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Impact of microplastics exposure on the reconfiguration of viral community structure and disruption of ecological functions in the digestive gland of Mytilus coruscus
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Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastic ingestion affects the viral community in the digestive glands of thick-shelled mussels through a field exposure experiment. They found that microplastic ingestion significantly reduced virome diversity and altered viral community composition, while microplastic biofilms carried abundant antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors. The findings suggest that microplastics may serve as vectors for spreading resistance genes and destabilizing microbial networks in marine organisms.
Microplastics (MPs) pose ecological risks by serving as viral vectors and disrupting host microbiomes. This study investigated the impact of MPs on the digestive gland virome of Mytilus coruscus through an in situ exposure experiment on Xixuan Island, Zhoushan, China, using polyethylene MPs and metagenomic sequencing. MPs biofilms were dominated by lytic viruses (> 99 %) with low diversity (Shannon index = 4.10 ± 0.39), whereas digestive glands harbored a more diverse virome (Shannon index = 7.26 ± 1.26). MPs ingestion significantly reduced virome diversity and altered viral community composition. Functional analysis showed that MPs biofilms were enriched in genes related to genetic processing, carbohydrate metabolism and membrane biogenesis, while transcription- and replication-related genes declined (P < 0.05) in digestive glands post-ingestion. MPs biofilms carried abundant antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and virulence factors, selectively enriching multidrug resistance genes (efrA, patB) while reducing functional viral gene abundance. Metal (Zn, Hg, As) and biocide resistance genes were prevalent in MPs biofilms but declined post-ingestion. Additionally, MPs ingestion weakened microbial network stability, potentially impairing immune regulation and metabolic homeostasis. These findings underscore MPs' role in shaping viral communities and spreading resistance genes, heightening ecological risks in marine environments.
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Researchers exposed mussels to microplastics for seven days and analyzed how the pollution affected viral communities in their tissues. They found that microplastic exposure suppressed DNA virus diversity while activating RNA viral metabolism, and restructured interactions between bacteria-infecting viruses and opportunistic pathogens. The study suggests that microplastics may influence immune function in shellfish by reshaping the viral community and virus-mediated immune interactions.
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Scientists found that mussels exposed to plastic-coated microplastics (tiny plastic bits with bacteria growing on them) developed more diverse viral communities in their digestive organs, along with higher levels of genes linked to antibiotic resistance and toxin production. Since mussels and other shellfish are commonly eaten by people, this research suggests microplastic pollution could be reshaping the viruses and bacteria in seafood in ways that may carry hidden risks for food safety, though more research is needed to confirm human health effects. This matters because it points to a lesser-known way plastic pollution could indirectly affect the food we
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Researchers exposed marine mussels (Mytilus edulis) to microplastics and analyzed changes to their gut microbiota, finding significant shifts in microbial community composition that could affect digestion, immunity, and overall health.
Fate and stability of polyamide-associated bacterial assemblages after their passage through the digestive tract of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis.
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This study examined whether bacterial communities living on polyamide microplastics — including potential pathogens — survive passage through the gut of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) compared to those on the biopolymer chitin. The results suggest that microplastics may serve as stable vectors for microbial communities, including potentially harmful bacteria, in marine food webs.
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Microplastics in aquatic environments don't just carry bacteria — they also host viral communities, and this study used metagenomics to characterize viruses living in seawater versus on microplastic biofilms in aquaculture settings. Microplastic-associated biofilms harbored distinct viral assemblages enriched in genes related to antibiotic resistance transfer, suggesting that microplastics could facilitate the spread of resistance genes through viral mechanisms. This adds another layer to the concern that microplastics act as ecological hotspots for the evolution and dissemination of antibiotic resistance.
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