Claudio Piechnik, PhD

Current research

Different cellular adjustments to establish a new state of homeostasis in invertebrates.

The links between metabolism, energy balance and stress tolerance in the organism will be used to answer scientific questions by applying molecular, physiological and -OMICS approaches.

Current projects

Project 1

"Investigation of the harmful effects of microplastics in Tyrol"

Tiroler Wissenschaftsförderung (F.50735/7-2024)

This project investigates the combined effects of microplastics and antimony on the aquatic snail Lymnaea stagnalis, focusing on toxic effects such as oxidative stress, cellular damage and immune responses. Led by Dr. Claudio Adriano Piechnik (University of Innsbruck), in collaboration with Dr. David Klassen (TESLA - Analytical Chemistry, University of Graz) and Dr. Pedro Aboim de Brito (Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere, IPMA), the research aims to elucidate how these pollutants could affect biodiversity and metabolism of snails in Tyrolean alpine lakes. Using advanced molecular techniques, this study will provide crucial insights into pollution risks, benefiting both local ecosystems and global efforts to protect the environment.

Projekt 2

“Fragility of the Antarctic Ecosystem: Investigating the Impact of Human Activities on the Metabolism and Biodiversity of Southern Marine Organisms – FRAGILMAR”

Brazilian National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPQ 440969/2023-9)

This research aims to experimentally evaluate the impact of environmental stressors, such as emerging contaminants and plastic nanoparticles, on the Antarctic gastropod Nacella concinna using molecular biology techniques. The study will focus on key metabolic pathways, including stress tolerance, cellular detoxification, energy metabolism, and antioxidant defense. Dr. Claudio Piechnik is an international collaborator in the study led by Dr. Lucelia Donatti, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil. Three scientific expeditions to King George Island on the Antarctic continent are planned for the years 2024 - 2027.

curriculum vitae

Funding & Scholarships

Piechnik, C.A. Investigation of the harmful effects of microplastics in Tyrol.  Tiroler Wissenschaftsförderung (F.50735/7-2024)

2017 - 2019   Piechnik, C.A. Brazilian Coordination for Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES).

2012 - 2013   Piechnik, C.A. Science Without Borders, Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

2013 - 2015   Piechnik, C.A. National Institute of Antarctic Science and Technology for Environmental Research (INCT-APA) National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support in the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ).

Awards

2000   Piechnik, C. A. Marcelino Champagnat Award – Academic merit, Catholic Pontifical University of Paraná,                                                          Brazil.                                                                            

Publications

Journal article

• AIGNER, GERHARD P. ; PEER, VERONIKA ; FIECHTNER, BIRGIT ; PIECHNIK, CLÁUDIO ADRIANO ; HÖCKNER, MARTINA . Wound healing and Cadmium detoxification in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris - a potential case for coelomocytes? Frontiers in Immunology, v. 14, p. 14: 1272191, 2023.

• SOCCOL, VANETE THOMAZ ; GONÇALVES, ANDRÉ LUIZ ; BAGGIO, RAFAEL ANTUNES ; ALCEU BISETTO, J.R. ; CELESTINO, ADÃO ; HOSPINAL-SANTIANI, MANUEL ; DE SOUZA, ANDRÉ ; MYCHALIZEN, MARIO ; BORGES, MARCELO EDUARDO ; PIECHNIK, CLÁUDIO ADRIANO . One piece of the puzzle: Modeling vector presence and environment reveals seasonality, distribution, and prevalence of sandflies and Leishmania in an expansion area. One Health, v. X, p. 100581, 2023.

• SOUZA, M.R.D.P.; ZALESKI, T.; MACHADO, C.; KANDALSKI, P.; FORGATI, M.; D´BASTANI, E.; PIECHNIK, C.A.; DONATTI, L. Effect of heat stress on the antioxidant defense system and erythrocyte morphology of Antarctic fishes. An. Acad. Bras. Cienc. Oct 29;94(suppl 1):e20190657, 2021. (DOI)

• HÖCKNER, M.; PIECHNIK, C.A.; FIECHTNER, B.; WEINBERGER, B.; TOMANEK, L. Cadmium-Related Effects on Cellular Immunity Comprises Altered Metabolism in Earthworm Coelomocytes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, v. 21, p. 599, 2020. (DOI)

• PLAZAS, D. C. S.; PETTERLE, R.; Piechnik, C.A. The artificial ovary model as a cellular test to assess the safety of Spirulina maxima and kefir extracts: a preliminary study. REV. COLOMB. CIENC. QUÍM. FARM, v. 49, p. 759-775, 2020. (DOI)

• KANDALSKI, P. K. ZALESKI, T.; FORGATI, M.; BADUY, F.; EUGÊNIO, D. S.; MACHADO, C.; SOUZA, M.R.D.P.; PIECHNIK, C. A.; FÁVARO, L.F.; DONATTI, L. Effect of long-term thermal challenge on the Antarctic notothenioid Notothenia rossii. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY, v. 1, p. 1-17, 2019. (DOI)

• THOMAZ-SOCCOL, V.; GONÇALVES, A. L.; PIECHNIK, C.A. et al. Hidden danger: Unexpected scenario in the vector-parasite dynamics of leishmaniases in the Brazil side of triple border (Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay). PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, v. 12, p. e0006336, 2018. (DOI)

• SOUZA, M.R.D.P.; HERRERIAS, T.; ZALESKI, T.; FORGATI, M.; KANDALSKI, P.K.; MACHADO, C.; PIECHNIK, C.A.; MOURA, M.O.; DONATTI, L. Heat stress in the heart and muscle of the Antarctic fishes Notothenia rossii and Notothenia coriiceps: Carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidant defence. BIOCHIMIE, v. 146, p. 43-55, 2018. (DOI)

• SOUZA G.P.A.; PIECHNIK, C.A.; OLIVEIRA, A.C.; SFEIR, M.Z.; SOUZA, E.M.; ROGEZ, H.; THOMAZ SOCCOL, V. qPCR for the detection of foodborne Trypanosoma cruzi. PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, 2017. (DOI)

• PIECHNIK, C.A. ; HÖCKNER, M.; SOUZA, M.R.D.P.; DONATTI, L; TOMANEK, L. Time course of lead induced proteomic changes in gill of the Antarctic limpet Nacella Concinna (Gastropoda: Patellidae). Journal of Proteomics, 2016. (DOI)

Journal article (other)

• KANDALSKI, P.K.; COFRÉ, A.H.R.; MACHADO, C.; SOUZA, M.R.D.P.; SILVA, F.B.V.; ZALESKI, T.; CETTINA, L.B.; FORGATI, M.; PIECHNIK, C.A.; RODRIGUES, E.; DONATTI, L. Histolog HISTOLOGY AND HISTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF THE STOMACH STRUCTURE OF THE ANTARCTIC FISH Notothenia rossii (RICHARDSON, 1844) UNDER CONDITIONS OF THERMAL STRESS. INCT-APA Annual Activity Report, p. 83-87, 2016. (DOI)

• DONATTI, L.; RIOS, F.S.A.; MACHADO, C.; PEDREIRO, M.R.D.; KREBSBACH, P.; PIECHNIK, C.A.; ZALESKI, T.; FORGATI, M.; CETTINA, L.B.; SILVA, F.B.V.; SABCHUK, N.; CARVALHO, C.S.; RODRIGUES, E.; RODRIGUES, E. J.; OLIVEIRA, M.F. Histopathological Alterations on Antarctic Fish Notothenia Coriiceps and Notothenia Rossii as Biomarkers of Aquatic Contamination. INCT-APA Annual Activity Report, p. 139-143, 2012. (DOI)

• RODRIGUES, E.; DONATTI, L.; VANI, G.S.; LAVRADO, H.P.; RIOS, F.S.A.; SUDA, C.N.K.; PIECHNIK, C.A.; MACHADO, C.; RODRIGUES, E.; OLIVEIRA, M.F.; SILVA, F.B.V.; CETTINA, L.B. Natural and Anthropic Impact Assessment on Biochemical and Histopathological Biomarkers of Fishes and Invertebrates at Coastal Region of Admiralty Bay King George Island. INCT-APA Annual Activity Report, p. 44-49, 2010. (DOI)

Summary published in proceedings of conferences

• Sechta, T.E.L. Piechnik, C.A. Incorrect disposal of medicines in Brazil: Causes, consequences and perspectives. I Congress of Chemistry Applied to Health and Pharmacy, Abstracts, On-line, 2020.

• LEONEL, I.M.; PIECHNIK, C.A.; ALVES, E.G. The use of concept maps for diagnostic evaluation in a curricular unit of a medical course (O uso de mapas conceituais para avaliação diagnóstica em uma unidade curricular de um curso de medicina), CURITIBA. IX Fórum Nacional de Metodologias Ativas de Ensino-aprendizagem na Formação em Saúde, Abstracts, Curitiba, 2018.

• PIECHNIK, C.A.; LEONEL, I. M.; PAULETO, A.C.; SANCHES, L.C.; SERQUEIRA, C.F.C., Tutors' perception of motivational and cognitive processes influencing tutorial groups: a report (A percepção dos tutores sobre os processos motivacionais e cognitivos que influenciam os grupos tutoriais: um relatório), CURITIBA. IX Fórum Nacional de Metodologias Ativas de Ensino-aprendizagem na Formação em Saúde. Abstracts, Curitiba, 2018.

• Piechnik, C.A.; DONATTI, L.; FORGATI, M.; ZALESKI, T.; KREBSBACH, P.; PEDREIRO, M. R. D. Chronic effect of acclimation at elevated temperature in the metabolism of Antarctic fish Notothenia rossii (Richardson, 1844). Auckland. SCAR OSC and COMNAP 2014 Abstracts, 2014.

• Piechnik, C.A.; PEDREIRO, M. R. D.; DONATTI, L.; TOMANEK, L. Proteomic responses induced by Lead in the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna (Gastropoda: Patellidae). Auckland. SCAR OSC and COMNAP 2014 Abstracts, 2014.

• Piechnik, C.A.; MACHADO, C.; ZALESKI, T.; FORGATI, M.; DONATTI, L. The metabolic response of the Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps (Richardson, 1844) to thermal stress., 2014, Auckland. SCAR OSC and COMNAP 2014 Abstracts, 2014.

• ZALESKI, T.; Piechnik, C.A.; DONATTI, L. Otoliths: a tool to description of the population structure of Antarctic nothothenoid fishes of Admiralty Bay - King George Island., 2013, Barcelona. SCAR 2013 Abstracts, 2013.

• Piechnik, C.A.; SCHEIFFER, R. G.; PEDREIRO, M. R. D.; Rodrigues-Júnior, E.; Feijó-Oliveira, M.; RODRIGUES, E.; DONATTI, L. Effect of Hypoosmotic Stress by Low Salinity Acclimation on Gills of Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna (Gastropoda:Patellidae), Montreal. International Polar Year (IPY) 2012 Conference, 2012.

• Piechnik, C.A.; DONATTI, L.; PEDREIRO, M. R. D.; KREBSBACH, P.; KAWALL, H. Gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity and histological changes of fish Bathygobius soporator (Gobiidae) during acclimation to different salinities and times, Rio de Janeiro. Abstracts, 2012.

• Eugênio, D. S.; Piechnik, C.A.; CETTINA, L. B.; Vaz-Silva, F. B.; ZALESKI, T.; KAWALL, H.; RODRIGUES, E.; DONATTI, L. XXXII SCAR and Open Science Conference & COMNAP XXIV AGM, 2012, Portland. SCAR 2012 Abstracts, 2012.

• KREBSBACH, P.; MACHADO, C.; PEDREIRO, M. R. D.; Vaz da Silva, F. B.; ZALESKI, T.; CETTINA, L. B.; FORGATI, M.; Piechnik, C.A.; DONATTI, L. Histology and histochemical characterization of the stomach structure of antarctic fish Notothenia rossii (Richardson, 1844) under conditions of thermal stress, 2012, Rio de Janeiro. Abstracts, 2012.

• PEDREIRO, M. R. D.; RIOS, F. S.; MACHADO, C.; KREBSBACH, P.; Piechnik, C.A.; ZALESKI, T.; FORGATI, M.; CETTINA, L. B.; RODRIGUES, E.; DONATTI, L. Histopathological changes in the Antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps and Notothenia rossii collected in King George Island, Antarctic Peninsul, 2012, Rio de Janeiro. Abstracts, 2012.

• Eugênio, D. S.; Piechnik, C.A.; MACHADO, C.; CETTINA, L. B.; Vaz da Silva, F. B.; FORGATI, M.; RIOS, F. S.; KAWALL, H.; RODRIGUES, E.; DONATTI, L. The Metabolic Plasticity of the Antarctic Fish Notothenia rossii (Richardson, 1844) against the Thermal Stress, 2012, Montreal. International Polar Year (IPY) 2012 Conference, Abstracts, 2012.

• FANTA, E.S.F.; WERNECK, P.R.; STERZELECKI, F.C.; MORAES, E.A.R.; Piechnik, C.A. Morphofunctional consequences of experimental salinity changes on the antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps (Nototheniidae)., 2005, Curitiba. IX SCAR INTERNATIONAL BIOLOGY SYMPOSIUM - Evolution and Biodiversity in Antarctica, Abstracts. v. 1. p. 91-91, 2005.

• FANTA, E.S.E.; STERZELECKI, F.B.; WERNECK, P.R.; Piechnik, C.A.; MORAES, E.A.R. Morphofunctional consequences of experimental salinity changes on the antarctic fish Notothenia coriiceps (Nototheniidae). Curitiba. IX SCAR International Biology Symposium, Abstracts. v. 1. p. 130-130, 2005.