Is intraspecies QSTR model answer to toxicity data gap filling: Ecotoxicity modeling of chemicals to avian species

Interspecies model represents an established approach for the response data gap filling for regulatory agencies and researchers. We propose a novel approach of intraspecies modeling within the animals of the same species, instead of animals from different species. The proposed intraspecies model is capable of more precise extrapolation of data than the interspecies model, as animals under the same species share a similar mechanism of action (MOA) and target sites for the response. Along with the advantage of better prediction over the interspecies model, the intraspecies model has all the significant features like recognition of MOA, species-specific toxicity, reduction of animal experimentation, and money and time. To establish and test the intraspecies modeling approach, we have modeled ecotoxicity of organic chemicals to three avian species: Anas platyrhynchos, Colinus virginianus, and Phasianus colchicus. The intraspecies models offer to identify the mechanistic interpretation of the ecotoxicity of the studied chemicals along with the toxicity data gap filling. The success of the intraspecies modeling relies on connecting the missing dots of toxicity for the regulatory purposes, especially when there is a scarcity of ecotoxicity experimental data and in silico models for avian species. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.