Cotou Efthimia

by / Thursday, 13 November 2014 / Published in people
cotou

Position: Associate Researcher

Contact Info

Institute: Aquaculture
Address: Hellenic Center for Marine Research Institute of Aquaculture Agios Kosmas, Hellinikon 16777 Greece
Email:ecotou@hcmr.gr
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Dr. Efthimia Cotou is an Associate Researcher of Biology and Toxicology at the laboratory of Nutrition and Pathology at HCMR since 2007.

Dr. Cotou earned her PhD degree in Aquatic Toxicology and Environmental Sanitation from University of Ghent, Belgium. Her PhD was granted by the European Union and it focused on the controlled production of ephippia of Daphnia pulex (Leydig) as biological material to start toxicity tests on chemicals. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. Her thesis work focused on the toxicity of surfactant-based oil dispersant to developing nauplii of Artemia and its effects on ATPase enzymatic system.

Dr. Cotou has coordinated and participated in many EU and National projects related to development and application of biomarkers for assessing environmental pollution caused by anthropogenic chemicals and evaluating the status of health and welfare of farmed fish and shellfish influenced by nutritional manipulation and diseases treatments.

Dr. Cotou has been an evaluator of International Standard (ISO) guidelines for toxicity testing of chemical substances for the Hellenic Organization Standardization (ELOT). She has developed National (Greek) regulations for licensing chemical dispersants for oil pollution in seawaters.

Dr. Cotou is a scientific member of European Aquaculture of Technology and Innovation Platform (EATIP) in the Group of “Aquaculture: Interactions with the Environment”.

Dr. Cotou is giving lectures on “Prevention, Therapy and Toxicity in Aquatic Environment” as an external Professor for the MSc program: “Aquaculture: Pathological Problems of Aquatic Cultured Organisms”, at the Veterinary School of University of Thessaly, Greece.

Educational Profile
• Ph.D., Aquatic Toxicology, University of Ghent, Belgium, 1993
• B.Sc., Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, 1986

Professional Profile

• 2007-current: Associate Researcher (equivalent Assistant Professor), Laboratory of Nutrition and Pathology, Institute of Aquaculture, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Agios Kosmas 16777, Hellinikon Greece.
• 2005-2006: Research Scientist, Laboratory of Nutrition and Pathology, Institute of Aquaculture, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Agios Kosmas 16777, Hellinikon Greece.
• 2000-2004: Research Scientist (permanent position), Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Anavissos, Attiki, Greece.
• 1994-1999: Research Scientist (under contract), Laboratory of Ecotoxicology, Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Center for Marine Research, Anavissos, Attiki, Greece.
• 1988-1991: Research Assistant, Laboratory of Aquatic Toxicology, University of Ghent, Belgium
• 1986-1987: Research Assistant, Laboratory of Zoology, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece.

Scientific and Professional Memberships

• European Aquaculture Society (EAS)
• European Association of Technology and Innovation Platform (EATIP)
• Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC-Europe)
• Hellenic Association of Technology and Innovation Platform (HATIP)
• Hellenic Oceanography Association
• Hellenic Biology Association

Awards and Recognition

Research Interests

Dr. Cotou’s research interests are concerned (a) the development and application of biomarkers and bio-indicators to identify biological effects at molecular, cellular or biochemical level in aquatic organisms caused by physical, chemical or biological stressors, (b) the determination of the enzymatic activities of various enzymes (e.g. antioxidants enzymes and enzymes of phase I and II etc.) and the identification of complex proteins (proteomics) in fishes influenced by nutritional manipulation, diseases and environmental and anthropogenic stressors, (c) biological effects between the environmental stressors and the aquacultured species, (d) environmental toxicology and eco-toxicology and (e) environmental & ecological risk assessments.

Scientific Journals
• Tsangaris C., Cotou E., Papathanassiou E., Nikolaidou A., 2010. Assessment of contaminant impacts in a semi-enclosed estuary (Amvrakikos Gulf, NW Greece): Bioenergetics and biochemical biomarkers in mussels. Environ. Monit. Assess., 161: 259-269.

• Rigos G., Samartzis A., Henry M., Fountoulaki E., Cotou E., Sweetman S.D., Nengas I., 2010. Effects of additive iron on growth, tissue distribution, haematology and immunology of gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata, Aquaculture International, 16: 1093-1104.

• Karaouzas I., Cotou E., Albanis T.A., Kamarianos A., Skoulikidis N.T., Giannakou U., 2010. Bioassays and Biochemical Biomarkers for assessing Olive Mill and Citrus Processing Wastewater Toxicity, Environmental Toxicology, DOI 10.1002/tox.20606.

• Tsangaris C., Cotou E., Hatzianestis I., Catsiki V.A., 2009. Antropogenic Impacts in a Protected Estuary (Amvrakikos Gulf, Greece): Biological Effects & Contaminant Levels in Sentinel Species. In: Estuaries: Types, Movement, Patterns & Climatical Impacts. (eds, Julian R. Crane & Ashton E. Solomon), Nova Science Publishers, Inc. 2009, ISBN: 978-1-60876-859-2.

• Tsangaris C., Papathanassiou E., Cotou E., 2007. Assessment of the impact of heavy metal pollution from a ferro-nickel smelting plant using biomarkers. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 66 (2): 232-243.

• Cotou E., A. Gremare, F. Charles, I. Hatzianestis and E. Sklivagou, 2005. Potential toxicity of resuspended particulate matter and sediments: Environmental samples from the Bay of Banyuls-sur-Mer and Thermaikos Gulf. Continental Shelf Research 25: 2521 –2532.

• Garrigues P., Narbonne J.F., Budzinski H., Viarengo A., Lehtonen K., Bocquene G., Andersen O-K., Peters L., Lowe D., Cajaraville M.P., Cotou E., Dimitriadis V., Minier C., Porte C., Auffret M., Devillers J., Hansen P.D., Fortlin L., Köehler A., Barsiene J., Balk L., Jenssen B.M., Savva D., Rahmani R., Schiedek D., Vuorinen P., Lang T., Pempkowiak J., Skorkowski E., Yawetz A., Gercken J., Bolognesi C. and M. Depledge, 2002. Biological effects of environmental pollution in coastal marine ecosystems: The BEEP Project. Mar. Environ. Research, 54: 843-844.

• Cotou E. Papathanassiou E., and C. Tsangaris, 2002. Assessing the quality of marine coastal environment: Comparison of Scope for Growth and Microtox® assay results of pollution gradient areas in eastern Mediterranean (Greece). Environmental Pollution, 119(2): 141-149.

• Tsangaris C., Cotou E., Papathanassiou E., 2002. Multiple biomarker assessment for marine pollution: a case study to distinguish the type of pollutants in Amvrakikos gulf (Greece). Mar. Environ. Research, 54: 845.

• Garrigues P., Narbonne JF., Budzinski H., Viarengo A., Lehtonen K., Bocquene G., Anderen OK., Peters L., Lowe D., Cajaraville MP., Cotou E., Minier C., Auffret M., Rahmani R., 2001. Effets biologiques de la pollution environmentale dans les ecosystemes marins cotiers. J. Rech. Oceanogr., 26(3) : 31-34.

• Cotou E., C. Vagias, Th. Rapti and V. Roussis, 2001. Metallothionein levels in Callista chione and Venus verrucosa from two areas of Eastern Mediterranean (Greece). Z. Naturforsch, 56c: 848-852.

• Cotou E., I. Castristi-Catharios and M. Moraitou-Apostolopoulou, 2001. Surfactant-based oil dispersant toxicity to developing nauplii of Artemia: effects on ATPase enzymatic system. Chemosphere, 42(8): 959-964.

• Athanassopoulou F., Cotou E., Watsos E., Giagnisi M., 2000. Study of the bacteriostatic activity of an Artemia enrichment compound based on plant extracts from Angelica sp. Bulletin of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, 51(4): 293-296.

• Cotou E., Papathanassiou E., 1996. Physiological responses of marine indicator organisms to global pollution. MAP Technical Series, No 103: 43-55.

• Machera K., Cotou E. and P. Anastasiadis, 1996. Fenbutatin acute toxicity on Artemia nauplii. Effects of sub-lethal concentrations on ATPase activity. Bull. Environ. Toxicology, 56: 159-164.

Abstracts
• Cotou E., Tsangaris C., Henry M., 2010. Comparative study of biochemical and immunological biomarkers in three marine bivalve molluscs exposed in the field. Abstract Book on the 2nd European Conference “Health implications of Environmental contamination”, 26th – 29st September2010, Myconos, Greece.

• Rigos G., Zonaras V., Papoutsi E, Henry M., Cotou E., Nikoloudaki X, Vasilaki A., Nengas I., Alexis M., 2010. The Effect of Diet composition on oxytetracycline availability in gilthead bream Sparus aurata at two water temperatures. Aquaculture Europe 2010, European Aquaculture Society. Porto, Portugal, October 5-8, 2010.

• Rigos, G., Henry, M., Cotou E., Papoutsi, E., Zonaras, V., Nikoloudaki, X., Nikolopoulou, D., Nengas, I., Alexis, M., 2009. The effects of diet composition (plant Vs Fish-oil-based diets) on plasma concentration of various antibacterials in Gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata. 14th EAFP international conference, Diseases of fish and shellfish, Praga, Czech 14-19 September, p.408.

• Tsangaris C., Fountoulaki E., Cotou E., Nizheradze K. 2008. Oxidative stress biomarkers in grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) from polluted Greek coastal waters. Abstract Book on the 26th European Conference “Health implications of Environmental contamination”, 31st March-2nd April 2008, Athens,Greece.

• Varo I., Rodriquez C., Navaro J.C., Martivez I., Cotou E., Acosta N.G., Del Ramo J., Diaz-Mayans J., Torreblanca A., 2007. A conceptual framework for the application of biotechnology to detect signals of global warming in fish. Abstract Book in SETAC Europe 17th Annual meeting in Porto, 20-24 May 2007.

• Varo I., Cotou E., Navarro J.C., Del Ramo J., Torreblanca A., 2007. A proteomic approach for identifying new biomarkers of toxicity in marine fish: Effects of ivermectin treatments on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.). Abstract Book in SETAC Europe 17th Annual meeting in Porto, 20-24 May 2007.

• Varo I., Navarro J.C., Del Ramo J., Cotou E., Torreblanca A. 2007. A proteomic approach for identifying new biomarkers of toxicity in marine fish: Effects of copper sulphate treatments on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.). Abstract Book in SETAC Europe 17th Annual meeting in Porto, 20-24 May 2007.

• Cotou E., P. Anastasiadou and K. Machera, 2006. PCP treated timbers in a coastal area of Greece: Environmental impact and biological effects. Protection and Restoration of the Environment VIII, Chania Greece 3-7 July.

• Cotou E., Kaberi H., A. Papageorgiou A., Tsangaris C., 2005. Potential toxicity of ferrous-nickel slag after sandblasting operations. 12th International Symposium on toxicity assessment Skiathos 12-17 June.

• Cotou E., M. Koutsodimou and A. Nikolaidou, 2004. Biochemical biomarkers responses to suspended and re-suspended particles in situ. Rapp. Comm. Int. Mer Medit., 37: 183.

• Tsangaris C., Lyssimachou A., Strogyloudi E., Cotou E., Papathanassiou E., 2004. Sex steroid levels in mussels exposed to contaminants under laboratory and field conditions. Proc.8th Hel. Symp. Oceanogr. & Fish, Thessaloniki 4-8 June 2006:103.

• Cotou Ε., Kaberi Η. and D. Sakellariou, 2003. Detection of hormesis effects in environmental samples of Korinthiakos Gulf. (presented at the 7th Hel. Symp. Oceanogr. & Fish, 6-9 May 2003, Hersonissos, Grete).

• Cotou E., M.A. Pancussi-Papadopoulou and I. Hatzianestis. 2002. Microtox Solid-phase for marine sediments: A case study in Nestos river region (North Aegean Sea). Proc. VI Int. Conf. on Protection & Restoration of the Environment, 346-350.

• Cotou E., M.A. Pancussi-Papadopoulou and I. Hatzianestis. 2002. Microtox Solid-phase for marine sediments: A case study in Nestos river region (North Aegean Sea). Proc. VI Int. Conf. on Protection & Restoration of the Environment, 346-350.

• Catsiki VA., Cotou E., Strogyloudi E., Tsangaris C. and E. Papathanassiou 2001. Application of various biological methodologies in order to characterize the state of pollution of the coastal environment of Amvrakikos Gulf (Greece). 4th International Marine Environmenta Modelling Conference, 4-6 October, Athens, Greece.

• Tsangaris C., Cotou E., Papathanassiou E., 2001. Multiple biomarker assessment for marine pollution: a case study to distinguish the type of pollutants in Amvrakikos gulf (Greece). Abstract book of PRIMO 11, Plymouth, UK.

• Cotou E., 2000. The use of luminescent bacteria to characterize chemical stress in marine organisms. Proc. 6th Hel. Symp. Oceanogr. & Fish, vol 1: 366-370.

• Tsangaris C., Cotou E. and E. Papathanassiou, 2000. Combined physiological and biochemical measurements for the assessment of pollution in Amvrakikos Gulf. Proc. 5th Int. Confer. Environ. Pollution, A. Anagnostopoulos (ed), Thessaloniki, Greece: 233

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