We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Interactive effects of temperature and microplastic size on biofilm formation and Vibrio harveyi infection in Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegelii
AI summary Read the abstract
Warmer water and smaller microplastic particles team up to grow more harmful bacteria on plastic debris, making fish more likely to get infected and sick, according to a study on Korean rockfish. As ocean temperatures rise due to climate change, this bacteria-plastic combo could pose a growing threat to fish health in farms and in the wild, which matters for anyone who eats seafood or relies on healthy oceans and fisheries.
Environmental changes affect microplastic (MP) biofilms, but how the resulting bacterial adsorption influences infection rates and physiological responses in fish remains unclear. This study investigated the combined effects of temperature (18 °C, 22 °C, and 26 °C) and MP size (102 and 220 μm) on biofilm formation and the subsequent effects on Vibrio harveyi infection and physiological responses in Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegelii. Biofilms were formed on MPs over 21 days under different temperature conditions, followed by a 5-day co-exposure experiment with V. harveyi. Biofilm formation markedly increased with rising temperature and was more pronounced on smaller MPs owing to their larger specific surface area, with the highest levels observed in the 26 °C small MP group. Correspondingly, the abundance of V. harveyi on MPs and its accumulation in fish tissues were markedly elevated, indicating enhanced bacterial transport and internalization. Co-exposure to MPs and V. harveyi induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased reactive oxygen species production in the liver, along with upregulation of antioxidant enzymes. Immune responses were also activated, with marked increases in the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-1 beta (il-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (tnf-α), and c-c chemokine ligand 25 (ccl25), particularly under high-temperature and small MP conditions. In situ hybridization further confirmed increased il-1β expression in liver tissues. Overall, elevated temperature and smaller MPs promoted biofilm formation, facilitating bacterial infection and inducing oxidative stress and immune responses. These findings suggest that climate-driven warming and MP pollution may synergistically increase disease risks in marine fish, with important implications for aquaculture and marine ecosystem health.
More Papers Like This
Effect of microplastic binding capacity on antioxidant and immune responses of Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegeli in a co-exposure environment with microplastics and Streptococcus iniae
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated what happens when Korean rockfish are exposed to both microplastics and the fish pathogen Streptococcus iniae at the same time. They found that microplastics can bind to the bacteria and amplify harmful effects on the fish's antioxidant defenses and immune responses beyond what either stressor causes alone. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution in coastal aquaculture environments may worsen the impact of bacterial infections on fish health.
Impact of microplastics on microbial diversity and pathogen distribution in aquaculture ecosystems: A seasonal analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied bacteria growing on microplastics in fish farming waters and found that in summer, these plastic-attached communities became more connected and harbored several disease-causing species including Vibrio. Microplastics in aquaculture act as floating habitats for harmful bacteria, and seasonal warming makes this worse, raising concerns about seafood safety and the spread of infections to humans.
Increase in temperature increases ingestion and toxicity of polyamide microplastics in Nile tilapia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that higher water temperatures caused Nile tilapia fish to swallow significantly more microplastics and suffer worse health effects, including blood abnormalities, gill damage, and intestinal injury. At the highest temperature tested, fish ingested over three times more plastic particles than at normal temperatures. This study suggests that as climate change warms waterways, fish may accumulate more microplastics, increasing the risk of human exposure through seafood.
The attachment rate of Vibrio anguillarum strains to microplastics strongly varies with abiotic and biotic factors
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how different factors affect the attachment of the fish pathogen Vibrio anguillarum to microplastics in marine environments. They found that bacterial attachment rates varied significantly depending on the plastic type, bacterial strain, and environmental conditions such as temperature and salinity. The findings suggest that microplastics could serve as vectors for pathogenic bacteria, though the risk depends on specific environmental and biological factors.
Study of the impact of ocean warming on the expression of virulence factors in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and the response of the host Exaiptasia pallida to infection
AI summary Read the abstract
Rising ocean temperatures are making the foodborne pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus more virulent, and this study shows that microplastics may be amplifying the threat by serving as surfaces on which these bacteria colonize and spread. Using a sea anemone model, the researchers explored how ocean warming and microplastic-associated pathogens together stress marine organisms. This is significant because microplastics acting as 'pathogen vectors' could increase the risk of seafood-borne illness for humans as ocean conditions change.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.