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Microplastic-induced changes in the rainbow trout gut: Insights from transcriptomic, proteomic, and microbial approaches
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Scientists fed rainbow trout tiny plastic particles (from two common plastics, PE and PS) for six weeks and found real damage: gut bacteria balance was disrupted, digestive enzymes were suppressed, and stress and immune responses ramped up, effects that got worse with higher plastic doses. This matters because fish are a major food source and gut health, and this study shows microplastics can quietly harm digestion and immunity even without causing obvious, immediate illness, raising questions about what similar low-level exposure might do to other animals, including humans, over time.
This study examined the intestinal effects ofpolyethylene (PE; size 46.6±11.3µm) and polystyrene (PS;size 52.5±11.5µm) microparticles atthree different concentrations (0.5%, 2%, and 5%) onjuvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using anintegrative approach combining transcriptomics, proteomics, and microbiome analysis. After asix-week experiment, molecular analyses identified concentration-dependent transcriptional responses, including downregulation ofgenes involved inion exchange (slc9a1b) and appetite regulation (ghrl), alongside upregulation ofimmune- and stress-related genes (il10, tfa), particularly athigher concentrations. Proteomic profiling showed amore pronounced effect ofPScompared toPE, including suppression ofdigestive enzymes, disruption oflipid and energy metabolism, and activation ofproteins associated with oxidative stress and immune responses. Microbiome analysis confirmed plastic-induced dysbiosis, characterised byreduced microbial diversity, depletion ofbeneficial taxa (e.g., Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota), and shifts in short-chain fatty acid–producing bacteria. By integrating multiple levels of biological organisation, this study provides new insights into how microplastics interfere with intestinal physiology, beyond acute toxicity. The findings emphasise the relevance of polymer type and exposure concentration in shaping biological responses and highlight the vulnerability of freshwater species to environmental microplastics.
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Microplastic-induced gut dysbiosis and metabolic alterations in juvenile European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax): A multi-omics approach
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Scientists found that when sea bass (a fish we eat) were exposed to real-world microplastic particles collected from the environment, it triggered inflammation, cell damage, and disrupted energy metabolism in their gut, while also killing off beneficial gut bacteria and letting pollution-tolerant bacteria take over. While this study was done in fish, not humans, it matters because it shows that microplastics—which are now found throughout our food chain and environment—can meaningfully disrupt gut health and the microbiome, raising questions about similar effects in people who consume seafood or are otherwise exposed to these particles.
Integrated biomarker responses to dietary polypropylene microplastics in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) under simulated aquaculture conditions
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Scientists fed rainbow trout food containing tiny plastic particles (microplastics) for 45 days and found the fish grew more slowly, with the plastic causing stress and damage in their liver, brain, and other organs, effects that got worse with higher plastic doses and longer exposure. Since farmed trout is a common food fish, this research is an early warning sign that the growing amount of microplastic pollution could affect the health of fish we eat, though more research is needed to know exactly what this means for humans.
Multi-omics association pattern between gut microbiota and host metabolism of a filter-feeding fish in situ exposed to microplastics
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Scientists exposed filter-feeding fish to environmentally realistic levels of microplastics and found that the particles reshaped gut bacteria communities, which in turn altered the fish's liver metabolism through changes in amino acid processing. This gut-microbiome-to-organ connection matters because it shows microplastics may affect human health not just through direct toxicity but by disrupting the beneficial bacteria in our digestive systems.
Polystyrene nano/microplastics induce microbiota dysbiosis, oxidative damage, and innate immune disruption in zebrafish
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene particles of two different sizes and found that both nano- and micro-sized plastics disrupted gut bacteria, caused oxidative damage, and altered immune responses. The severity of effects depended on particle size and concentration, with smaller particles and higher doses causing more harm. The study suggests that plastic particles in waterways may pose a broader threat to fish health than previously understood, affecting digestion, stress defenses, and immunity simultaneously.
Microplastics induce intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and disorders of metabolome and microbiome in zebrafish
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Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics for 21 days and found significant intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of both the gut microbiome and metabolic processes. The microplastics altered the balance of beneficial and harmful gut bacteria and changed the levels of key metabolites involved in energy and amino acid metabolism. The study provides detailed evidence that microplastic ingestion can cause widespread disruption to gut health in aquatic organisms.
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