ERA helps biologist plunge into research on aquatic species

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Joanna Wilson.jpg” caption=”ERA recipient Joanna Wilson and her team are researching the impact of pharmaceutical discharge on aquatic life. File photo.”]Joanna Wilson, one of three 2011 Early Researcher Award recipients at McMaster, is diving into an
emerging field of research that investigates the impact of pharmaceutical compounds
on delicate aquatic ecosystems.

Wilson and her team are examining compounds and enzymes in drug metabolism that are not well-studied in non-mammalian species. The project, five years in the making, will report on the effects of contaminants on the reproduction, development and physiology of fish.

“When people use pharmaceuticals, substances are released into lakes, rivers and
waste-water treatment plants that are not engineered to deal with these compounds,”
said Wilson, an assistant professor of biology.”We don't know yet if these contaminants are a problem, or whether or not
pharmaceutical discharge should be regulated.”

The aim of her research is to find answers to these questions.

“Fish have an important role to play in aquatic ecosystems,” said Wilson. “They're also a
food source for humans and a significant part of our economy.”

Wilson's team is studying low concentrations (milligrams and nanograms per litre) and
chronic exposure to pharmaceuticals in order to understand what aquatic organisms
experience. The team is looking at the impacts of four main groups of pharmaceuticals –
pain-relievers, anti-depressants, lipid-regulators, and anti-epileptics – on various
species of fish.

“We use zebrafish to look for effects on reproduction because they breed all year-round
and their embryo shells are clear. This way, we can see when a developmental problem
has occurred,” said Wilson.

For other characteristics, such as the ability of major organs to regulate salt and water,
the team looks at rainbow trout, a much bigger fish native to Canada.

Wilson's recent experiments have shown that exposure to diluted or mixed
pharmaceuticals increases the mortality of zebrafish embryos. The team also observed
that similar exposure resulted in changes to major organs important for development in
adult rainbow trout.

“The main goal of my research is to find out how our use of pharmaceuticals impacts
the environment. I also want my lab work to be applicable to freshwater fish native to
Canada,” said Wilson.

Early Researcher Awards are granted annually to promising researchers to help them
build their teams of students, post-doctoral fellows, assistants and technicians.