We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Mixture Effects of Polystyrene Microplastics on the Gut Microbiota in C57BL/6 Mice
Summary
Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes, both individually and mixed together, and found that the mixture caused unique changes to gut bacteria and fungi not seen with either size alone. The mixed microplastics also altered microbial genes related to antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in the gut. This suggests that real-world exposure to a mix of microplastic sizes may have different and potentially more harmful effects on gut health than exposure to a single size.
Microplastics are plastic particles with sizes of less than 5 mm. The ubiquity of microplastics in the environment has raised serious public health concerns. Microplastics could disturb the composition of the gut microbiota due to both chemical composition and physical interactions, which might further influence the metabolism and immune function of the host. However, most of the exposure studies chose microplastics of specific sizes. In the natural environment, living organisms are exposed to a mixture of microplastics of various sizes. In this study, male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to polystyrene (PS) microplastics with different sizes, including microplastics with diameters of 0.05-0.1 μm (PS0.1 group, 100 ppb), 9-10 μm (PS10 group, 100 ppb), and microplastic mixtures of both 0.05-0.1 and 9-10 μm (PSMix group) at a total concentration of 100 ppb (50 ppb for each size). Mixture effects of microplastics were investigated on the composition of bacteria and fungi as well as functional metagenome and microbial genes encoding antibiotic resistance and virulence factors. We found that some bacteria, fungi, and microbial metabolic pathways were only altered in the PSMix group, not in the PS0.1 or PS10 group, suggesting the toxic effects of the microplastic mixture on the composition of fungi and bacteria, and the functional metagenome is different from the effects of microplastics at specific sizes. Meanwhile, altered genes encoding antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in the PSMix group were shared with the PS0.1 and PS10 groups, possibly due to functional redundancy. Our findings help improve the understanding of the toxic effects of the microplastic mixture on the gut microbiome.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Size-dependent effects of polystyrene microplastics on gut metagenome and antibiotic resistance in C57BL/6 mice
Researchers investigated how the size of polystyrene microplastics affects gut microbiome composition and function in mice. The study found that smaller microplastic particles (0.05-0.1 micrometers) had a significantly greater impact on both bacterial and fungal gut communities, as well as metabolic pathways, compared to larger particles (9-10 micrometers). These results suggest that size-dependent effects are an important factor to consider when assessing the health risks of microplastic exposure.
The role of gut microbiota in mediating increased toxicity of nano-sized polystyrene compared to micro-sized polystyrene in mice
This mouse study found that nano-sized polystyrene plastics were significantly more toxic than micro-sized ones, causing greater gut inflammation, liver damage, and metabolic disruption. The key difference was driven by how each size affected gut bacteria: nanoplastics caused a more severe shift toward harmful bacteria and away from beneficial ones. The findings suggest that the smallest plastic particles may pose the greatest health risk because they more dramatically disrupt the gut microbiome.
Impacts of polystyrene microplastic on the gut barrier, microbiota and metabolism of mice
Researchers exposed mice to polystyrene microplastics for six weeks and found that the particles accumulated in the gut, reduced protective mucus secretion, and damaged the intestinal barrier. The microplastics also significantly altered the composition of gut bacteria, decreasing beneficial species and increasing harmful ones. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion could disrupt gut health in mammals by simultaneously impairing the physical barrier and reshaping the microbiome.
In vivo exposure of mixed microplastic particles in mice and its impacts on the murine gut microbiome and metabolome
Researchers exposed mice to a mixture of common microplastic types to investigate effects on the gut microbiome and metabolome. The study found that ingested microplastic particles altered gut microbial composition and disrupted metabolic pathways, suggesting that realistic mixed-microplastic exposure may have broader biological effects than single-polymer studies indicate.
Oral exposure to polyethylene microplastics alters gut morphology, immune response, and microbiota composition in mice
Researchers fed mice polyethylene microplastics of two sizes commonly found in human stool for six weeks and examined the effects on gut health. The study found that microplastic exposure altered gut structure, disrupted immune cell function, changed gene expression related to inflammation and gut barrier integrity, and shifted the composition of gut bacteria. Mice exposed to both sizes simultaneously showed the most severe effects, suggesting that real-world exposure to mixed microplastic sizes may compound the damage.