements)
- Identification of biomarker genes in non-model organisms
- Virus discovery
Key Instrumentation
- Multimode plate reader for bioassay end-point measurements and ELISA
- nCounter (Nanostring) for multiplex, digital, gene expression analysis
- QX200 Droplet Digital PCR System
- QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR System
- High throughput sequencing (MiSeq)
- Image analysis-based flow cytometric analysis for functional cell assays
- ImageXpress Pico
- Extraction equipment for solid phase extraction of water samples
- Overview
About the Research
The Environmental Health Program collaborates with scientists from the Functional and Molecular Bioassay Laboratory to apply and modify microbial and eukaryotic reporter bioassays to detect the presence of bioactive chemicals in environmental water samples. These analyses compliment analytical chemistry and biological datasets. The laboratory adapts and applies cell isolation and culture methods to measure cellular responses of fish immune and liver tissues exposure to contaminants or other stressors. Analyses include functional endpoints and quantitative gene expression analysis. In the instance of insufficient genetic data for the non-model species of interest, the laboratory establishes in-house de novo sequence databases via high throughput sequencing methods.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Primary leukocytes have been isolated from experimental fish to evaluate functional immune responses following in vitro stimulation.(Credit: Luke R. Iwanowicz, USGS. Public domain.) Key Analytical Capabilities
- Bioassay screening for genotoxic, mutagenic and endocrine active compounds
- In vitro screening and molecular/ functional response profiling of cultured cells
- Image analysis-based flow cytometry
- Automated cell imaging and High Content Screening
- Functional genomics, quantitative gene expression analysis (quantitative polymerase chain reaction [qPCR] or digital, absolute copy measurements)
- Identification of biomarker genes in non-model organisms
- Virus discovery
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.USGS scientist preparing plates for yeast bioassay screening of surface water extracts(Credit: Luke R. Iwanowicz, USGS. Public domain.)
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Screen capture of primary hepatocytes isolated from experimental smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) visualized following image-based flow cytometric analysis(Credit: Luke R. Iwanowicz, USGS. Public domain.) Key Instrumentation
- Multimode plate reader for bioassay end-point measurements and ELISA
- nCounter (Nanostring) for multiplex, digital, gene expression analysis
- QX200 Droplet Digital PCR System
- QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR System
- High throughput sequencing (MiSeq)
- Image analysis-based flow cytometric analysis for functional cell assays
- ImageXpress Pico
- Extraction equipment for solid phase extraction of water samples
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.The nCounter SPRINT† system simultaneously analyzes transcript abundance of hundreds of genes in a single sample(Credit: Luke R. Iwanowicz, USGS. Public domain.)
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Image-based flow cytometer for cell population analysis(Credit: Luke R. Iwanowicz, USGS. Public domain.)
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Multimode, microplate reader(Credit: Luke R. Iwanowicz, USGS. Public domain.)