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Integrated multi-tissue analysis reveals distinct oxidative and metabolic reprogramming in response to contrasting microplastics in Mytilus coruscus
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Mussels exposed to two common types of microplastics, tiny beads and fibers, responded very differently: fiber-shaped plastics got stuck in gill tissue and caused lasting cell damage, while bead-shaped plastics were more easily processed and mainly triggered the mussel's energy systems to compensate. This matters because mussels and other shellfish are widely eaten by humans, and since fibers (a very common form of real-world plastic pollution from clothing and textiles) seem to linger longer and cause more harm, it suggests the shape of microplastics, not just their presence, could affect how much ends up in our seafood and
Microplastic (MP) pollution poses increasing ecological risks to marine filter feeders, yet how different MP characteristics collectively influence biological toxicity and environmental redistribution remains poorly understood. In this study, the mussel Mytilus coruscus was exposed to two representative MPs, laboratory-model polyethylene (PE) microbeads and environmentally relevant and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) microfibers, to investigate particle fate, tissue distribution, energy metabolism, and antioxidant responses. Mussels rapidly removed >90% of suspended MPs from the water column within 72 h, facilitating particle transfer to tissues and sediments. However, the two MPs induced markedly different distribution patterns and physiological responses. PET microfibers showed substantially greater retention in gill tissues (∼30%) than PE microbeads (<10%), accompanied by reduced clearance efficiency and persistent oxidative stress characterized by elevated lipid peroxidation after depuration. In contrast, PE microbeads mainly induced metabolic compensation through enhanced ETS activity and mobilization of energy reserves. Tissue-specific responses further revealed functional differentiation between gills and digestive glands in particle processing and physiological regulation. The results demonstrate that combined differences in MP morphology, composition, and structure are likely associated with distinct environmental fates and organismal stress strategies. These findings provide new insight into how environmentally realistic MPs shape tissue-specific physiological strategies in marine filter feeders and highlight the importance of particle heterogeneity in MP ecotoxicology.
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Bioaccumulation, microbiome composition and immunity, and epigenetic signatures associated with exposure to spherical, fibrous, and fragmented microplastics in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
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Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to microplastics of different shapes (spheres, fibers, and fragments) and found that all types accumulated in the mussels but caused different toxic effects. Fiber-shaped microplastics changed shape inside the mussel tissue, and all forms altered the mussels' gut bacteria, immune gene activity, and DNA methylation patterns. Since mussels are widely consumed as seafood and serve as indicators of ocean health, these findings suggest that microplastic shape matters when assessing risks to both marine life and human food safety.
Metabolic responses of the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis after exposure to microplastics of different shapes and sizes
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Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to microplastics of different shapes and sizes and found that round particles and small fibers accumulated the most in mussel tissues. These same particle types caused the most significant metabolic changes, altering amino acid processing and vitamin pathways. The findings suggest that the shape and size of microplastics play an important role in determining how much harm they cause to marine filter-feeding organisms.
Different recovery patterns of the surviving bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis based on transcriptome profiling exposed to spherical or fibrous polyethylene microplastics
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Researchers used gene expression analysis to study how Mediterranean mussels respond to and recover from exposure to different shapes of polyethylene microplastics. They found that spherical and fibrous particles triggered distinct stress responses and different recovery patterns over a 14-day period. The study suggests that the shape of microplastics matters significantly in determining their biological impact on marine organisms.
Fragment-Shaped Microplastics Induce Size- and Polymer-Dependent Physiological and Gut Microbial Responses in Mytilus edulis
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Blue mussels were exposed to fragment-shaped microplastics of different sizes and polymer types in a lab study. Researchers measured how the plastics built up in the mussels and how this affected their physiology and gut bacteria, finding that responses varied depending on microplastic size and polymer type.
Oxidative Stress in Mussel Mytilus trossulus Induced by Different-Sized Plastics
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Researchers exposed mussels to both tiny polystyrene microparticles and larger polyethylene plastic fragments and found that both sizes triggered oxidative stress in the animals. The plastic exposure caused DNA damage, weakened cellular membranes, and destabilized immune cell structures in the mussels' gills and digestive glands. The findings indicate that plastics of any size and polymer type can be harmful to marine filter-feeding organisms.
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