AoE press briefing 2005

Area of Excellence: 

Area of Excellence Marine Environmental Research & Innovative Technology

Outline: 

Outline An overview on MERIT Relevance to environmental and public health Research Programs Highlighting novelty Hypoxia as an endocrine disruptor and teratogen Artificial mussels to monitor heavy metals Multiplex Quantitative Real-time PCR and gene chip technology for monitoring waterborne pathogens Deliverables and impact

Aims of the AoE Scheme : 

Aims of the AoE Scheme “Maintain Hong Kong’s economic position in the development of China & the Pacific Rim” “Identify research areas where Hong Kong has particular potential to develop a competitive edge internationally” UGC

Selection Criteria of AoE : 

Selection Criteria of AoE “Research area where Hong Kong has a particular potential to develop a competitive edge internationally” “Capable of attaining world class excellence” “Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong” “Build upon existing strength” UGC

Centre for Marine Environmental Research & Innovative Technology (MERIT): 

Centre for Marine Environmental Research & Innovative Technology (MERIT)

MERIT: 

MERIT Selected by UGC as one of the eight “Areas of Excellence” (AoEs) in Hong Kong, considered as internationally competitive The only AoE dealing with environmental issues Awarded $45 millions for 5 years, starting April 2004, with additional matching from participating universities

MERIT: 

MERIT Lead by the CityU with the following membership: 12 from CityU 4 from HKU 3 from HKUST 2 from CUHK 2 from HKBU 1 from HKPU 7 overseas scientists from USA, Australia, Norway, China A multidisciplinary team with biologists, chemists, physicist, statistician, engineers, modelers

Our Mission: 

Our Mission Develop innovative chemical, biological and engineering technologies for: monitoring the health of marine environment pollution control bioremediation and risk assessment Conduct and foster high quality, multidisciplinary research relevant to the protection and conservation of the marine environment, especially in Hong Kong and the region

Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong: 

The Pearl River Delta and S. China (including Hong Kong) is the most rapidly developing region in the world One-third of Hong Kong and China’s GDP comes from the utilization of coastal resources Projected 28% increase (6.8 to 8.7 million) in the HK population by 2030 Marine pollution, a pressing world wide problem, poses a major threat to Hong Kong and China Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong

Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong: 

Great economic loss Port & airport development: >$200M ex-gratia payment 1998 Red tide: >$300M loss to the mariculture industry Disney Theme Park: >$450M for clean up Tourism Large scale development planned: Large scale urban development (>$240 billion) A 29 km bridge linking Hong Kong, Macau and the Mainland ($ 15.6 billion) Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong

Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong: 

Killed >85% of culture fish Loss > $300 M Unacceptable levels of toxins in shellfish Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong

Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong: 

Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong

Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong: 

Numerous food poisonings & epidemic disease outbreaks >3,600 hepatitis A, mostly due to consumption of oysters Beach closure, 50% higher chance of contracting infection Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong

Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong: 

MERIT will provide vital management information for: Policy, standards and regulations Cost effective environmental solutions Protection of the environment and public health Sustainable development Training to meet future demand in HK and the region Annual environmental consultancy work is ca. $80-100 M. Building our own capability to enable HK to retain this recurrent expenditure and provide employment opportunities Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong

Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong: 

Environmental technology expenditure in China (2001-2005) estimated at $600 billion and many technologies must be imported 10% of this share will translate into $6 billion and employment for 10-20 thousand workers for HK HKPC, Nov. 2003 Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong

Slide16: 

Highlight of Research Programs & Synergy

Slide17: 

Task Team 4 Control & bioremediation Task Team 1 Novel technology for environmental diagnosis Task Team 2 Field studies & validation Task Team 3 Impact assessment models Management Committee

Slide18: 

Task Team 4 Control & bioremediation Task Team 1 Novel technology for environmental diagnosis Task Team 2 Field studies & validation Task Team 3 Impact assessment models Management Committee Chemical Technology (MIP, Biosensor, SPMD, Artificial mussels) Genomic Technology (DNA array for water borne pathogen, Toxicogenomic studies) Biomarker Technology (Molecular, Biochemical Cytological, Immunological Physiological) Validation of novel technologies Ecosystem recovery (Plankton, benthos, Intertidal, microbial) Sensitive receivers Fate & carrying capacity Model (Data assimilation methods, Eutrophication model, Real time field data, Neural networks) Modeling Biokinetic of Xenobiotics & algal toxins Ecological risk Assessment model Cost effective Control (Immobilized algae Wetland, ion exchange Resins) Bioremediation (Bacteria and fungal degradation of PAHs) HABs (3D-GIS tracking Model, Clay, flocculants & polymers

Slide19: 

Task Team 4 Control & bioremediation Task Team 1 Novel technology for environmental diagnosis Task Team 2 Field studies & validation Task Team 3 Impact assessment models Management Committee Chemical Technology (MIP, Biosensor, SPMD, Artificial mussels) Genomic Technology (DNA array for water borne pathogen, Toxicogenomic studies) Biomarker Technology (Molecular, Biochemical Cytological, Immunological Physiological) Validation of novel technologies Ecosystem recovery (Plankton, benthos, Intertidal, microbial) Sensitive receivers Fate & carrying capacity Model (Data assimilation methods, Eutrophication model, Real time field data, Neural networks) Modeling Biokinetic of Xenobiotics & algal toxins Ecological risk Assessment model Cost effective Control (Immobilized algae Wetland, ion exchange Resins) Bioremediation (Bacteria and fungal degradation of PAHs) HABs (3D-GIS tracking Model, Clay, flocculants & polymers

Slide20: 

Task Team 4 Control & bioremediation Task Team 1 Novel technology for environmental diagnosis Task Team 2 Field studies & validation Task Team 3 Impact assessment models Management Committee Chemical Technology (MIP, Biosensor, SPMD, Artificial mussels) Genomic Technology (DNA array for water borne pathogen, Toxicogenomic studies) Biomarker Technology (Molecular, Biochemical Cytological, Immunological Physiological) Validation of novel technologies Ecosystem recovery (Plankton, benthos, Intertidal, microbial) Sensitive receivers Fate & carrying capacity Model (Data assimilation methods, Eutrophication model, Real time field data, Neural networks) Modeling Biokinetic of Xenobiotics & algal toxins Ecological risk Assessment model Cost effective Control (Immobilized algae Wetland, ion exchange Resins) Bioremediation (Bacteria and fungal degradation of PAHs) HABs (3D-GIS tracking Model, Clay, flocculants & polymers

Slide21: 

Task Team 4 Control & bioremediation Task Team 1 Novel technology for environmental diagnosis Task Team 2 Field studies & validation Task Team 3 Impact assessment models Management Committee Chemical Technology (MIP, Biosensor, SPMD, Artificial mussels) Genomic Technology (DNA array for water borne pathogen, Toxicogenomic studies) Biomarker Technology (Molecular, Biochemical Cytological, Immunological Physiological) Validation of novel technologies Ecosystem recovery (Plankton, benthos, Intertidal, microbial) Sensitive receivers Fate & carrying capacity Model (Data assimilation methods, Eutrophication model, Real time field data, Neural networks) Modeling Biokinetic of Xenobiotics & algal toxins Ecological risk Assessment model Cost effective Control (Immobilized algae Wetland, ion exchange Resins) Bioremediation (Bacteria and fungal degradation of PAHs) HABs (3D-GIS tracking Model, Clay, flocculants & polymers

Slide22: 

Scientific information relevant to environmental management Prototype technologies & models Validated technologies & models Licensing & marketing of products Training (regional & local training courses, research students) Cost-effective environmental solutions, environmental standards and regulations Task Team 4 Development of mitigation and control technologies Task Team 1 Development of novel technology for environmental diagnosis Task Team 2 Field studies & validation Task Team 3 Development of impact assessment models Technology transfer Application to environmental management & regulations

Highlighting Novelty: Novel Sciences leading to novel marketable technologies: 

Highlighting Novelty: Novel Sciences leading to novel marketable technologies

Highlighting Novelty: Example 1: Artificial Mussels for metal monitoring: 

Highlighting Novelty: Example 1: Artificial Mussels for metal monitoring

Slide25: 

Problems with monitor metals in water Large temporal variations Low concentration May not be biologically available TIME ug/L Metal A B C

The “Mussel Watch” Program since 70’s : 

The “Mussel Watch” Program since 70’s

Problems with using mussels: 

Problems with using mussels Metal contents are significantly affected by physical and biological factors Animals may be intolerant of (or affected by) prevailing environmental conditions Different species may take up different metals Natural distribution of bio-indicators limits comparison over a large geographic area

“Artificial Mussel”: A novel device for heavy metal monitoring: 

“Artificial Mussel”: A novel device for heavy metal monitoring

Slide29: 

Plastic case Polyacrylamide gel Metal complexing agent (e.g. Chelex 100)

Advantages of “Artificial Mussels”: 

Advantages of “Artificial Mussels” Take up and release metals similar to mussels Easy to make and cheap ($5 per piece) Provide time-integrated value Not affected by physical factors Not limited by location and pollution levels Provide comparison worldwide

Highlighting Novelty: Example 2:Quantification of water borne pathogens using Multiplex PCR & DNA Chip Technology : 

Highlighting Novelty: Example 2: Quantification of water borne pathogens using Multiplex PCR & DNA Chip Technology

E. coli has been used as an indicator because:: 

E. coli has been used as an indicator because: There are more than 10 different pathogens Impossible/impractical to detect so many different pathogens in a water sample Some pathogens are difficult to culture or cannot be cultured E. coli is abundant in mammalian guts and therefore indicates general fecal contamination

Problems with the use of E. coli as an indicator: 

Problems with the use of E. coli as an indicator Epidemiological evidence has showed poor / no correlation between E. coli counts and water borne pathogens Tedious and time consuming (>48h)

Advantages of Multiplex PCR: 

Advantages of Multiplex PCR Simultaneous detection of several pathogens in a single sample Highly specific and sensitive High throughout (5 h) instead of days Low cost ($50 per sample) Detect species that are hard to culture

Q-mPCR for detecting pathogenic bacteria: 

Escherichia coli 大腸桿菌 Vibrio cholerae 霍亂弧菌 Shigella dysenteriae 志賀氏菌 Salmonella typhimurium 沙門氏桿菌 Q-mPCR for detecting pathogenic bacteria

Q-mPCR for detecting viral pathogens: 

輪狀病毒 (Rotavirus) 甲型肝炎病毒 (Hepatitis A virus) 諾沃克類病毒 (Norwalk-like virus) Q-mPCR for detecting viral pathogens

Pathogen Chip(seafood and waterborne pathogens): 

Pathogen Chip (seafood and waterborne pathogens) Vibrio parahaemolyticus (diverse toxigenic strains) Vibrio cholerae (O1; non-O1; O139; etc)

Highlighting Novelty: Example 3: Hypoxia as an endocrine disruptor and teratogen: 

Highlighting Novelty: Example 3: Hypoxia as an endocrine disruptor and teratogen

Slide40: 

Hypoxia is a pressing global problem Hypoxia

Slide41: 

Nutrients Remove limiting factor Algal bloom Hypoxia Organic Matters Increase COD/BOD/SOD Eutrophication Decompose Anthropogenic Activities

Male testosterone: 

Male testosterone * *** (ng/ml) 7.0 mg/L 1.0 mg/L * p<0.05; *** p<0.001

Male estradiol: 

Male estradiol ** *** 7.0 mg/L 1.0 mg/L (ng/ml) ** p<0.01; *** p<0.001

Female testosterone and estradiol: 

Female testosterone and estradiol *** * (ng/ml) 7.0 mg/L 1.0 mg/L *** * p<0.05; *** p<0.001

Slide45: 

Curviline velocity Straight Line velocity Angular Path velocity * *** * * *: p < 0.05 µmS-1

Slide46: 

Fertilization Hatching Larval Survival Egg to Larvae *** *** *** *** ***: p < 0.001 %

Hypoxia is a teratogen: 

Hypoxia 0.8mg/l 22 hpf 96 hpf 53 hpf 72 hpf Many embryos developed for several days without vascular systems Hypoxia is a teratogen

Slide48: 

Hypoxia is a teratogen Control 24hpf Control 48hpf Hypoxia 24hpf Hypoxia 59hpf Hypoxia 122hpf Hypoxia 0.5mg/l

Hypoxia is a teratogen: 

Hypoxia is a teratogen Shang & Wu, 2004

Conclusion: 

Conclusion Hypoxia disrupts the balance of testosterone and estradiol in both male and female carps, which in turn, impairs gamatogenesis, sperm and egg quality, fertilization success, hatching and survival of larvae Hypoxia causes malformation during fish development and produce abnormal fish Our results may explain: The observed decline of fish populations in hypoxic waters worldwide The observed high prevalence of deformities in hypoxic wasters

Deliverables & impact: 

Deliverables & impact

Deliverables & impact: 

Deliverables & impact A world class marine research centre with high impact scientific output Marketable novel technologies with a worldwide impact Vital scientific input into environmental management at local, regional and global levels Training of environmental managers in the region Support the policy of the HK government and development of environmental industries

Slide53: 

Thank you