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My Research

PFAS and Cell Painting

The increasing need for ethical and efficient toxicological testing has driven the adoption of new approach methodologies (NAMs) to replace traditional animal models. Before NAMS became popular, animal testing was the primary method used to assess the dangers of chemicals and emerging pathogens. However, these studies are time extensive, expensive, and can lead to inconclusive results as these studies might not reveal the underlying physiological mechanism that the substance is affecting. This study aims to establish cell painting as a reliable new approach methodology to determine effects of chemical toxicity in cells. Cell painting highlights the different organelles and machinery of the cell by tagging the various parts of the cell with fluorescent dye. While this has been used to identify various parts within the cell, cell painting can also be used to observe organelle and mechanical changes. Using zebrafish cell lines as a model, this study aims to explore the potential of cell painting to enhance predictive toxicology and reduce reliance on mammalian models.

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My Project

Exploring New Approach Methodologies with a Focus on Cell Painting

Dr. Joseph Bisesi

College of Public Health and Health Professions

Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology

Affiliated with lab since August 2024

Project Responsibilities

This study would first require establishing healthy zebrafish cell lines and then upon cultivating healthy cells, exposing them to a variety of chemicals to establish a framework for toxicity assessment. Following the plating and exposure of these cells, fluorescent staining would be applied. This would allow for high quality imaging of the cells, creating a clear comparison between the control cells and exposed cells. This experiment would signify the differences between a healthy zebrafish cell and a chemically exposed cell as highlighted by cell painting, and in turn establish cell painting as a reliable and efficient method for testing toxicity. 

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