Area of Excellence Marine Environmental Research & Innovative Technology.

Area of ExcellenceArea of Excellence

Marine Environmental Research & Innovative Technology

OutlinOutlinee

1. An overview on MERIT

2. Relevance to environmental and public health

3. Research Programs

4. 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

5. Deliverables and impact

Aims of the AoE Aims of the AoE SchemeScheme

• “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 Selection Criteria of AoEAoE

1. “Research area where Hong Kong has a particular potential to develop a competitive edge internationally”

2. “Capable of attaining world class excellence”

3. “Relevance to social and economic development of Hong Kong”

4. “Build upon existing strength”

UGC

Centre for Marine Environmental Research & Innovative Technology (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

• 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

• 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

• 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 Relevance to social and economic development of economic development of Hong KongHong 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)


Killed >85% of culture fish Loss > $300 MUnacceptable levels of toxins in shellfish


CH

CCl

ClCl

ClCl

Highest level of pesticidesreported in human milk

ClCl

polychlorinated biphenyl

High level of PCBsIn marine mammals


• Numerous food poisonings & epidemic disease outbreaks• >3,600 hepatitis A, mostly due to consumption of oysters• Beach closure, 50% higher chance of contracting infection


• 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


• 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


Highlight of Research Highlight of Research Programs & SynergyPrograms & Synergy

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

Task Team 4

Control & bioremediation

Task Team 1

Novel technology for environmental diagnosis

Task Team 2


Task Team 3

Impact assessment models

Management Committee

•Chemical Technology(MIP, Biosensor, SPMD,Artificial mussels)

•Genomic Technology(DNA array for waterborne pathogen,Toxicogenomic studies)

•Biomarker Technology(Molecular, BiochemicalCytological, ImmunologicalPhysiological)

•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 & algaltoxins

•Ecological risk •Assessment model

•Cost effective Control (Immobilized algaeWetland, ionexchangeResins)

•Bioremediation(Bacteria and fungal degradation of PAHs)

•HABs(3D-GIS tracking Model, Clay, flocculants & polymers

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


Task Team 3

Development of impact assessment models

Technology transfer

Application to

environmental

management & regulations

Highlighting Novelty:Highlighting Novelty:

Novel Sciences leading to novel marketable technologies


Example 1: Artificial Mussels for metal monitoring

Problems with monitor metals in water

Large temporal variations Low concentration May not be biologically available

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

'

TIME

ug/LMetal

A B C

The “Mussel Watch” Program since 70’s

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 metalsNatural distribution of bio-indicators limits

comparison over a large geographic area

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

Plastic case

Polyacrylamide gel

Metal complexing agent (e.g. Chelex 100)

Advantages of “Artificial Mussels”

Take up and release metals similar to musselsEasy to make and cheap ($5 per piece)Provide time-integrated valueNot affected by physical factorsNot limited by location and pollution levels Provide comparison worldwide


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

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

• Epidemiological evidence has showed poor / no correlation between E. coli counts and water borne pathogens

• Tedious and time consuming (>48h)

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

600600

500500400400

200200

300300

BpBp MM

UidUid

EAEEAELT1LT1ST1ST1

VTVT

LT2LT2

Path

ogen

s

Path

ogen

sEscherichia coliEscherichia coli大腸桿菌大腸桿菌

Vibrio choleraeVibrio cholerae霍亂弧菌霍亂弧菌

Shigella Shigella dysenteriaedysenteriae志賀氏菌志賀氏菌

Salmonella Salmonella typhimuriumtyphimurium沙門氏桿菌沙門氏桿菌

Escherichia coliEscherichia coli大腸桿菌大腸桿菌

Vibrio choleraeVibrio cholerae霍亂弧菌霍亂弧菌

Shigella Shigella dysenteriaedysenteriae志賀氏菌志賀氏菌

Salmonella Salmonella typhimuriumtyphimurium沙門氏桿菌沙門氏桿菌

Q-mPCR for detecting pathogenic bacteria

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)

• Vibrio parahaemolyticus

(diverse toxigenic strains)

• Vibrio cholerae

(O1; non-O1; O139; etc)

GeneChipGeneChip


Example 3: Hypoxia as an endocrine disruptor and teratogen

Hypoxia is a pressing global problem

Hypoxia

Nutrients

Remove limiting factor

Algalbloom

Hypoxia

Organic Matters

Increase COD/BOD/SOD

Eutrophication

Decompose

Anthropogenic Activities

Male testosterone

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

4 weeks 8 weeks

*

***

(ng/ml)7.0 mg/L1.0 mg/L

* p<0.05; *** p<0.001

Male estradiol

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

4 weeks 8 weeks

**

***

7.0 mg/L1.0 mg/L

(ng/ml)

** p<0.01; *** p<0.001

Female testosterone and estradiol

0

2

4

6

8

10

Testosterone Estradiol

****

(ng/ml) 7.0 mg/L1.0 mg/L

***

* p<0.05; *** p<0.001

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

7 mg/L

1 mg/L

Curvilinevelocity

StraightLine velocity

AngularPath velocity

*

****

*

*: p < 0.05

µmS-1

0

20

40

60

80

100

7 mg/L

1 mg/L

Fertilization Hatching LarvalSurvival

Egg to Larvae

***

***

***

***

***: p < 0.001

%

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


Control 24hpfControl 48hpf

Hypoxia 24hpf Hypoxia 59hpf Hypoxia 122hpf

Hypoxia 0.5mg/l


Malformation caused by hypoxia

*****

0

20

40

60

80

100

48h 72h 96h 120h 168h

Time (hour)

Ma

lfo

rma

tio

n (

%) control 5.8mg/l

hypoxia 0.8mg/l

Shang & Wu, 2004

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

1. A world class marine research centre with high impact scientific output

2. Marketable novel technologies with a worldwide impact

3. Vital scientific input into environmental management at local, regional and global levels

4. Training of environmental managers in the region

5. Support the policy of the HK government and development of environmental industries

Thank you

Area of Excellence Marine Environmental Research & Innovative Technology.

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