Person:
Martín Fernández, Margarita

First Name

Margarita

Last Name

Martín Fernández

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/80450

Affiliation

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Faculty / Institute

Veterinaria

Department

Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

Area

Bioquímica y Biología Molecular

Identifiers

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Now showing 1 - 9 of 9

Copper and Chrkomium toxicity is mediated by oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans: The use of nanoparticles as an immobilization strategy
(Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2022) Sánchez-Fortún Rodríguez, Sebastián; Martín Fernández, Margarita; Costa Buitrago, Gonzalo Antonio; Nande Barbeitos, María Del Mar; Garrido, Elena; Fajardo Martínez, Carmen María; Martín, Carmen
Environmental contamination by heavy metals (HMs) has impelled searching for stabilization strategies, where the use of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) is considered a promising option. We have evaluated the combined effect of Cu(II)-Cr(VI) on two Caenorhabditis elegans strains (N2 and RB1072 sod-2 mutant) in aqueous solutions and in a standard soil, prior and after treatment with nZVI (5% w/w). The results showed that HMs aqueous solutions had an intense toxic effect on both strains. Production of reactive oxygen species and enhanced expression of the heat shock protein Hsp-16.2 was observed, indicating increased HM-mediated oxidative stress. Toxic effects of HM-polluted soil on worms were higher for sod-2 mutant than for N2 strain. However, nZVI treatment significantly diminished all these effects. Our findings highlighted C. elegans as a sensitive indicator for HMs pollution and its usefulness to assess the efficiency of the nanoremediation strategy to decrease the toxicity of Cu(II)-Cr(VI) polluted environments.
Bioassays to assess the ecotoxicological impact of polyethylene microplastics and two organic pollutants, simazine and ibuprofen
(Chemosphere, 2021) Martín, Carmen; Fajardo Martínez, Carmen María; Costa Buitrago, Gonzalo Antonio; Sánchez-Fortún Rodríguez, Sebastián; San Andrés Larrea, María Dolores De; González Gómez, Fernando; Nande Barbeitos, María Del Mar; Mengs, Gerardo; Martín Fernández, Margarita
Research on the environmental impact of plastics, especially on the effect of microplastics (MPs), has become a priority issue in recent years, mainly in terrestrial ecosystems where there is a lack of studies. This work aims to assess the impact of two types of polyethylene MPs, white microbeads (W) and fluorescent blue microbeads (FB), and their interactions with two contaminants, ibuprofen (Ib) and simazine (Sz), on different organisms. A set of bioassays for Vibrio fischeri, Caenorhabditis elegans and Lactuca sativa was carried out, which helped to establish the ecotoxicological impact of those pollutants. C. elegans showed the least sensitivity, while V. fischeri and L. sativa showed a high toxicological response to MPs alone. We found that W and FB induced an inhibition of 27% and 5.79%, respectively, in V. fischeri, and the growth inhibition rates were near 70% in L. sativa for both MPs. MPs exhibited a potential role as contaminant vectors in V. fischeri since the inhibition caused by W-Ib or W-Sz complexes was near 39%. The W-Sz complex significantly reduced leaf development in L. sativa, and a reduction of 30% in seed germination was detected when the complex FB-Sz was tested. This study reveals the importance of designing a complete set of analyses with organisms from different trophic levels, considering the great variability in the effects of MPs and the high number of relevant factors.
Femtosecond double-pulse laser ablation and deposition of Co-doped ZnS thin films
(Nanomaterials, 2020) López Quintas, Ignacio; Rebollar, Esther; Ávila Brande, David; Izquierdo, Jesús G.; Díaz-Guerra Viejo, Carlos; Urbieta Quiroga, Ana Irene; Castillejo, Marta; Nalda, Rebeca de; Martín Fernández, Margarita
Nanostructured thin films of Co-doped zinc sulfide were synthesized through femtosecond pulsed laser deposition. The scheme involved ablation of physically mixed Co and ZnS with pairs of ultrashort pulses separated in time in the 0-300 ps range. In situ monitorization of the deposition process was carried out through a simultaneous reflectivity measurement. The crystallinity of generated nanoparticles and the inclusion of Co in the ZnS lattice is demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (TEM-EDX) characterization. Surface morphology, Raman response, and photoluminescence of the films have also been assessed. The role of interpulse temporal separation is most visible in the thickness of the films obtained at the same total fluence, with much thicker films deposited with short delays than with individual uncoupled pulses. The proportion of Co in the synthesized doped ZnS nanoparticles is found to be substantially lower than the original proportion, and practically independent on interpulse delay.
Effects of polyethylene-type microplastics on the growth and primary production of the freshwater phytoplankton species Scenedesmus armatus and Microcystis aeruginosa
(Environmental and Experimental Botany, 2021) Sánchez-Fortún Rodríguez, Sebastián; Fajardo Martínez, Carmen María; D'Ors De Blas, Ana; Martín, C.; Nande, Mar; Mengs, Gerardo; Costa Buitrago, Gonzalo Antonio; Martín Fernández, Margarita; Sánchez-Fortún Herrero, Ana
The ecological impacts of microplastic particles are primary environmental concerns. In this study, we selected three polyethylene particles (white, blue and fluorescent-blue microspheres, PE-MPs) and tested their effects on the growth and photosynthetic activity of the green algae Scenedesmus armatus and the cyanobacterium Micro-cystis aeruginosa after 28 days of exposure to 250, 500 and 1000 μg mL.
Efectos del tratamiento con bazedoxifeno sobre la calidad ósea en ratas ovariectomizadas
(Revista de osteoporosis y metabolismo mineral, 2020) Torrubia, B.; Martín Fernández, Margarita; Rubert, M.; Gómez-Chinchón, M.; Recio Visedo, María Paz; Piedra, C. de la
Objetivo: El bazedoxifeno es un SERM de 3ª generación con efectos agonistas sobre el hueso y sobre el útero y el tejido mamario. Nuestro objetivo ha sido estudiar los efectos del bazedoxifeno sobre la calidad ósea en un modelo experimental de ratas ovariectomizadas. Material y métodos: Se utilizaron 3 grupos de 15 ratas Wistar hembras de 6 meses de edad: uno control; otro de ratas ovariectomizadas; y un tercer grupo de ratas ovariectomizadas tratadas con bazedoxifeno (0,33 mg/kg/día). Tras 8 meses se estudiaron la densitometría ósea lumbar y femoral, los parámetros microtomográficos, los marcadores bioquímicos de remodelado y los parámetros biomecánicos del hueso. Resultados: La ovariectomía descendió la densidad ósea femoral y lumbar. La última se recuperó parcialmente con bazedoxifeno. El remodelado óseo aumentó, recuperando el bazedoxifeno los niveles de formación. El bazedoxifeno recuperó la fracción volumétrica ósea (BV/TV), la densidad de superficie ósea (BS/TV), el aumento en la separación trabecular (Tb.Sp), la disminución en el número de trabéculas (Tb.N), el aumento del factor de patrón trabecular (Tb.Pf) y el índice de modelo estructural (SMI). La superficie relativa cortical aumentó tras la ovariectomía, normalizándose con bazedoxifeno. También recuperó la deformación máxima antes de la rotura producida por la ovariectomía, y amortiguó parcialmente la ganancia de peso de las ratas ovariectomizadas. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio muestra resultados positivos del bazedoxifeno sobre la calidad ósea. Este fármaco podría estar especialmente indicado para mujeres jóvenes postmenopáusicas con osteoporosis o en riesgo de padecerla.
Assessing the role of polyethylene microplastics as a vector for organic pollutants in soil: Ecotoxicological and molecular approaches
(Chemosphere, 2021) Fajardo Martínez, Carmen María; Martín, Carmen; Costa Buitrago, Gonzalo Antonio; Sánchez-Fortún Rodríguez, Sebastián; Rodríguez Fernández, Casilda; Lucas Burneo, José Julio De; Nande, Mar; Mengs, Gerardo; Martín Fernández, Margarita
Microplastics (MPs), pharmaceuticals and pesticides are emerging pollutants with proposed negative impacts on the environment. Rising interest in investigations of MPs is likely related to their potential to accumulate in agricultural systems as the base of the food chain. We applied an integrated approach using classic bioassays and molecular methods to evaluate the impact associated with a mixture of three types of polyethylene (PE) microbeads, namely, white (W), blue (B), and fluorescent blue (FB), and their interactions with pollutants (OCs), including ibuprofen (IB), sertraline (STR), amoxicillin (AMX) and simazine (SZ), on different soil organisms. PE-MPs exhibited different abilities for the adsorption of each OC; W selectively adsorbed higher amounts of SZ, whereas B and FB preferably retained AMX. Standard soil was artificially contaminated with OCs and MPs (alone or combined with OCs) and incubated for 30 days. The presence of MPs or MPs and OCs (MIX) in soil did not produce any effect on Caenorhabditis elegans endpoint growth, reproduction, or survival. Inhibition of leaf growth in Zea mays was detected, but this negative effect declined over time, while the inhibition of root growth increased, especially when OCs (32%) or MIX (47%) were added. Moreover, the expression of the antioxidant genes CAT 1, SOD-1A and GST 1 on plants was affected by the treatments studied. The addition of MPs or MIX significantly affected the soil bacteria phylogenetic profile, which selectively enriched members of the bacterial community (particularly Proteobacteria). The predicted functional profiles of MP/MIX samples indicated a potential impact on the carbon and nitrogen cycle within the soil environment. Our results indicate that MPs and their capability to act as pollutant carriers affect soil biota; further studies should be carried out on the bioavailability of OCs adsorbed by microplastics and how long it takes to leach these OCs into different organisms and/or ecosystems.
Transcriptomic and physiological effects of polyethylene microplastics on Zea mays seedlings and their role as a vector for organic pollutants
(Chemosphere, 2023) Martín, Carmen; Piredda, Michela; Fajardo, Carmen; Costa Buitrago, Gonzalo Antonio; Sánchez-Fortún Rodríguez, Sebastián; Nande Barbeitos, María Del Mar; Mengs, Gerardo; Martín Fernández, Margarita
The widespread employment of plastics in recent decades has resulted in the accumulation of plastic residues in all ecosystems. Their presence and degradation into small particles such as microplastics (MPs) may have a negative effect on plant development and therefore on crop production. In this study, the effects of two types of polyethylene MPs on Zea mays seedlings cultured in vitro were analysed. In addition, four organic pollutants (ibuprofen, simazine, sertraline, and amoxicillin) were adsorbed by the MPs to evaluate their capacity as other contaminant vectors. The development of the plants was negatively affected by MPs alone or with the organic compounds. The strongest effect was observed in the W-MPs treatments, with a reduction in leaf and root length near 70%. Chlorophyll content was also differentially affected depending on the treatment. Transcriptome analysis showed that MPs affected gene expression in the roots of maize seedlings. As observed in the physiological parameters analysed, some gene expression changes were associated with specific treatments, such as changes in sugar transport genes in the B-MIX treatment. These results contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of plants in regard to plastic stress responses.
Biofilm formation on polyethylene microplastics and their role as transfer vector of emerging organic pollutants
(Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023) Fajardo, Carmen; Sánchez-Fortún Rodríguez, Sebastián; Videira-Quintela, Diogo; Costa Buitrago, Gonzalo Antonio; Martín, Carmen; Nande Barbeitos, María Del Mar; D'Ors De Blas, Ana; Guillén, Francisco; Montalvo, Gemma; Martín Fernández, Margarita
Microplastic (MP)-colonizing microorganisms are important links for the potential impacts on environmental, health, and biochemical circulation in various ecosystems but are not yet well understood. In addition, biofilms serve as bioindicators for the evaluation of pollutant effects on ecosystems. This study describes the ability of three polyethylene-type microplastics, white (W-), blue (B-), and fluorescent blue (FB-) MPs, to support microbial colonization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the effect of mixed organic contaminants (OCs: amoxicillin, ibuprofen, sertraline, and simazine) on plastic-associated biofilms, and the role of biofilms as transfer vectors of such emerging pollutants. Our results showed that P. aeruginosa had a strong ability to produce biofilms on MPs, although the protein amount of biomass formed on FB-MP was 1.6- and 2.4-fold higher than that on B- and W-MP, respectively. When OCs were present in the culture medium, a decrease in cell viability was observed in the W-MP biofilm (65.0%), although a general impairing effect of OCs on biofilm formation was ruled out. Microbial colonization influenced the ability of MPs to accumulate OCs, which was higher for FB-MP. In particular, the sorption of amoxicillin was lower for all bacterial-colonized MPs than for the bare MPs. Moreover, we analysed oxidative stress production to assess the impact of MPs or MPs/OCs on biofilm development. The exposure of biofilms to OCs induced an adaptive stress response reflected in the upregulation of the katB gene and ROS production, particularly on B- and FB-MP. This study improves our understanding of MP biofilm formation, which modifies the ability of MPs to interact with some organic pollutants. However, such pollutants could hinder microbial colonization through oxidative stress production, and thus, considering the key role of biofilms in biogeochemical cycles or plastic degradation, the co-occurrence of MPs/OCs should be considered to assess the potential risks of MPs in the environment.
Evaluation of nanoremediation strategy in a Pb, Zn and Cd contaminated soil
(Science of the Total Environment, 2020) Fajardo, Carmen; Sánchez-Fortún Rodríguez, Sebastián; Costa Buitrago, Gonzalo Antonio; Nande Barbeitos, María Del Mar; Botias, Pedro; García-Cantalejo, Jesús; Mengs, Gerardo; Martín Fernández, Margarita
We addressed the efficiency of a nanoremediation strategy using zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI), in a case of co-mingled heavy metals (HM) pollution (Pb, Cd and Zn). We applied a combined set of physical-chemical, toxicological and molecular analyses to assess the effectiveness and ecosafety of nZVI (5% w/w) for environmental restoration. After 120 days, nZVI showed immobilization capacity for Pb (20%), it was scarcely effective for Zn (8%) and negligibly effective for Cd. The HMs immobilization in the nZVI treated soils (compared to control soil), reaches its maximum after 15 days (T3) as reflected in the decrease of HM toxicity towards V. fischeri. The overall abundance of the microbial community was similar in both sets of samples during all experiment, although an increase in the number of metabolically active bacteria was recorded 15 days post treatment. We studied the induced impact of nanoremediation on the soil microbial community structure by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Even when higher HM immobilization was recorded, no significant recovery of the microbial community structure was found in nZVI-treated soil. The most marked nZVI-induced structural shifts were observed at T3 (increase in the Firmicutes population with a decrease in Gram-negative bacteria). Predictive metagenomic analysis using PICRUSt showed differences among the predicted metagenomes of nZVI-treated and control soils. At T3 we found decrease in detoxification-related proteins or over-representation of germination-related proteins; after 120 days of nZVI exposure, higher abundance of proteins involved in regulation of cellular processes or sporulation-related proteins was detected. This study highlights the partial effectiveness of nanoremediation in multiple-metal contaminated soil in the short term. The apparent lack of recovery of biodiversity after application of nZVI and the decreased effectiveness of nanoremediation over time must be carefully considered to validate this technology when assurance of medium- to long-term immobilization of HMs is required.