Anna Szántó

During my doctoral studies, my research aims to investigate and understand the potential (neuro)physiological effects of toxins (specifically peptide toxins) produced by blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) dominating algal blooms in Balaton and Kis-Balaton on aquatic invertebrates. The effects of the isolated cyanotoxins will be investigated at the individual, cellular, and molecular levels of model organisms using a top-down approach, taking advantage of the institute's multidisciplinary infrastructural background and internationally recognised intellectual capabilities in the field. Studies will be carried out on well-characterised and multi-purpose freshwater invertebrate model animals, Lymnaea stagnalis and Daphnia magna. I will perform acute and chronic treatments with cyanopeptides identified in the BLRI's large-scale analytical laboratory, adjust treatment concentrations (EC50), and observe changes in different behaviours (feeding, locomotion, reproduction, learning). I will work with the team to map the cellular and molecular processes underlying the altered behavioural patterns.