Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Gut & Microbiome Human Health Effects Marine & Wildlife Nanoplastics Remediation Sign in to save

Early-life polystyrene nanoplastics exposure impairs pathogen avoidance behavior associated with intestine-derived insulin-like neuropeptide (ins-11) and serotonin signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2024 3 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Pei-Ling Yen, Ting‐An Lin, Ting‐An Lin, Chan‐Wei Yu, Chan‐Wei Yu, Chan‐Wei Yu, Chan‐Wei Yu, Chan‐Wei Yu, Ting‐An Lin, Vivian Hsiu‐Chuan Liao Ting‐An Lin, Ting‐An Lin, Ting‐An Lin, Pei-Ling Yen, Ting‐An Lin, Ting‐An Lin, Pei-Ling Yen, Ting‐An Lin, Pei-Ling Yen, Ting‐An Lin, Ting‐An Lin, Ting‐An Lin, Yu‐Hsuan Kuo, Yu‐Hsuan Kuo, Yu‐Hsuan Kuo, Vivian Hsiu‐Chuan Liao Pei-Ling Yen, Vivian Hsiu‐Chuan Liao Vivian Hsiu‐Chuan Liao Ting‐An Lin, Ting‐An Lin, Ting‐An Lin, Vivian Hsiu‐Chuan Liao Vivian Hsiu‐Chuan Liao Vivian Hsiu‐Chuan Liao Ting‐An Lin, Vivian Hsiu‐Chuan Liao Vivian Hsiu‐Chuan Liao Vivian Hsiu‐Chuan Liao

Summary

Researchers found that early-life exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations significantly impaired the ability of the model organism C. elegans to avoid pathogenic bacteria. The nanoplastics disrupted an intestine-derived neuropeptide signaling pathway and serotonin signaling, both essential for pathogen avoidance behavior. The study suggests that early-life nanoplastic exposure could make organisms more vulnerable to harmful pathogens by interfering with protective behavioral responses.

Polymers

Body Systems

Nervous

Models

C elegans

Nanoplastics (NPs) contamination is an emerging global concern due to the widespread use of plastic products and their potentially negative health impact on ecosystems. Despite their ubiquity, the effects of early-life NPs exposure on host-pathogen interactions remain largely unknown. In this study, we show that early-life exposure to polystyrene NPs (PS-NPs, 100-nm) at predicted environmentally relevant concentrations (10 µg/L) significantly impairs food preference and reduces avoidance of the pathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Exposure to PS-NPs led to a decrease in avoidance from 40.3 % in controls to 30.6 % at 10 µg/L and further to 23.1 % and 17.4 % at 50 and 100 µg/L, respectively. Mechanistic insights reveal that PS-NPs downregulate intestine-derived insulin-like neuropeptide (ins-11) via the transcription factor HLH-30 and the p38 MAPK signaling pathways, both are essential for avoidance behavior. Notably, acute serotonin treatment restored the avoidance behavior, indicating a role of serotonin signaling in this process. Our study indicates that early-life exposure to PS-NPs (100-nm) adversely affects the avoidance behavior of C. elegans, making them more vulnerable to harmful pathogens, thereby affecting their health. These findings highlight significant ecological and health hazards by early-life PS-NPs exposure.

Read via DOI Download PDF

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email