We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Combined Vibrio and nanoplastics stress promotes nanoplastic accumulation while reducing bacterial lethality in shrimp
Summary
Researchers discovered that Vibrio bacteria act as carriers for nanoplastics in shrimp, ferrying the tiny particles through the gut wall and concentrating them in organs, but interestingly the nanoplastics also weakened the bacteria's ability to cause infection, showing that plastic-pathogen interactions in seafood are complex and two-directional.
Nanoplastics (NPs) and pathogenic bacteria are widely present in natural water, yet their interactive effects on aquatic organisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that Vibrio parahaemolyticus can extensively capture free NPs and facilitate their translocation through the intestinal barrier of Litopenaeus vannamei, thereby altering the distribution of NPs within shrimp and exacerbating their accumulation in the hepatopancreas. These findings provide the first evidence that bacteria act as carriers of NPs influencing their translocation. Interestingly, NPs also affect V. parahaemolyticus infection in shrimp by attenuating the virulence of pathogen, as evidenced by downregulated expression of virulence genes (Tdh and Trh), reduced bacterial loads, and improved host survival rates. Single-cell transcriptomics analysis revealed that NPs activate both energy metabolism and immune pathways, collectively enhancing the host's antioxidative capacity and immunocompetence. These findings offer novel insights into the mechanisms of NPs-pathogen-host interactions and provide critical data for assessing the ecological risks of plastic pollution to seafood safety.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The Effect of Microplastic Ingestion on Survival of the Grass Shrimp Palaemonetes pugio (Holthuis, 1949) Challenged with Vibrio campbellii
Grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) that had ingested microplastics showed increased mortality when subsequently challenged with the marine pathogen Vibrio campbellii compared to shrimp that had not ingested plastics. This finding suggests that microplastic ingestion can compromise immune defenses in marine crustaceans, making them more vulnerable to bacterial infections.
Involvement of Microplastics in the Conflict Between Host Immunity Defense and Viral Virulence: Promoting the Susceptibility of Shrimp to WSSV Infection
Researchers found that PVC microplastics made shrimp significantly more vulnerable to white spot syndrome virus, a devastating disease in aquaculture, by suppressing their immune defenses. The microplastics interacted with the virus to prolong its survival and triggered changes in the shrimp's fat metabolism that weakened a key immune signaling pathway. This study demonstrates how microplastic pollution in coastal waters could increase disease outbreaks in seafood species, potentially affecting both food supply and food safety for humans.
Dangerous hitchhikers? Evidence for potentially pathogenic Vibrio spp. on microplastic particles
Researchers tested whether marine microplastics carry potentially pathogenic Vibrio bacteria, finding Vibrio species on microplastic surfaces in seawater, raising concerns about plastics as vehicles for transporting harmful bacteria in marine environments.
Polyamide microplastics can mitigate the effects of pathogenic bacterium on the health of marine mussels
Researchers examined how polyamide microplastics interact with the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus and their combined effects on marine mussels. Surprisingly, they found that higher concentrations of microplastics actually reduced the harmful effects of the bacteria on mussel health by adsorbing the pathogens. The study reveals that microplastic-bacteria interactions in the ocean are more complex than previously thought and do not always amplify toxicity.
Effect of microplastics on oxytetracycline trophic transfer: Immune, gut microbiota and antibiotic resistance gene responses
When polypropylene microplastics and the antibiotic oxytetracycline were present together in water, the microplastics acted as carriers that increased antibiotic buildup in shrimp and fish through the food chain. This combination caused more gut and liver damage, weakened immune defenses, and promoted the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The findings highlight that microplastics can make antibiotic pollution worse by helping resistant genes move up the food chain.