Detail

Keywords

Environmental Health; Environmental Pollutants; Genetics, Medical; Placenta

Research group(s)

• Environmental Health and Medical Ecology
  Head: Claudia Gundacker
  Research Area: Reproduction Toxicology and Environmental Health with specific emphasis on the metabolism and transport of metals (mercury, iron, lead, and cadmium) and perfluoroalkyl substances across the human placenta.
  Members:
  Claudia Gundacker

Research interests

My research interest is in Reproduction Toxicology and Environmental Health with emphasis on metabolism and transport of metals (mercury, iron, lead, and cadmium) and perfluoralkyl substances across the human placenta. In search of proteins that mediate placental kinetics, i.e., uptake, distribution, biotransformation, and efflux of the substances, we combine Human Biomonitoring and genotyping with basic research on placental in vitro models. The aim is to identify genetic variants related to placental dysfunctions and pregnancy diseases.

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

Human Biomonitoring, Genotyping, Molecular biology, Cell culture, Primary cells, Trace element analysis (AFS, AAS)

Grants

• HBM4EU - Science and policy for a healthy future (2017)
  Source of Funding: EU, Horizon 2020
  Principal Investigator

Selected publications

1. Gundacker, C. et al., 2017. Geophagy during pregnancy: Is there a health risk for infants? Environmental Research, 156, pp.145-147. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.03.028.
2. Straka, E. et al., 2016. Mercury toxicokinetics of the healthy human term placenta involve amino acid transporters and ABC transporters. Toxicology, 340, pp.34-42. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2015.12.005.
3. Gundacker, C. et al., 2016. Genetics of the human placenta: implications for toxicokinetics. Archives of Toxicology, 90(11), pp.2563-2581. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00204-016-1816-6.
4. Gundacker, C. et al., 2011. Proliferation potential of human amniotic fluid stem cells differently responds to mercury and lead exposure. Amino Acids, 43(2), pp.937-949. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00726-011-1154-1.
5. Gundacker, C., Gencik, M. & Hengstschläger, M., 2010. The relevance of the individual genetic background for the toxicokinetics of two significant neurodevelopmental toxicants: Mercury and lead. Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research, 705(2), pp.130-140. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mrrev.2010.06.003.