We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Weathered polyethylene microplastics induced immunomodulation in zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed zebrafish to weathered polyethylene microplastics for 40 days and found significant changes in immune system markers, including lysozyme activity and blood cell counts. Male fish were more affected than females, suggesting that sex may influence vulnerability to microplastic exposure. These findings are concerning because immune system disruption could make organisms, and potentially humans, more susceptible to infections and disease.
Microplastics are pollutants of emerging concern and the aquatic biota consumes microplastics (MPs), which has a range of toxicological and environmental effects on aquatic organisms that are not the intended targets. The current study looked into how weathered polyethylene (wPE) MPs affected Danio albolineatus immunological and haematological markers. In this experiment, fish of both sexes were placed in control and exposure groups, and they were exposed for 40 d at the sublethal level (1 μg L) of fragmented wPE, which contained 1074 ± 52 MPs per litre. Similarly, fish exposed to wPE MPs showed significant modifications in lysozyme, antimicrobial, and antiprotease activity, as well as differential counts. Results of the present study show that the male fish were more susceptible than female fish after 40 d of chronic exposure. Further studies are needed to ascertain how the innate and humoral immune systems of the fish respond to MPs exposure.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics induce transcriptional changes, immune response and behavioral alterations in adult zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics for twenty days and analyzed the effects at the genetic, tissue, and behavioral levels. They found significant changes in immune system genes, disrupted intestinal and gill tissue integrity, and increased presence of inflammatory cells. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may compromise fish defenses against pathogens by weakening the protective barriers of their mucosal tissues.
Effects of microplastics on head-kidney gene expression and biochemical biomarkers in adult zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to microplastics for 20 days and measured gene expression and biochemical markers in the head-kidney — the fish's primary immune organ. Microplastic exposure altered immune-related gene expression and biochemical indicators, suggesting that even short-term plastic ingestion can disrupt immune function in fish.
Environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics modulated the immune response and swimming activity, and impaired the development of marine medaka Oryzias melastigma larvae
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics impaired immune responses, swimming behavior, and larval development in marine medaka fish, demonstrating that even low-level exposure poses ecological risks.
In vitro effects of virgin microplastics on fish head-kidney leucocyte activities
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the in vitro effects of PVC and polyethylene microplastics on immune cells from two fish species, gilthead seabream and European sea bass. They found that microplastic exposure affected phagocytic activity, respiratory burst, and the expression of genes related to inflammation and oxidative stress in the immune cells. The study suggests that microplastics may directly modulate fish immune function, potentially making them more vulnerable to infections and disease.
Effects on immunity of exposure to microplastics in adult zebrafish
AI summary Read the abstract
Adult zebrafish exposed to microplastics showed changes in liver gene expression, gut and gill tissue damage, and altered swimming behavior, indicating that microplastic exposure triggers multiple biological stress responses. The study highlights the relevance of zebrafish as a model for assessing microplastic toxicity.
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.