Bivalves are widely used organisms in pollution monitoring, primarily due to their distribution and that they are efficient filter-feeders, thus being exposed to large volumes of potentially polluted water. The blood cells of mussels, hemocytes, is a useful model for effect studies, both in vivo and in vitro. Cellular processes can be monitored over time and with different exposure conditions using fluorescent probes and a multiwell exposure design. The project can accept one or two students, who will be involved in collecting mussels, performing exposure experiments in Sweden, sample, culture and expose hemocytes, then measuring cellular responses using a range of probes. The project is part of the EU Horizon project Contrast, which focuses on effects of emerging contaminants in marine ecosystems.
Contact Ketil Hylland (ketilhy@uio.no).