Application of omics to immunotoxicology : from mechanisms of action to alternative testing strategies

Currently, immunotoxicity testings are mainly based on animal models. However, animal testing has several drawbacks, including limited prediction towards human due to interspecies differences, time and money consuming nature, and the ethical concerns raised in the society. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of alternative testing strategies. The advances in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and systems biology have provided a number of new scientific tools, which offer great promise to the transition of toxicity testing. This PhD research focused on the application of omics-based techniques in immunotoxicology, which eventually led to an increased understanding of the interaction between immunotoxicants and the human immune system, and the development of an alternative testing approach. This research has contributed to the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) policy of animal testing.