
Physiology and Environmental Toxicology
Physiology and Environmental Toxicology
The research in the Physiology and Environmental Toxicology program involves the use of molecular tools and experimental models to study and understand how cellular and molecular mechanisms in animals and plants leave an imprint on the whole organism's physiology and development. Our research aims to understand in detail how tissue-specific gene regulation and cell-cell communication together coordinate the functions of cells, which then form the basis for the development, function and behaviors of the entire plant or animal.
By gaining detailed knowledge of how cells are organized internally and how their molecular reactions and biochemical processes are regulated, it is possible to gain an increased knowledge of how external factors or diseases can affect organisms and their adaptation to different environments. In environmental toxicology, we study how some of the thousands of chemicals found in the environment affect various functions in humans and animals. We use a number of different model organisms from aquatic vertebrates to cell models and microorganisms "on-a-chip". An example is zebrafish, where we have access to advanced technologies for genetic disease modeling and substance exposure integrated with phenotypic evaluation.
All our teachers and PhD students are strongly committed to teaching at all levels and are responsible for, among other things, for undergraduate courses in cell biology, neurobiology, plant and animal physiology and toxicology. Read more about our master's programs below and about PhD programs here.
- Behrendt lab – Ecotoxicology–on–a–chip
- Eklund lab – Development in plants
- Guerrero-Bosagna lab – Environmental epigenetics
- Jönsson lab - Metabolism and adipose tissue development
- Ledin lab – Danio readout service
- Mackenzie lab - Brain anatomy and function
- Rüegg lab – Molecular toxicology and epigenetics
- Schmitz lab – Fish endocrinology
- Söderhäll lab – Invertebrate immunology
Our Master Programs

Read about our masterprograms in Environmental Toxicology and Genetic and Molecular Plant Biology.
Our latest publications
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Augstein, Frauke
Mechanisms of plant root xylem developmental plasticity in response to water deficiency and salt
2022
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Baur, Philipp; Kuehl, Michael; Comba, Peter; Behrendt, Lars
Possible Functional Roles of Patellamides in the Ascidian-Prochloron Symbiosis
2022
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Caporale, Nicolo; Leemans, Michelle; Birgersson, Lina; Germain, Pierre-Luc; Cheroni, Cristina; Borbely, Gabor; Engdahl, Elin; Lindh, Christian; Bressan, Raul Bardini; Cavallo, Francesca; Chorev, Nadav Even; D'Agostino, Giuseppe Alessandro; Pollard, Steven M.; Rigoli, Marco Tullio; Tenderini, Erika; Tobon, Alejandro Lopez; Trattaro, Sebastiano; Troglio, Flavia; Zanella, Matteo; Bergman, Ake; Damdimopoulou, Pauliina; Jönsson, Maria; Kiess, Wieland; Kitraki, Efthymia; Kiviranta, Hannu; Nanberg, Eewa; Oberg, Mattias; Rantakokko, Panu; Ruden, Christina; Soder, Olle; Bornehag, Carl-Gustaf; Demeneix, Barbara; Fini, Jean-Baptiste; Gennings, Chris; Rüegg, Joëlle; Sturve, Joachim; Testa, Giuseppe
From cohorts to molecules: Adverse impacts of endocrine disrupting mixtures
2022
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Tsakoumis, Emmanouil; Ahi, Ehsan Pashay; Schmitz, Monika
Impaired leptin signaling causes subfertility in female zebrafish
2022
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Hallberg, Ida; Persson, Sara; Olovsson, Matts; Moberg, Mikaela; Ranefall, Petter; Laskowski, Denise; Damdimopoulou, Pauliina; Sirard, Marc-Andre; Rüegg, Joëlle; Sjunnesson, Ylva C. B.
Bovine oocyte exposure to perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) induces phenotypic, transcriptomic, and DNA methylation changes in resulting embryos in vitro
2022
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Lindholm, Caroline; Batakis, Petros; Altimiras, Jordi; Lees, John
Intermittent fasting induces chronic changes in the hepatic gene expression of Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus)
2022
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Hernandez-Perez, Ariadne; Zamora-Briseno, Jesus Alejandro; Söderhäll, Kenneth; Söderhäll, Irene
Gut microbiome alterations in the crustacean Pacifastacus leniusculus exposed to environmental concentrations of antibiotics and effects on susceptibility to bacteria challenges*
2022
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Rodriguez, Emiliano A. Videla; Pèrtille, Fábio; Guerrero-Bosagna, Carlos; Mitchell, John B. O.; Jensen, Per; Smith, V. Anne
Practical application of a Bayesian network approach to poultry epigenetics and stress
2022
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Cediel Ulloa, Andrea; Lupu, Diana; Johansson, Ylva; Hinojosa, Maria; Ozel, Fatih; Rüegg, Joëlle
Impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals on neurodevelopment: the need for better testing strategies for endocrine disruption-induced developmental neurotoxicity
2022
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Xiao, Linhong; Johansson, Sofia; Rughöft, Saskia; Burki, Fabien; Mendez Sandin, Miguel; Tenje, Maria; Behrendt, Lars
Photophysiological response of Symbiodiniaceae single cells to temperature stress
2022
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Svanholm, Sofie
The Xenopus tropicalis model for developmental endocrine and reproductive toxicity: Histological and molecular endpoints for disrupted spermatogenesis
2022
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Augstein, Frauke; Carlsbecker, Annelie
Salinity induces discontinuous protoxylem via a DELLA-dependent mechanism promoting salt tolerance in Arabidopsis seedlings
2022
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Cediel Ulloa, Andrea; Yu, Ximiao; Hinojosa, Maria; Johansson, Ylva; Forsby, Anna; Broberg, Karin; Rüegg, Joëlle
Methylmercury-induced DNA methylation-From epidemiological observations to experimental evidence
2022
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Söderhäll, Irene; Söderhäll, Kenneth
Blood cell formation in crustaceans.
2022
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Xiao, Linhong; Antczak, Philipp; Rüegg, Joëlle; Behrendt, Lars
Zeitotox: Toxicology and the Rhythms of Life
2022
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Söderhäll, Irene; Fasterius, Erik; Ekblom, Charlotta; Söderhäll, Kenneth
Characterization of hemocytes and hematopoietic cells of a freshwater crayfish based on single-cell transcriptome analysis
2022
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Lagercrantz, Ulf; Billhardt, Anja; Rousku, Sabine N.; Landberg, Katarina; Thelander, Mattias; Eklund, D. Magnus
PIF-independent regulation of growth by an evening complex in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha
2022
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Pereira, Maria J.; Vranic, Milica; Kamble, Prasad G.; Jernow, Henning; Kristofi, Robin; Holbikova, Ema; Skrtic, Stanko; Kullberg, Joel; Svensson, Maria K.; Hetty, Susanne; Eriksson, Jan
CDKN2C expression in adipose tissue is reduced in type II diabetes and central obesity: impact on adipocyte differentiation and lipid storage?
2022
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Lizunkova, Polina; Engdahl, Elin; Borbely, Gabor; Gennings, Chris; Lindh, Christian; Bornehag, Carl-Gustaf; Rüegg, Joëlle
A Mixture of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Associated with Lower Birth Weight in Children Induces Adipogenesis and DNA Methylation Changes in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
2022
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Guillaumin, Adriane; Vlcek, Bianca; Wallén-Mackenzie, Åsa
Improving well-being and survival in the 6-OHDA lesion model of Parkinson´s disease in mice: Literature review and step-by-step protocol
2022
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Philippot, Gaëtan; Hosseini, Kimia; Yakub, Armine; Mhajar, Yasser; Hamid, Mariam; Buratovic, Sonja; Fredriksson, Robert
Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) and its Effect on the Developing Mouse Brain
2022
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Agrillo, Caroline
DNA methylation modifications in human mesenchymal stem cells induced by exposure to endocrine disrupting plasticiser metabolites MBP, MEP, MBzP, MEHP and MINCH
2022
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Engdahl, Elin; Alavian-Ghavanini, Ali; Forsell, Yvonne; Lavebratt, Catharina; Rüegg, Joëlle
Childhood adversity increases methylation in the GRIN2B gene
2021
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Guillaumin, Adriane; Serra, Gian Pietro; Georges, Francois; Wallén-Mackenzie, Åsa
Experimental investigation into the role of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in motor control using optogenetics in mice
2021
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Hernández-Pérez, Ariadne; Söderhäll, Kenneth; Sirikharin, Ratchanok; Jiravanichpaisal, Pikul; Söderhäll, Irene
Vibrio areninigrae as a pathogenic bacterium in a crustacean
2021
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Lee, Kang Soo; Pereira, Fatima C.; Palatinszky, Marton; Behrendt, Lars; Alcolombri, Uria; Berry, David; Wagner, Michael; Stocker, Roman
Optofluidic Raman-activated cell sorting for targeted genome retrieval or cultivation of microbial cells with specific functions
2021
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Bornehag, Carl-Gustaf; Engdahl, Elin; Hallerback, Maria Unenge; Wikström, Sverre; Lindh, Christian; Rüegg, Joëlle; Tanner, Eva; Chris, Gennings
Prenatal exposure to bisphenols and cognitive function in children at 7 years of age in the Swedish SELMA study
2021
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Pohl, Johannes; Golovko, Oksana; Carlsson, Gunnar; Örn, Stefan; Schmitz, Monika; Ahi, Ehsan Pashay
Gene co-expression network analysis reveals mechanisms underlying ozone-induced carbamazepine toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos
2021
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Cerenius, Lage; Söderhäll, Kenneth
Immune properties of invertebrate phenoloxidases
2021
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Carrara, Francesco; Sengupta, Anupam; Behrendt, Lars; Vardi, Assaf; Stocker, Roman
Bistability in oxidative stress response determines the migration behavior of phytoplankton in turbulence
2021
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Carlsbecker, Annelie; Augstein, Frauke
Xylem versus phloem in secondary growth: a balancing act mediated by gibberellins
2021
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Blanc, Melanie; Antczak, Philipp; Cousin, Xavier; Grunau, Christoph; Scherbak, Nikolai; Rüegg, Joëlle; Keiter, Steffen H.
The insecticide permethrin induces transgenerational behavioral changes linked to transcriptomic and epigenetic alterations in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
2021
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Liu, Hai-peng; Söderhäll, Kenneth
Introduction for special issue: Antiviral immunity in invertebrates
2021
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Delp, Johannes; Cediel Ulloa, Andrea; Suciu, Ilinca; Kranaster, Petra; van Vugt-Lussenburg, Barbara M. A.; Munic Kos, Vesna; van der Stel, Wanda; Carta, Giada; Bennekou, Susanne Hougaard; Jennings, Paul; van de Water, Bob; Forsby, Anna; Leist, Marcel
Neurotoxicity and underlying cellular changes of 21 mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitors
2021
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Philippot, Gaetan; Hellsten, Sofie V; Viberg, Henrik; Fredriksson, Robert
Evaluation of the dentate gyrus in adult mice exposed to acetaminophen (paracetamol) on postnatal day 10
2021
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Ahi, Ehsan Pashay; Tsakoumis, Emmanouil; Brunel, Mathilde; Schmitz, Monika
Transcriptional study reveals a potential leptin-dependent gene regulatory network in zebrafish brain
2021
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Tsakoumis, Emmanouil
The role of leptin in zebrafish (Danio rerio): Novel insights into appetite regulation and reproduction
2021
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Mouchlianitis, Foivos Alexandros; Bobori, Dimitra; Tsakoumis, Emmanouil; Sapounidis, Argyris; Kritikaki, Efpraxia; Ganias, Kostas
Does fragmented river connectivity alter the reproductive behavior of the potamodromous fish Alburnus vistonicus?
2021
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Engdahl, Elin; Svensson, Katherine; Lin, Ping-I Daniel; Alavian-Ghavanini, Ali; Lindh, Christian; Ruegg, Joelle; Bornehag, Carl-Gustaf
DNA methylation at GRIN2B partially mediates the association between prenatal bisphenol F exposure and cognitive functions in 7-year-old children in the SELMA study
2021
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van der Stel, Wanda; Carta, Giada; Eakins, Julie; Delp, Johannes; Suciu, Ilinca; Forsby, Anna; Cediel Ulloa, Andrea; Attoff, Kristina; Troger, Florentina; Kamp, Hennicke; Gardner, Iain; Zdrazil, Barbara; Mone, Martijn J.; Ecker, Gerhard F.; Pastor, Manuel; Gomez-Tamayo, Jose Carlos; White, Andrew; Danen, Erik H. J.; Leist, Marcel; Walker, Paul; Jennings, Paul; Bennekou, Susanne Hougaard; van de Water, Bob
New Approach Methods (NAMs) Supporting Read-Across: Two Neurotoxicity AOP-based IATA Case Studies
2021
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Hallberg, Ida; Persson, Sara; Olovsson, Matts; Sirard, Marc-Andre; Damdimopoulou, Pauliina; Rüegg, Joëlle; Sjunnesson, Ylva C. B.
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposure of bovine oocytes affects early embryonic development at human-relevant levels in an in vitro model
2021
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Olivares-Castro, Gabriela; Caceres-Jensen, Lizethly; Guerrero-Bosagna, Carlos M.; Villagra, Cristian
Insect Epigenetic Mechanisms Facing Anthropogenic-Derived Contamination, an Overview
2021
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Ramachandran, Prashanth; Augstein, Frauke; Mazumdar, Shamik; Van Nguyen, Thanh; Minina, Elena A.; Melnyk, Charles W.; Carlsbecker, Annelie
Abscisic acid signaling activates distinct VND transcription factors to promote xylem differentiation in Arabidopsis
2021
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Xiao, Linhong; Johansson, Sofia; Tenje, Maria; Behrendt, Lars
Combined effects of thermal stress and UV filter exposure on single cells of Symbiodinium
2021
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Johansson, Sofia; Xiao, Linhong; Andersson, Martin; Bergman, Henrik; Behrendt, Lars; Tenje, Maria
Mapping the thermoresponses of micralgae by integrating single-cell arrays on a programmable temperature stage
2021
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Serra, Gian Pietro; Guillaumin, Adriane; Dumas, Sylvie; Vlcek, Bianca; Wallén-Mackenzie, Åsa
Midbrain Dopamine Neurons Defined by TrpV1 Modulate Psychomotor Behavior
2021
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Ekblom, Charlotta; Söderhäll, Kenneth; Söderhäll, Irene
Early Changes in Crayfish Hemocyte Proteins after Injection with a beta-1,3-glucan, Compared to Saline Injected and Naive Animals
2021
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Engdahl, Elin; van Schijndel, Maarten D. M.; Voulgaris, Dimitrios; Di Criscio, Michela; Ramsbottom, Kerry A.; Rigden, Daniel J.; Herland, Anna; Rüegg, Joëlle
Bisphenol A Inhibits the Transporter Function of the Blood-Brain Barrier by Directly Interacting with the ABC Transporter Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP)
2021
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Pertille, Fabio; Alvarez-Rodriguez, Manuel; da Silva, Arthur Nery; Barranco, Isabel; Roca, Jordi; Guerrero-Bosagna, Carlos M.; Rodriguez-Martinez, Heriberto
Sperm Methylome Profiling Can Discern Fertility Levels in the Porcine Biomedical Model
2021
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Alcolombri, Uria; Peaudecerf, Francois J.; Fernandez, Vicente I.; Behrendt, Lars; Lee, Kang Soo; Stocker, Roman
Sinking enhances the degradation of organic particles by marine bacteria
2021
News

RE-MEND is a newly launched EU project that aims to generate new knowledge on the prevention of mental illness. Read more here.