Flash presentation at InfoDays 2012 Environment Calls17 June Carla Falugi• University of Genova Academy – (Public Institution)- Italy Department for the Study of the Environment and its Resources (DIPTERIS) Laboratory of Experimental Embryology and Cytotoxicology Viale Benedetto XV, N5 16132 Genova Tel. +39010 3538055: Fax +39010 3538047 falugi@unige.it; www.dipteris.unige.it/ Main interest in studying the effects of environmental stressors on organismic health Main basic knowledge on mechanisms of fertilization and early development

Objectives: To develop toxicity tests on in vivo alternative models aimed at understanding the effects of environmental stressors on male fertility and possible reversibility, including embryonic anomalies of the offspring. To create human data base correlating pathologies and life style by cooperation with clinical partners Existing partnership: some partners of previous EU and National projects, supplying: electrophysiology, Biochemistry and histochemistry, bio-engineering and clinics. Requirements for additional partner(s): a) Policy makers, regulatory bodies, Industries, Clinical partners from incoming Countries, Statistics. Skills of My Lab: Biochemical and electrical mechanisms of fertilization; sperm viability and fertilizing ability; developmental anomalies in alternative models Interest in the topics of: Food, Combusted metal nanoparticles involvement in previous / on-going projects in the area: 2002-2005 coordinator of the project SENS-PESTI, QLK4-Ct-2002-0064 2009-2011: WP responsible of the EU project ENRICH 2010-ongoing: WP responsible of the project INESE, supported by IIT (IIT-SEEDS)

toxicity tests developed in the SENS PESTI (QLK4-CT-2002-0064) project – testing neurotoxic pesticides SEA URCHIN Gametes, embryos and larvae Spermiotoxicity Test (first generation) Embryotoxicity Test (second generation) Swimming behaviour (first and second generation) Endocrine disruption (metamorphosis) toxicity tests developed in the frame of the project (funded by IIT-GE) INESE= Impact Of Nanoparticles On Environmental Sustainability Passage from gut to coelom and accumulation in cells (ESEM-EDS) Morphology and DNA status of immunity cells Effects of the exposure to nanoparticles on the different ChE activities of the immunity cells ZEBRA FISH fertility/sterility and second generation embryonic anomalies/lethality Different methods of supply (ingestion with food, contact in water) All the experiments are followed by the analyses and statistics of biomarkers for functionality, electrophysiology, biochemical and histochemical activity of key enzymes