Date of Award

8-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Biology

Department

Biology

First Reader/Committee Chair

Bournias-Vardiabasis, Nicole

Abstract

Of the over 80,000 chemicals used commercially in the United States, few have had sufficient safety and toxicological information collected. To further reduce animal usage, methods that will lessen reliance upon traditional animal toxicology testing and increase the usage of alternative, high throughput toxicology screening methods are being explored. One such method is the utilization of biomarkers and bioreporters in model organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster. The biomarkers, HSP22 and HSP70 have been successfully utilized in various studies involving Drosophila melanogaster bioreporter constructs to evaluate chemical toxicity. In this study, both an in vivo and in vitro HSP22 and HSP70 bioreporter model was utilized to evaluate the induction of both HSPs in response to exposure to the organophosphates Diazinon, Dimethoate, Phorate, and Profenofos. Of the 4 organophosphates tested, only Diazinon exposure led to the induction of HSP70 in the in vivo bioreporter model and both HSP22 and HSP70 in the in vitro bioreporter models. Dimethoate, Phorate, and Profenofos did not induce HSP22 or HSP70 at all concentrations tested. Both the in vivo and in vitro bioreporter constructs utilized in this study can be further developed, tested, and ultimately be utilized as indicators of HSP22 or HSP70 expression post chemical exposure for other chemical classes or novel chemicals.

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