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Metallothionein gene and protein expression as a biomarker for metal pollution in natural gudgeon populations
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Gudgeons (Gobio gobio) from historically Cd and Zn contaminated sites in Flanders (Belgium) were found to be resistant to elevated Cd levels. In previous work, this increased resistance was largely explained by increased metallothionein (MT) expression. Recently, environmental cleanup efforts resulted in a significant decrease in Cd concentrations in the surface water. In this study, we evaluated the use of hepatic metal and metallothionein (MT) concentrations as biomarkers of metal exposure before and after the cleanup. Hepatic MT mRNA levels were determined after the environmental metal levels decreased in order to assess the applicability of MT gene expression as an environmental biomarker in natural fish populations. Our data show that both metallothionein protein and gene expression have the potential to be sensitive biomarkers for metal exposure. Significant correlations were found (a) among accumulated metal concentrations and both MT protein and mRNA levels, and (b) between MT protein and mRNA levels. However, our data illustrated that while MT protein and gene expression give a quantitative picture of metal load at a single time point, quantitative information in natural populations cannot always be obtained when different time points (including different years) are compared, since MT gene and protein expression are affected by many other factors in addition to the metal load. Furthermore, the result of the environmental cleanup was reflected in a decrease of hepatic Cd concentrations. Zn remained the most important factor determining MT concentrations. Finally, two differently sized MT mRNAs were amplified to test the hypothesis that 3′-UTR length can offer a protective advantage in conditions of environmental stress. Our data provided no evidence to support this hypothesis. In contrast, the ratio of the long mRNA variant relative to total MT mRNA was surprisingly constant, and independent of exposure history. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Metallothionein-like Proteins as Cost-efficient Medchansism to Reduce Fitness Effects of Cadmium Exposure
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Metapopulation processes affecting diversity and distribution of myrmecophiles associated with red wood ants.
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Method assessment and observer variation in age estimation: A comparative analysis of the Suchey-Brooks and the İşcan methods on an archaeological medieval population
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Age-at-death estimation methods have faced challenges in their applicability to past populations. This study aims to evaluate the assessment and observer variability of the Suchey-Brooks (SB) and İşcan methods within archaeological contexts. Our sample consisted of 400 individuals from the medieval cemetery of the Dunes Abbey in Koksijde, Belgium. The skeletal remains exhibited good preservation, especially for the İşcan methods, which showed higher sensitivity to preservation conditions. Intra- and inter-observer variation were investigated using Spearman correlation coefficients, Wilcoxon paired ranks test, and Cohen's kappa test. The Spearman coefficient revealed a strong positive correlation, with a moderate to almost excellent kappa coefficient for both intra- and inter-observer error. Overall, the SB method displayed better inter-observer agreement, while the İşcan method presented better intra-observer agreement. Applying these methods to younger individuals resulted in less variability. Certain descriptive phase categories, such as phase III for the SB method and phase 3 and 4 for the İşcan methods, seemed problematic. Only 188 sufficiently preserved individuals could be scored using both the SB and the İşcan methods. They were classified into age groups, and the methods assessment were evaluated using the same statistical approach. The Spearman correlation coefficient indicated consistent age group attribution between the two methods (rho = 0.92), with a moderate to almost excellent agreement (k = 0.45; wk = 0.91). Overall, the two methods mainly differ by only one age group, except for older adults. The SB method tended to assign older age groups compared to İşcan's method, leading to effective overestimation.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2023
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Methodology for heritage conservation in Belgium based on multi-temporal interferometry
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Soil differential settlements that cause structural damage to heritage buildings are precipitating cultural and economic value losses. Adequate damage assessment as well as protection and preservation of the built patrimony are priorities at national and local levels, so they require advanced integration and analysis of environmental, architectural and historical parameters. The GEPATAR project (GEotechnical and Patrimonial Archives Toolbox for ARchitectural conservation in Belgium) aims to create an online interactive geo-information tool that allows the user to view and to be informed about the Belgian heritage buildings at risk due to differential soil settlements. Multi-temporal interferometry techniques (MTI) have been proven to be a powerful technique for analyzing earth surface deformation patterns through time series of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images. These techniques allow to measure ground movements over wide areas at high precision and relatively low cost. In this project, Persistent Scatterer Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (PS-InSAR) and Multidimensional Small Baseline Subsets (MSBAS) are used to measure and monitor the temporal evolution of surface deformations across Belgium. This information is integrated with the Belgian heritage data by means of an interactive toolbox in a GIS environment in order to identify the level of risk. At country scale, the toolbox includes ground deformation hazard maps, geological information, location of patrimony buildings and land use; while at local scale, it includes settlement rates, photographic and historical surveys as well as architectural and geotechnical information. Some case studies are investigated by means of on-site monitoring techniques and stability analysis to evaluate the applied approaches. This paper presents a description of the methodology being implemented in the project together with the case study of the Saint Vincent’s church which is located on a former colliery zone. For this building, damage is assessed by means of PS-InSAR.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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Meules et aiguisoirs de deux occupations distinctes à « Nereth 2 » (Baelen).
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RBINS Staff Publications 2024
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Micro-computed tomography for natural history specimens: a handbook of best practice protocols
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Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT or microtomography) is a non-destructive imaging technique using X-rays which allows the digitisation of an object in three dimensions. The ability of micro-CT imaging to visualise both internal and external features of an object, without destroying the specimen, makes the technique ideal for the digitisation of valuable natural history collections. This handbook serves as a comprehensive guide to laboratory micro-CT imaging of different types of natural history specimens, including zoological, botanical, palaeontological and geological samples.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2019
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Microbilogical, clinical and molecular findings of non-typhoidal Salmonella bloodstream infections associated with malaria, Oriental Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
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RBINS Staff Publications 2016
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Microbiomes of aquatic animals
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RBINS Staff Publications 2023
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Microdiversity inside macrobiodiversity: Zoonotic risk along the Congo river
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RBINS Staff Publications
