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Effects of biofilm-coated microplastics on the biological functions of RNA viruses in Mytilus coruscus.
Summary
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
Microplastics (MPs) pollution poses emerging ecological risks through physical stress and its potential role in altering microbial and viral communities. Here, we investigated the effects of biofilm-associated polyethylene (PE) MPs exposure on RNA viral communities in the digestive glands of Mytilus coruscus (M. coruscus) during a 21-day in situ experiment. Metatranscriptomic analyzes revealed that lysogenic viruses were predominant in all samples (> 99%), while biofilm-associated MPs exposure was associated with increased viral richness and diversity in the digestive glands of M. coruscus (P < 0.05). Viral composition in MPs-exposed M. coruscus became more similar to that of MPs biofilms, with relative enrichment of Uroviricota and decreased relative abundance of Kitrinoviricota and Picornavirales. Functional annotation analysis showed higher abundances of annotations related to antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence factor genes (VFGs), and metal resistance genes (MRGs) in MPs-exposed digestive glands, while virus-bacteria co-occurrence networks exhibited reduced connectivity. Histopathological analysis further showed tissue-level alterations in digestive gland, gill, and mantle tissues following MPs exposure. These findings suggest that MPs exposure may alter host-associated microenvironments and contribute to changes in RNA virome composition, functional profiles, and virus-bacteria interactions. Overall, this study highlights the potential influence of MPs exposure on host-associated RNA viromes and its ecological implications in marine ecosystems.