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Steffen Keiter

Position: Senior Lecturer School/office: School of Science and Technology

Email: steffen.keiter@oru.se

Phone: +46 19 303604

Room: B3317

Research subject

Biology

Research environments

Man-Technology-Environment research centre (MTM)

About Steffen Keiter

Humans and wildlife are exposed to multi-component chemical “cocktails” of pollutants posing different potential health risks. Thus, there is a dire need to investigate the toxic responses and interactions of chemical mixtures present in complex environmental samples, e.g. sediments. The aim of my research is to increase the understanding of molecular processes and the resulting effects in aquatic organisms and in particular in zebrafish after exposure to selected emerging pollutants and their mixtures. Knowledge gained within my research will contribute not only to environmental science but also to the protection of human health, since many of the pathways that regulate toxic responses are highly conserved between humans and zebrafish.

Active projects

Completed projects

Research groups

Publications

Articles in journals | Articles, reviews/surveys | Conference papers | Manuscripts |

Articles in journals

Nilén, G. , Larsson, M. , Hyötyläinen, T. & Keiter, S. (2024). A complex mixture of polycyclic aromatic compounds causes embryotoxic, behavioral, and molecular effects in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio), and in vitro bioassays. Science of the Total Environment, 906.
Espinosa-Ruiz, C. , González-Fernández, C. , Cormier, B. , Keiter, S. H. , Vieira, L. R. , Guilhermino, L. , Clérandeau, C. , Cachot, J. & et al. (2023). Immunotoxicological effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid on European seabass are reduced by polyethylene microplastics. Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 137.
Bebianno, M. J. , Mendes, V. M. , O'Donovan, S. , Carteny, C. C. , Keiter, S. & Manadas, B. (2022). Effects of microplastics alone and with adsorbed benzo(a)pyrene on the gills proteome of Scrobicularia plana. Science of the Total Environment, 842.
Rodrigues, A. R. , Mestre, N. C. C. , Fonseca, T. G. d. , Pedro, P. Z. , Carteny, C. C. , Cormier, B. , Keiter, S. & Bebianno, M. J. (2022). Influence of Particle Size on Ecotoxicity of Low-Density Polyethylene Microplastics, with and without Adsorbed Benzo-a-Pyrene, in Clam Scrobicularia plana. Biomolecules, 12 (1).
Nilén, G. , Obamwonyi, O. S. , Liem-Nguyen, V. , Engwall, M. , Larsson, M. & Keiter, S. (2022). Observed and predicted embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of organic and inorganic environmental pollutants and their mixtures in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Aquatic Toxicology, 248.
Cormier, B. , Borchet, F. , Kärrman, A. , Szot, M. , Yeung, L. W. Y. & Keiter, S. (2022). Sorption and desorption kinetics of PFOS to pristine microplastic. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29 (3), 4497-4507.
Cormier, B. , Le Bihanic, F. , Cabar, M. , Crebassa, J. , Blanc, M. , Larsson, M. , Dubocq, F. , Yeung, L. W. Y. & et al. (2021). Chronic feeding exposure to virgin and spiked microplastics disrupts essential biological functions in teleost fish. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 415.
Islam, N. , Garcia da Fonseca, T. , Vilke, J. , Gonçalves, J. M. , Pedro, P. , Keiter, S. , Cunha, S. C. , Fernandes, J. O. & et al. (2021). Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) adsorbed to polyethylene microplastics: Accumulation and ecotoxicological effects in the clam Scrobicularia plana. Marine Environmental Research, 164.
Blanc, M. , Antczak, P. , Cousin, X. , Grunau, C. , Scherbak, N. , Rüegg, J. & Keiter, S. (2021). The insecticide permethrin induces transgenerational behavioral changes linked to transcriptomic and epigenetic alterations in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Science of the Total Environment, 779.
O'Donovan, S. , Mestre, N. C. , Abel, S. , Fonseca, T. G. , Carteny, C. C. , Willems, T. , Prinsen, E. , Cormier, B. & et al. (2020). Effects of the UV filter, oxybenzone, adsorbed to microplastics in the clam Scrobicularia plana. Science of the Total Environment, 733.
Batel, A. , Baumann, L. , Carteny, C. C. , Cormier, B. , Keiter, S. & Braunbeck, T. (2020). Histological, enzymatic and chemical analyses of the potential effects of differently sized microplastic particles upon long-term ingestion in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 153.
Blanc, M. , Cormier, B. , Hyötyläinen, T. , Krauss, M. , Scherbak, N. , Cousin, X. & Keiter, S. (2020). Multi- and transgenerational effects following early-life exposure of zebrafish to permethrin and coumarin 47: Impact on growth, fertility, behavior and lipid metabolism. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 205.
Le Bihanic, F. , Clérandeau, C. , Cormier, B. , Crebassa, J. , Keiter, S. , Beiras, R. , Morin, B. , Bégout, M. & et al. (2020). Organic contaminants sorbed to microplastics affect marine medaka fish early life stages development. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 154.
Meyer-Alert, H. , Larsson, M. , Hollert, H. & Keiter, S. (2019). Benzo[a]pyrene and 2,3-benzofuran induce divergent temporal patterns of AhR-regulated responses in zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 183.
Blanc, M. , Rüegg, J. , Scherbak, N. & Keiter, S. (2019). Environmental chemicals differentially affect epigenetic-related mechanisms in the zebrafish liver (ZF-L) cell line and in zebrafish embryos. Aquatic Toxicology, 215.
Alfonso, S. , Blanc, M. , Joassard, L. , Keiter, S. , Munschy, C. , Loizeau, V. , Bégout, M. & Cousin, X. (2019). Examining multi- and transgenerational behavioral and molecular alterations resulting from parental exposure to an environmental PCB and PBDE mixture. Aquatic Toxicology, 208, 29-38.
Cormier, B. , Batel, A. , Cachot, J. , Begout, M. , Braunbeck, T. , Cousin, X. & Keiter, S. (2019). Multi-Laboratory Hazard Assessment of Contaminated Microplastic Particles by Means of Enhanced Fish Embryo Test With the Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Frontiers in Environmental Science, 7.
Meyer-Alert, H. , Ladermann, K. , Larsson, M. , Schiwy, S. , Hollert, H. & Keiter, S. H. (2018). A temporal high-resolution investigation of the Ah-receptor pathway during early development of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Aquatic Toxicology, 204, 117-129.
O’Donovan, S. , Mestre, N. C. , Abel, S. , Fonseca, T. G. , Carteny, C. C. , Cormier, B. , Keiter, S. H. & Bebianno, M. J. (2018). Ecotoxicological Effects of Chemical Contaminants Adsorbed to Microplastics in the Clam Scrobicularia plana. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5.
Bour, A. , Haarr, A. , Keiter, S. & Hylland, K. (2018). Environmentally relevant microplastic exposure affects sediment-dwelling bivalves. Environmental Pollution, 236, 652-660.
Hausen, J. , Otte, J. C. , Legradi, J. , Yang, L. , Strähle, U. , Fenske, M. , Hecker, M. , Tang, S. & et al. (2018). Fishing for contaminants: identification of three mechanism specific transcriptome signatures using Danio rerio embryos. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25 (5), 4023-4036.
Beiras, R. , Bellas, J. , Cachot, J. , Cormier, B. , Cousin, X. , Engwall, M. , Gambardella, C. , Garaventa, F. & et al. (2018). Ingestion and contact with polyethylene microplastics does not cause acute toxicity on marine zooplankton. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 360, 452-460.
Hollert, H. , Crawford, S. E. , Brack, W. , Brinkmann, M. , Fischer, E. , Hartmann, K. , Keiter, S. , Ottermanns, R. & et al. (2018). Looking back - Looking forward: A novel multi-time slice weight-of-evidence approach for defining reference conditions to assess the impact of human activities on lake systems. Science of the Total Environment, 626, 1036-1046.
Pittura, L. , Avio, C. G. , Giuliani, M. E. , d’Errico, G. , Keiter, S. , Cormier, B. , Gorbi, S. & Regoli, F. (2018). Microplastics as Vehicles of Environmental PAHs to Marine Organisms: Combined Chemical and Physical Hazards to the Mediterranean Mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis. Frontiers in Marine Science, 5 (Apr).
Kais, B. , Schiwy, S. , Hollert, H. , Keiter, S. & Braunbeck, T. (2017). In vivo EROD assays with the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as rapid screening tools for the detection of dioxin-like activity. Science of the Total Environment, 590-591, 269-280.
Blanc, M. , Kärrman, A. , Kukučka, P. , Scherbak, N. & Keiter, S. (2017). Mixture-specific gene expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos exposed to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126). Science of the Total Environment, 590-591, 249-257.
Di Paolo, C. , Ottermanns, R. , Keiter, S. , Ait-Aissa, S. , Bluhm, K. , Brack, W. , Breitholtz, M. , Buchinger, S. & et al. (2016). Bioassay battery interlaboratory investigation of emerging contaminants in spikedwater extracts: Towards the implementation of bioanalytical monitoring tools inwater quality assessment and monitoring. Water Research, 104, 473-484.
Keiter, S. , Burkhard-Medicke, K. , Wellner, P. , Kais, B. , Färber, H. , Skutlarek, D. , Engwall, M. , Braunbeck, T. & et al. (2016). Does perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) act as chemosensitizer in zebrafish embryos?. Science of the Total Environment, 548-549, 317-324.
Schiwy, S. , Braeunig, J. , Alert, H. , Hollert, H. & Keiter, S. (2015). A novel contact assay for testing aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR): mediated toxicity of chemicals and whole sediments in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22 (21), 16305-16318.
Hollert, H. & Keiter, S. H. (2015). Danio rerio as a model in aquatic toxicology and sediment research. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22, 16243-16246.
Hausen, J. , Otte, J. C. , Straehle, U. , Hammers-Wirtz, M. , Hollert, H. , Keiter, S. H. & Ottermanns, R. (2015). Fold-change threshold screening: a robust algorithm to unmask hidden gene expression patterns in noisy aggregated transcriptome data. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22 (21), 16384-16392.
Garcia-Käufer, M. , Gartiser, S. , Hafner, C. , Schiwy, S. , Keiter, S. , Gruendemann, C. & Hollert, H. (2015). Genotoxic and teratogenic effect of freshwater sediment samples from the Rhine and Elbe River (Germany) in zebrafish embryo using a multi-endpoint testing strategy. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22 (21), 16341-16357.
Hafner, C. , Gartiser, S. , Garcia-Kaeufer, M. , Schiwy, S. , Hercher, C. , Meyer, W. , Achten, C. , Larsson, M. & et al. (2015). Investigations on sediment toxicity of German rivers applying a standardized bioassay battery. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22 (21), 16358-16370.
Bräunig, J. , Schiwy, S. , Broedel, O. , Müller, Y. , Frohme, M. , Hollert, H. & Keiter, S. (2015). Time-dependent expression and activity of cytochrome P450 1s in early life-stages of the zebrafish (Danio rerio). Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22 (21), 16319-15328.
Bluhm, K. , Otte, J. , Yang, L. , Zinsmeister, C. , Legradi, J. , Keiter, S. , Kosmehl, T. , Braunbeck, T. & et al. (2014). Impacts of Different Exposure Scenarios on Transcript Abundances in Danio rerio Embryos when Investigating the Toxicological Burden of Riverine Sediments. PLOS ONE, 9 (9).
Gustavsson, L. , Heger, S. , Ejlertsson, J. , Ribé, V. , Hollert, H. & Keiter, S. (2014). Industrial sludge containing pharmaceutical residues and explosives alters inherent toxic properties when co-digested with oat and post-treated in reed beds. Environmental Sciences Europe, 26 (8), 1-11.
Otte, J. , Keiter, S. , Fassbender, C. , Higley, E. , Suares Rocha, P. , Brinkmann, M. , Wahrendorf, D. , Manz, W. & et al. (2013). Contribution of Priority PAHs and POPs to Ah Receptor-Mediated Activities in Sediment Samples from the RiverElbe Estuary, Germany. PLOS ONE, 8 (10).
Karami, A. , Keiter, S. , Hollert, H. & Courtenay, S. (2013). Fuzzy logic and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system for characterization of contaminant exposure through selected biomarkers in African catfish. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20 (3), 1586-1595.
Kosmehl, T. , Otte, J. , Yang, L. , Legradi, J. , Bluhm, K. , Zinsmeister, C. , Keiter, S. , Reifferscheid, G. & et al. (2012). A combined DNA-microarray and mechanism-specific toxicity approach with zebrafish embryos to investigate the pollution of river sediments. Reproductive Toxicology, 33 (2), 245-253.
Fassbender, C. , Braunbeck, T. & Keiter, S. (2012). Gene-TEQ-a standardized comparative assessment of effects in the comet assay using genotoxicity equivalents. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 14, 1325-1334.
Peddinghaus, S. , Brinkmann, M. , Bluhm, K. , Sagner, A. , Hinger, G. , Braunbeck, T. , Eisenträger, A. , Thiem, A. & et al. (2012). Quantitative assessment of the embryotoxic potential of NSO-heterocyclic compounds using zebrafish (Danio rerio). Reproductive Toxicology, 33, 224-232.
Grund, S. , Keiter, S. , Böttcher, M. , Seitz, N. , Wurm, K. , Manz, W. , Hollert, H. & Braunbeck, T. (2010). Assessment of fish health status in the Upper Danube River by investigation of ultrastructural alterations in the liver of barbel Barbus barbus. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 23, 235-248.
Böttcher, M. , Grund, S. , Keiter, S. , Kosmehl, T. , Reifferscheid, G. , Seitz, N. , Suares Rocha, P. , Hollert, H. & et al. (2010). Comparison of in vitro and in situ genotoxicity in the Danube River by means of the comet assay and the micronucleus test. Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis, 700 (1-2), 11-17.
Keiter, S. , Peddinghaus, S. , Feiler, U. , von der Goltz, B. , Hafner, C. , Ho, N. Y. , Rastegar, S. , Otte, J. & et al. (2010). DanTox-a novel joint research project using zebrafish (Danio rerio) to identify specific toxicity and molecular modes of action of sediment-bound pollutants. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 10 (4), 714-717.
Keiter, S. , Braunbeck, T. , Heise, S. , Pudenz, S. , Manz, W. & Hollert, H. (2009). A fuzzy logic-classification of sediments based on data from in vitro biotests. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 9 (3), 168-179.
Hollert, H. , Keiter, S. , Böttcher, M. , Grund, S. , Seitz, N. , Otte, J. , Bluhm, K. , Wurm, K. & et al. (2009). Eine Weight-of-Evidence-Studie zur Bewertung der Sedimentbelastung und des Fischrückgangs in der Oberen Donau [Assessing sediments and fish health using a weight-of-evidence approach : in search for the causes of fish decline in the Danube river]. Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung, 21 (3), 260-263.
Otte, J. C. , Andersson, C. , Abrahamson, A. , Olsman Takner, H. , Keiter, S. , Engwall, M. , Hollert, H. & Brunström, B. (2008). A bioassay approach to determine the dioxin-like activity in sediment extracts from the Danube River: ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase induction in gill filaments and liver of three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.). Environment International, 34 (8), 1176-1184.
Seitz, N. , Böttcher, M. , Keiter, S. , Kosmehl, T. , Manz, W. , Hollert, H. & Braunbeck, T. (2008). A novel statistical approach for the evaluation of comet assay data. Mutation Research, 652 (1), 38-45.
Keiter, S. , Grund, S. , van Bavel, B. , Hagberg, J. , Engwall, M. , Kammann, U. , Klempt, M. , Manz, W. & et al. (2008). Activities and identification of aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists in sediments from the Danube river. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 390 (8), 2009-2019.
Keiter, S. , Grund, S. , van Bavel, B. , Hagberg, J. , Engwall, M. , Ulrike, K. , Klempt, M. , Manz, W. & et al. (2008). Activities and identification of aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists in sediments from the Danube river. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 390 (8), 2009-2019.
Jernbro, S. , Suares Rocha, P. , Keiter, S. , Skutlarek, D. , Färber, H. , Jones, P. D. , Giesy, J. P. , Hollert, H. & et al. (2007). Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Increases the Genotoxicity of Cyclophosphamide in the Micronucleus Assay with V79 Cells: Further Proof of Alterations in Cell Membrane Properties Caused by PFOS. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 14 (2), 85-87.
Hollert, H. , Heise, S. , Keiter, S. , Heininger, P. & Förstner, U. (2007). Wasserrahmenrichtlinie: Fortschritte und Defizite. Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung, 19 (1 Suppl.), 58-70.
Keiter, S. , Rastall, A. , Kosmehl, T. , Wurm, K. , Erdinger, L. , Braunbeck, T. & Hollert, H. (2006). Ecotoxicological assessment of sediment, suspended matter andwater samples in the upper danube river: a pilot study in search for the causes for the decline of fish catches. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 13 (5), 308-319.
Suares Rocha, P. , Keiter, S. , Pompeo, M. L. M. , Mariani, C. F. , Brandimarte, A. L. , Seiler, T. , Kosmehl, T. , Böttcher, M. & et al. (2006). Weight-of-Evidence-Studie zur Sedimentbelastung des Tietê River in Brasilien. Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung, 18 (1), 70.
Hollert, H. , Keiter, S. , König, N. , Rudolf, M. , Ulrich, M. & Braunbeck, T. (2003). A new sediment contact assay to assess particle-bound pollutants using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 3 (3), 197-207.

Articles, reviews/surveys

Fallet, M. , Blanc, M. , Di Criscio, M. , Antczak, P. , Engwall, M. , Guerrero Bosagna, C. , Rüegg, J. & Keiter, S. (2023). Present and future challenges for the investigation of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Environment International, 172.
Legradi, J. B. , Di Paolo, C. , Kraak, M. H. S. , van der Geest, H. G. , Schymanski, E. L. , Williams, A. J. , Dingemans, M. M. L. , Massei, R. & et al. (2018). An ecotoxicological view on neurotoxicity assessment. Environmental Sciences Europe, 30.
Di Paolo, C. , Seiler, T. B. , Keiter, S. , Hu, M. , Muz, M. , Brack, W. & Hollert, H. (2015). The value of zebrafish as an integrative model in effect-directed analysis: a review. Environmental Sciences Europe, 27 (8), 1-11.

Conference papers

Regoli, F. , Albentosa, M. , Avio, C. G. , Batel, A. , Bebianno, M. J. , Bégout, M. , Beiras, R. , Bellas, J. & et al. (2020). Insights on Ecotoxicological Effects of Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems: The EPHEMARE Project. In: Mariacristina Cocca, Emilia Di Pace, Maria Emanuela Errico, Gennaro Gentile, Alessio Montarsolo, Raffaella Mossotti, Maurizio Avella, Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Microplastic Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. Paper presented at 2nd International Conference on Microplastic Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea (ICMPMS 2019), Capri, Italy, September 15-18, 2019. (pp. 12-19). Springer Nature.
Sjöberg, V. , Keiter, S. & Karlsson, S. (2015). Metal toxicity: Are we measuring what we want?. Paper presented at 14th symposium on remediation, Jena, Germany, September 30 - October 1, 2015.

Manuscripts

Nilén, G. , Sunder, S. , Hyötyläinen, T. , Scherbak, N. & Keiter, S. A binary, ternary, and quaternary mixture of PFOS, B[a]P, PCB126, and Arsenic alters behavior, gene expression, and lipid content in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio).
Blanc, M. , Alfonso, S. , Bégout, M. , Barrachina, C. , Hyötyläinen, T. , Keiter, S. & Cousin, X. An environmentally relevant mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) disrupts mitochondrial function, lipid metabolism and neurotransmission in exposed zebrafish and their unexposed F2 offspring.
Nilén, G. , Ounoughi, A. , Scholz, S. , Keiter, S. H. & Scherbak, N. Measurements of phenotypical effects caused by priority pollutants using a refined high-content screening approach.
Blanc, M. , Cormier, B. , Hyötyläinen, T. , Krauss, M. , Scherbak, N. , Cousin, X. & Keiter, S. Multi- and transgenerational effects following early-life exposure of zebrafish to permethrin and coumarin 47 : impact on growth, fertility, behavior and lipid metabolism.
Blanc, M. , Antczak, P. , Cousin, X. , Grunau, C. , Scherbak, N. , Rüegg, J. & Keiter, S. Transgenerational behavioral, transcriptomic, and epigenetic changes in brain after early-life exposure of F0 zebrafish to permethrin.