Biology subjects

Pamminger, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Pamminger, T..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Missing genomic resources for the next generation of environmental risk assessment

Environmental risk assessment traditionally relies on a wide range of in vivo testing to assess the potential hazard of chemicals in the environment. These tests are often time-consuming, costly and can cause test organisms suffering. Recent developments of reliable low-cost alternatives, both in vivo- and in silico-based, opened the door to reconsider current toxicity assessment. However, many of these new approach methodologies (NAMs) rely on high quality annotated genomes for surrogate species of the regulatory risk assessment. Currently, lacking genomic information slows the process of NAM development. Here, we present a phylogenetically resolved overview of missing genomic resources for surrogate species within regulatory ecotoxicological risk assessment. We call for an organized and systematic effort within the (regulatory) ecotoxicological community to provide these missing genomic resources. Further, we discuss the potential of a standardized genomic surrogate species landscape to enable a robust and non-animal reliant ecotoxicological risk assessment in the systems ecotoxicology era. Synopsis StatementWe identify missing genomic resources needed for the development and regulatory acceptance of new approach methodologies in environmental risk assessment.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2021

How much pollen do solitary bee larvae consume? Or establishing realistic exposure estimates of solitary bee larvae via pollen for the use in risk assessment

Bees foraging in agricultural habitats can be exposed to plant protection products. In order to limit the risk of adverse events to occur a robust risk assessment is needed, which requires reliable estimates for the expected exposure. Especially the exposure pathways to developing solitary bees are not well described and in the currently proposed form rely on limited information. To address this topic, we used a published data set on the volume of pollen solitary bees provide for their larvae to build two scaling models predicting the amount of protein and pollen developing solitary bees need based on adult body weight. We test our models using both literature and experimental data, which both support the validity of the presented models. Using scaling models in the bee risk assessment could complement existing risk assessment approaches, facilitate the further development of accurate risk characterization for solitary bees and ultimately will help to protect them during their foraging activity in agricultural settings.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2020

Extrapolating acute bee sensitivity to insecticides using a phylogenetically informed interspecies scaling framework

Plant protection products, including insecticides, are important for global food production. Historically, research of the adverse effects of insecticides on bees has focused on the honeybee (Apis mellifera), while non-Apis bee species remained understudied. Consequently, sensitivity assessment of insecticides for the majority of bees is lacking, which in turn hinders accurate risk characterization and consequently bee protection. Interspecies sensitivity extrapolation based on body weight offers a potential solution to this problem, but in the past such approaches have often ignored the phylogenetic background and consequently non independence of species used in such models. Using published data on the sensitivity of different bee species to commonly used insecticides, their body weight and phylogenetic background I build interspecies scaling models (ISMs) applying a phylogenetically informed framework. In addition, I compared, the relative sensitivity of the standard test species Apis mellifera to other bee species to evaluate their protectiveness when used as standards screening bee species in the risk assessment process. I found that overall 1) body weight is a predictor of bee sensitivity to insecticides for a range of insecticide classes and 2) A. mellifera is the most sensitive standard test species currently available and consequently a suitable surrogate species for ecotoxicological risk assessment.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2017

First indication of acetylcholine-based communication in honeybee haemocytes and its modulation by a neonicotinoid insecticide

There is growing concern that some managed and wild insect pollinator populations are in decline, potentially threatening biodiversity and sustainable food production on a global scale. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that sub-lethal exposure to neurotoxic, neonicotinoid pesticides can negatively affect pollinator immunocompetence and amplify the effects of diseases, likely contributing to pollinator declines. Here we show that a range of non-neural tissues and haemocytes of the honeybee Apis mellifera express the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor that is the target of neonicotinoids. In addition, we demonstrate that the haemocytes, which form the cellular arm of the innate immune system, actively synthesize acetylcholine. This suggests the presence of a neural-independent acetylcholine-based immune signalling system in insects similar to that found in vertebrates. Lastly we establish that field-relevant doses of the neonicotinoid insecticide clothianidin alter this communication system. These findings provide a novel, mechanistically informed framework to understand the numerous siede-effects on insects of sub-lethal pesticide exposure, including immunosuppression. They support the growing evidence for acetylcholine-based immune regulation in invertebrates that operates independently of the nervous system.

ecology↗