Genetic Toxicology

In the last two years the group studied the DNA damaging properties caused by synthetic cannabinoids, environmental risks caused by release of cytostatic drugs, the DNA damaging effects caused by obesity, the safety of mobile phone specific electromagnetic fields, the improvement of existing experimental models for in vitro genotoxicity studies. The group contributed substantially to the validation and standardization of micronucleus assay in human buccal cells.

Impact of overweight and obesity on DNA instability

Obesity is the most important diet-associated human cancer risk. We found in a mouse model in which the animals were fed with a Western diet that obesity leads to DNA damage in a variety of inner organs, increased of oxidative damage and induction of inflammatory cytokines. Also epigenetic alterations in a number of DNA-repair associated genes were found. Dietary interventions with gallic acid, epigallocatechingallat and vitamin E led to a decrease of the damage.

Environmental risk assessment of cytostatic drugs

Between 2011 and 2015 the group was involved in an international EU project (CYTOTHREAT) which focused on acute and genotoxic effects of cytostatic drugs. We used results of this project for the calculation of environmental risks caused by the release of widely used drugs in the environment.

Investigations concerning the DNA-damaging properties of high and low frequency electromagnetic fields

The experiments are conducted in the frame of a new project (NIRMES) sponsored by AUVA. We investigate in collaboration with colleagues of the Department of Environmental Health if co-exposure to chemicals at workplaces and mobile phone-specific fields lead to an increase of the extent of DNA-damage.

Identification of metabolically competent cell lines

These cells can lead to a substantial reduction of genotoxicity experiments with rodents as they have a higher sensitivity/ specificity as other experimental models for the detection of genotoxic carcinogens.

International networks

An interlaboratory calibration study concerning micronucleus assay in buccal cells was realized in which 13 institutions were involved. The group of Prof. Knasmueller served as one of three reference laboratories. A further collaborative network in which the group is involved is the hCOMET project with 24 European research institutions.

Figure 1: Detection of mutagens in bacteria (Salmonella/microsome assays) (Figure a), in single cell gel electrophoresis assays with cells different origins (Figure b) and in micronucleus experiments with lymphocytes (Figure c). For environmental studies we use often Tradescantia plants (Figure d).

Ozonation of Waste Water

A collaborative study with the Technical University of Vienna is currently realized. It concerns the impact of ozonation on the genotoxic/ carcinogenic properties of treated urban waste water. Preliminary results show that the O3-treatment leads to a reduction of chromosomal aberrations caused by urban water in liver derived cells and indicate that earlier findings of adverse effects obtained in bacterial tests are probably not relevant for humans.

Genotoxicity of glyphosate

The carcinogenic/ genotoxic properties of the most widely used herbicide are currently controversially discussed. We are studying the induction of DNA-damage in human derived liver cell lines and also in different inner organs of rodents.

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