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Short-Term Microplastics Exposure to the Common Mysid Shrimp, Americamysis bahia: Effects on Mortality and DNA Methylation
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Researchers exposed mysid shrimp to fluorescent polystyrene microbeads at various concentrations and durations to assess effects on survival and DNA methylation patterns. While no significant mortality was observed, the study found changes in DNA methylation, suggesting potential epigenetic effects from microplastic exposure. Evidence indicates that microplastics may alter gene expression in marine organisms even at sub-lethal levels.
Primary consumers of microplastics are often zooplankton species such as the mysid shrimp, Americamysis bahia. Ingesting and interacting with these plastics can cause stress and lead to death. In the presence of some environmental stressors, gene expression may be altered without changing DNA sequences via the epigenetic methylation of the DNA. Mysid shrimp were exposed to 5-micrometer fluorescent polystyrene microbeads at different concentrations and different lengths of time. No significant effects were observed on mortality within 72 h, but mortality increased significantly thereafter. Microplastics were consumed by mysids and adhered to the mysid carapace and appendages. An ELISA-like (Enzyme-Linked Imuunosorbent Assay) colorimetric assay was employed to assess mysid DNA for differences in global percent methylation. No significant difference in the average percent methylated DNA nor difference in the number of methylation detections between treatments was found. This is one of few studies that has investigated DNA methylation effects due to microplastics-induced stress and the first study to detect DNA methylation in any member of the order Mysida.
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Epigenetic and Gene Expression Responses in Daphnia magna to Polyethylene and Polystyrene Microplastics
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Researchers exposed water fleas (Daphnia magna) to polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics and examined changes at the genetic and molecular level. They found that the microplastics altered DNA methylation patterns and disrupted the expression of genes involved in reproduction and stress response. The study provides evidence that microplastic exposure can cause changes beyond physical harm, affecting organisms at the epigenetic level.
Changes in global methylation patterns of Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to microplastics
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Researchers found that exposing mussels to polystyrene microplastics caused changes in their DNA methylation patterns, an epigenetic modification that controls how genes are turned on and off. Higher microplastic concentrations led to greater loss of methylation, and similar patterns were seen in wild mussels from polluted areas. This suggests microplastics could affect organisms at the genetic regulation level, potentially influencing metabolism and cell division.
Investigating the Epigenetic Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastic Exposure in Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Epithelial Cells Using Methylation-Sensitive AFLPs
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Researchers exposed bluegill fish cells to polystyrene nanoplastics and examined whether the exposure caused changes in DNA methylation, a type of genetic modification that can alter how genes function. They found that nanoplastic exposure did cause methylation changes across the genome, but the effect was not dependent on dose or exposure time -- simply being exposed to nanoplastics was enough to trigger the changes. The findings suggest that even low-level nanoplastic exposure could have epigenetic effects on aquatic organisms.
Effects of polystyrene microbeads in marine planktonic crustaceans
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Researchers exposed barnacle larvae and brine shrimp to polystyrene microbeads at various concentrations and measured effects on survival, swimming behavior, and enzyme activity. While the microplastics accumulated in both species without causing mortality, high concentrations significantly altered swimming speed and cholinesterase enzyme activity. The study suggests that sublethal effects of microplastics on behavior and neurological function may be more ecologically relevant than direct mortality in marine crustaceans.
Short-term toxicity of polystryrene microplastics on mysid shrimps Neomysis japonica
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Polystyrene microplastics were found to reduce survival in mysid shrimps (Neomysis japonica) in short-term toxicity tests, with lethal effects occurring at concentrations above 1 mg/L. Mysid shrimps are sensitive test species used in marine toxicology, and their vulnerability to microplastics is concerning given their importance in marine food webs.
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