Project
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Funded by The Carnegie Trust.
The quality of the environment we live in can impact on human health. However, the link between exposure to an environmental contaminant and its potential impact on the immune system is complex. Central to understanding this cause and effect is how we assess the contaminant’s influence on immune functions. Any negative impact on the immune system could lead to the body becoming susceptible to disease. This research focusses on the use of ionising radiation as a proxy for environmental quality, the exposure from which can be easily controlled. To mimic the human immune system, this project will adopt the greater waxmoth larvae as a model organism. This insect’s immune system possesses many similarities with the human system and is used by others to study infectious diseases. Furthermore, many insect models are monitored as “early warning systems” to detect environmental hazards. Impact of ionising radiation on the insect’s immune system will then be tested by exposing irradiated larvae to bacterial pathogens to determine susceptibility to disease along with other measures of fitness of the larvae. Data collected will help us determine how environmental contaminants affect our susceptibility to, and our ability to fight against infectious diseases.
Total award value £9,450.00
Lecturer, BES
Professor, Biological and Environmental Sciences
Article
Low dose γ-radiation induced effects on wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae
Copplestone D, Coates CJ & Lim J (2023) Low dose γ-radiation induced effects on wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae. Science of The Total Environment, 876, Art. No.: 162742. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162742
Article
Effect of acute ultraviolet radiation on Galleria mellonella health and immunity
Sabockyte A, McAllister S, Coates CJ & Lim J (2023) Effect of acute ultraviolet radiation on Galleria mellonella health and immunity. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, p. 107899. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022201123000162; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2023.107899
Conference Paper (published)
Biomarkers and Ecological indicators for Environmental Radioactivity in Invertebrates
Raines K, Goodman J, Copplestone D & Lim J (2022) Biomarkers and Ecological indicators for Environmental Radioactivity in Invertebrates. In: Wood MD, Mothersill CE, Tsakanova G, Cresswell T & Woloschak GE (eds.) Biomarkers of Radiation in the Environment. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology. NATO Advanced Research Workshop on 'Biomarkers of Radiation in the Environment: Robust Tools for Risk Assessment (BRITE)’, Yerevan, Armenia, 28.11.2017-30.11.2017. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer, pp. 245-270. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-2101-9_15
Article
Lim J (2022) Broad toxicological effects of Per-/Poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on the unicellular eukaryote, Tetrahymena pyriformis. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 95, Art. No.: 103954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2022.103954
Article
Krachler AM, Sirisaengtaksin N, Monteith P, Paine CET, Coates CJ & Lim J (2021) Defective phagocyte association during infection of Galleria mellonella with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is detrimental to both insect host and microbe. Virulence, 12 (1), pp. 638-353. https://doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2021.1878672