
Cellular and Molecular Toxicology
Code
11822
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Ciências da Vida
Credits
6.0
Teacher in charge
Pedro Miguel Ribeiro Viana Baptista
Weekly hours
3
Total hours
51
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
Students will acquire basic knowledge of toxicology, to become able to specialize in different areas of this science, particularly in the area of human and environmental toxicology. They will obtain knowledge in toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic of xenobiotic and the biotransformation processes. They will also be exposed to the principles of genetic toxicology and carcinogenesis mechanisms, and the advantages and disadvantages of in vitro and in vivo assays. They will acquire competences to understand the main approaches and experimental design in toxicology studies. Students will become familiar with the assessment of toxicological risk. Case studies will be used to familiarize the general and specific concepts of human and environmental toxicology. The concepts learned will enable students to develop work in areas related to toxicology.
The toxicity mechanisms will be addressed as well as the absorption, distribution and excretion. It will be addressed developmental toxicology and immunotoxicology. It will be addressed ecotoxicology in the context of environment and living organisms’ interactions.
The practical component is intended to provide the contact and the possibility of learning techniques and methodologies used in experimental studies of toxicity. In this way, it is intended to strengthen skills and acquire knowledge enabling the student to solve problems within the toxicology but also to use this knowledge in an interdisciplinary application perspective
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of cell biology, physiology, biochemistry and molecular biology
Desirable knowledge of molecular genetics and mechanisms involved in cancer
Students will have to have passing grades in Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Molecular Biology.
If candidates> numerus clausus, selection by ranking CLIP
Subject matter
Main forms and routes of exposure of human to toxic compounds. Mechanisms of toxicity. The concept of dose and dose-response relationship. Acute and chronic toxicity. Definition of toxicological parameters. Bioavailability of xenobiotics. Toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. Biotransformation. In vivo and in vitro toxicity assays. Molecular mechanisms of toxicity. Toxicity addressed to different organs of the human (e.g. nervous and reproductive systems, immune system). The process of carcinogenesis: Relation between mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. DNA repair and carcinogenesis. cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the stages of carcinogenesis process. Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Genetic toxicology: Short-term tests. Molecular analysis of mutations. Toxicological risk assessment
Laboratorial classes: biomarker analysis as toxicity parameters: Activity of GST; acetylcholinesterase; lactate dehydrogenase; lipid peroxidation.