We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Polystyrene Microplastics Impair Intestinal Homeostasis in Juvenile Tachypleus tridentatus Through Oxidative Imbalance and Gut Microbiota Dysregulation
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (microplastics) can harm the gut health of young horseshoe crabs, causing cell damage and throwing off the balance of good and bad bacteria in their intestines, with younger crabs affected more severely. While this study was done in horseshoe crabs, not humans, it adds to growing evidence that microplastics, which we're also exposed to through food and water, may disrupt gut bacteria and trigger oxidative stress, a process linked to inflammation and various health problems in animals broadly.
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous marine pollutants that pose increasing ecological risks, yet their effects on intestinal physiology and gut microbial homeostasis during the juvenile developmental stages of Tachypleus tridentatus remain unclear. In this study, fifth- and sixth-instar juveniles of T. tridentatus were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of 6.0 μm polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs; 0, 102, and 104 particles/L) for 7 and 21 days to investigate intestinal physiological responses and potential mechanisms associated with PS-MP exposure. Intestinal retention, oxidative stress, innate immune responses, and gut microbiota were comprehensively evaluated. PS-MP exposure induced concentration-dependent and time-dependent alterations in superoxide dismutase, catalase, malondialdehyde, and lysozyme, suggesting oxidative imbalance and modulation of innate immune responses. Fifth-instar juveniles displayed more pronounced oxidative-stress alterations and divergent innate-immune profiles relative to sixth-instar conspecifics, pointing to greater physiological susceptibility at earlier developmental stages. Gut microbiota analysis revealed pronounced dysbiosis, characterized by a reduced relative abundance of Bacillota, enrichment of Pseudomonadota, depletion of beneficial taxa (e.g., Lactococcus), and increased abundance of opportunistic bacteria, including Pseudomonas and members of Enterobacteriaceae. These physiological and microbial alterations collectively suggest that environmentally relevant PS-MPs impair intestinal homeostasis in juvenile T. tridentatus by inducing oxidative imbalance, modifying innate immune responses, and reshaping gut microbial communities, with clear instar- and exposure time-dependent effects. These findings highlight the importance of considering developmental stages in ecological risk assessment for benthic arthropods.
More Papers Like This
Polystyrene Microplastics Impair Intestinal Homeostasis in Juvenile Tachypleus tridentatus Through Oxidative Imbalance and Gut Microbiota Dysregulation
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that microplastic pollution damages the gut health of juvenile horseshoe crabs, causing oxidative stress, weaker immune defenses, and an imbalance of gut bacteria (fewer good bacteria, more harmful ones), similar to gut dysbiosis linked to inflammation in humans. While this study was done in horseshoe crabs, not people, it adds to growing evidence that microplastics can disrupt gut health across species, raising concerns about what similar exposure might mean for human digestive and immune health.
Microplastics disrupt energy metabolism and intestinal integrity in juvenile Chinese horseshoe crabs
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed young horseshoe crabs (an ancient marine species) to microplastics and found real damage: the plastic particles built up in their gills and gut, weakened digestion, thinned their intestinal walls, and messed up how they process fats and energy—and these problems didn't fully go away even after the plastic exposure stopped. This matters because it shows microplastics can cause lasting harm to marine life that filters or lives in polluted waters, a warning sign for the broader food chain and ecosystems humans depend on, including the seafood we eat.
Polystyrene microplastics impede growth and induce behavioural toxicity in endangered juvenile horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed juvenile horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus), an endangered species, to polystyrene microplastics and found significant growth retardation and behavioral abnormalities, raising concern that microplastic pollution may be contributing to population declines in this already threatened species.
Age-Dependent Molecular Response Strategies to Microplastic Exposure in the Endangered Horseshoe Crab Tachypleus tridentatus
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that young horseshoe crabs react more strongly and chaotically to microplastic pollution than older ones, with the youngest showing bigger disruptions to their metabolism and stress systems. This matters because it shows microplastics can hit developing animals harder than adults—a pattern worth considering for other species, including how early-life exposure to microplastics might affect human infants and children differently than adults.
Combined effects of norfloxacin and polystyrene nanoparticles on the oxidative stress and gut health of the juvenile horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed juvenile horseshoe crabs to an antibiotic (norfloxacin) and polystyrene nanoparticles, finding that both pollutants disrupted gut microbiota composition and suppressed key metabolic pathways in the microbiome, while antioxidant defenses eventually compensated for initial oxidative stress after extended exposure.
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.