HU-SRB Bilateral project "Invasive and blooming cyanobacteria in Serbian and Hungarian waters - a threat to fish?"

From March 14^th until 17^th, Eszti, Jelena and Ilija Šćekić (Master student in our group) were in Serbia as a part of our HU-SRB Bilateral project "Invasive and blooming cyanobacteria in Serbian and Hungarian waters - a threat to fish?".

In this project, we collaborate with our dear colleagues from the University of Novi Sad lead by prof. dr Zorica Svirčev. During their stay, they were hosted by colleagues from the Laboratory for Paleoenvironmental Research (LAPER) and Laboratory for Hydrobiology, Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, Novi Sad.

Our team had opportunity to visit Novi Sad Cyanobacterial Culture Collection (NSCCC) and Chamber for experimental research of BLOCDUST hypothesis that are part of LAPER long-term projects at the Department in Novi Sad.

The main goal of the visit was fieldwork and the first sampling of water, phytoplankton and fish on the Special Nature Reserve "Ludaš" for this year. Various fish tissues were collected for further histological analysis and examination of possible effects of continued water blooming that occurs in that lake.

After the successful field work, we got invitation to visit Palić Zoo where we were guests of Kristian Ovari, the main biologist at the Zoo. We spent nice time there in a friendly atmosphere; thank you Kristian.

We would also like to thank our hosts, especially dr Nada Tokodi, dr Damjana Drobac, Sándor Sipos and Nemanja Pankov for perfect organization, joint work and valuable support and help on the field.

Nemanja measuring physical-chemical parameters of the water

Nemanja taking water samples

Nemanja collecting phytoplankton

It is time for fish sampling

Sándor and Nemanja are ready...

...and go

Tissue collecting

Tissue collecting

Tissue collecting

Samples are ready

Chamber for experimental research of BLOCDUST hypothesis

Visit to the Department of Biology and Ecology with dr Desanka Kostić, dr Damjana Drobac and dr Nada Tokodi

Novi Sad Cyanobacterial Culture Collection (NSCCC)

Novi Sad Cyanobacterial Culture Collection (NSCCC)

Visit to Palić Zoo with our dear host Krstijan Ovari

Palić Zoo

Palić Zoo

New paper accepted in Fish Physiology and Biochemistry

A new paper in collaboration with our collegues from the Polish Academy of Sciences was accepted for publication in Fish Physiology and Biochemistry, entitled 'Optimisation of sodium and potassium concentrations and pH in the artificial seminal plasma of common carp Cyprinus carpio L.'.


Beata Irena Cejko, Ákos Horváth, Tímea Kollár, Eszter Kása, Jelena Lujić, Zoran Marinović, Béla Urbányi, Radosław Kajetan Kowalski
DOI: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10695-018-0491-3



Abstract
The effect of sodium and potassium concentrations as well as optimal pH on the motility of common carp Cyprinus carpio L. sperm during shortterm storage in artificial seminal plasma (ASP) was investigated. Sperm was collected from individual males (n = 5) and each sample diluted tenfold (1:9) in ASP (sperm:extender) containing 2 mM CaCl2, 1 mM Mg2SO4 and 20 mM Tris at pH 8.0 and supplemented by the following concentrations of sodium and potassium (mM/mM): 0/150, 20/130, 40/ 110, 75/75, 110/40, 130/20 and 150/0. The osmolality of all ASP variants was set at 310 mOsm kg−1 . Sperm motility was measured using a CASA system during 72 h of storage. Immediately after dilution, sperm motility was high (90%) both in each variant and in the control group (fresh sperm). After 72-h storage, the highest sperm motility was noted in ASP containing 110 mM NaCl and 40 mM KCl. No differences were found in the motility of samples preserved within the pH range of 7.0–9.0. Our data suggest that for the short-term storage of common carp sperm, whereas the pH of the solution does not play a crucial role, a specific potassium concentration of around 40 mM is required.

23rd Biotechnology Conference in Serbia

On 9^th and 10^th March our team participated at the 23^rd Biotechnology Conference organized by Agronomy Faculty, University of Kragujevac, Serbia. We used the opportunity to present the results of our current project.

Lujić J., Marinović Z., Kása E., Šćekić I., Urbányi B., Horváth Á. "Surrogate production in freshwater fish", 23^rd Biotechnology Conference, 9-10.March 2018; Čačak, Serbia.pp.123.

Opening ceremony

Opening ceremony

Jelena, Zoran and Ilija during poster section

Jelena presenting our work in poster section

Visit the monastery near Čačak with our colleagues from FYR Macedonia and University from Skopje

Dinner with colleagues from Serbia, FYR Macedonia and Bosnia and Hercegovina

With our friends from University of Tuzla (Bosnia and Hercegovina) and University of Kragujevac (Serbia)

New paper accepted in Environmental Science and Pollution Research (ESPR)

A new paper with the first authorship of Tímea Kollár was accepted for publication in Environmental Science and Pollution Research (ESPR), entitled "Development of an in vitro toxicological test system based on zebrafish (Danio rerio) sperm analysis".

Kollár, T., Kása, E., Ferincz, Á., Urbányi, B., Csenki-Bakos, Zs., Horváth, Á. 2018. Development of an in vitro toxicological test system based on zebrafish (Danio rerio) sperm analysis. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. In press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1613-2

ABSTRACT
The effect of seven heavy metals on the motility parameter of zebrafish sperm was tested in order to develop an in vitro toxicological test system as an alternative to live animal testing. In vitro test systems are currently preferred in ecotoxicology due to their practical and ethical advantages and fish sperm can be a suitable model. A number of studies had been carried out previously on this topic, but the described methods had not been standardized in numerous aspects (donor species, measured endpoint, etc.). In this study, heavy metals (mercury, arsenic, chromium, zinc, nickel, copper, cadmium) were used as reference toxicants with known toxicity to develop a standardized fish sperm in vitro assay. The tested concentrations were determined based on preliminary range finding tests. The endpoints were progressive motility (PMOT, %), curvilinear velocity (VCL, μm/s), and linearity (LIN, %) measured by a computer-assisted spermanalysis (CASA) system. According to our results,PMOT was the most sensitive of the three investigated parameters: dose-response curves were observed for each metal at relatively low concentrations. VCL values were less sensitive: higher concentrations were needed to observe changes. Of the three parameters,LIN was the least affected: dose-response relationship was observed only in the case of mercury (e.g., lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) of Hg at 120 min: 1 mg/L for PMOT, 2.5 mg/L for VCL, 5 mg/L for LIN; LOEC of Cu at 120 min: 1 mg/L for PMOT, 5 mg/L for VCL, any for LIN). The order of toxicity as determined by PMOT was as follows: Hg2+>As3+>Cd2+ >Cu2+>Zn2+>Cr3+>Ni2+. In conclusion, we found that PMOT of zebrafish sperm was an accurate and fast bioindicator of heavy metal load. Sperm analysis can be adopted to estimate the possible toxic effects of various chemicals in vitro. Future investigations should concentrate on the applicability of this assay to other contaminants (e.g., organic pollutants).

Stay of Nevena Kitanović

In February we had the pleasure of hosting Nevena Kitanović, PhD student of the University of Novi Sad in Serbia on a one-month training in the techniques used in our laboratory. During this period, Nevena had the chance to get acquainted with histology, transplantation and immune histochemistry. She has spend countless hours working on the microtome and other devices. Hopefully she will be able to use these to her benefit and to foster her career in science. Thank you, Nevena for visiting us and we wish you all the best!

Our team with Nevena

Hungarian-Belgian collaboration

Between February 13th and 20th, Ákos, Gergő and Dr. Zoltán Bokor visited Belgium and France in the frames of the Hungarian-Belgian (Wallonian) bilateral project. The objectives of the visit were to conduct experiments on the quality of sperm as well as endocrine status of pikeperch males following hormonal induction. In this project we collaborate with our partners Prof. Patrick Kestemont and Dr. Robert Mandiki of the University of Namur in Belgium. This time, we were also joined by our old friends Dr. Daniel Żarski and Dr. Jarosław Król of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland who spent a month in France working on an AQUAEXCEL2020 mission. The sampling went as planned and hopefully the results of the work will be published.

Ákos, Gergő, Sébastien Baekelandt, Zoltán Bokor, Imen Ben Ammar, Daniel Żarski, Jarosław Król and Robert Mandiki