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Sucralose and PMMA Microplastics Synergistically Induce Obesity with Altered Locomotion and Metabolism in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Scientists found that when artificial sweetener (sucralose) and tiny plastic particles are combined, they work together to cause more weight gain than either one alone in lab worms. The combination made the worms eat more but move less, while disrupting genes that control fat storage and energy use. This suggests that microplastics in our environment might make artificial sweeteners more likely to contribute to obesity, though more research is needed to confirm if this happens in humans.
Emerging anthropogenic pollutants such as artificial sweeteners and microplastics (MPs) widely co-occur in natural environments, yet their combined toxicity, particularly obesogenic effects, is completely unknown. This study investigated the effects of sucralose (SUC) and UV-aged poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) MPs using an in vivo model of Caenorhabditis elegans. Exposure to SUC and/or MPs (1-100 μg/L) induced significant obesity phenotypes, including increased body width and volume alongside elevated lipid accumulation and lipid droplet levels in a concentration-dependent manner. Critically, coexposure produced stronger obesogenic effects than predicted additive values from single exposures, demonstrating a synergistic interaction. Behavioral analyses revealed that coexposure concurrently increased pharyngeal pumping rates but decreased crawling locomotion, with obesogenic parameters positively correlating with feeding activity and negatively with locomotor capacity. Molecular analysis confirmed the corresponding dysregulation of genes governing feeding behavior (mgl-1), energy sensing (aak-2), and lipid metabolism (daf-16, sbp-1), supporting the hyperphagia-hypolocomotion phenotype. Metabolomics analysis demonstrated exposure-specific disruption of nicotinate/nicotinamide metabolism and glutamate-mediated biosynthesis pathways, which collectively accelerated lipid accumulation. These results suggest that MPs can act not merely as obesogens but also synergistically amplify SUC's obesogenic toxicity associated with altered locomotion and metabolism. Our findings highlight the necessity to incorporate cocontaminant interaction assessments into microplastic risk frameworks for addressing underestimated environmental health threats.
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Distinct responses of Caenorhabditis elegans to polyethylene microplastics and plant secondary metabolites
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Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics and plant-derived chemical compounds individually and together affect the roundworm C. elegans, a common soil organism. They found that while the plant compounds reduced worm reproduction and lifespan, microplastics had milder individual effects but modified the toxicity of the plant chemicals when combined. The study reveals that in real soil environments, the interactions between microplastics and natural plant chemicals create complex toxicity patterns.
Multiomics analysis reveals the molecular basis for increased body weight in silkworms (Bombyx mori) exposed to environmental concentrations of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics
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Researchers fed silkworms environmentally realistic concentrations of polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics throughout their larval development and found that exposed worms gained more weight due to altered fat metabolism. Multi-omics analysis revealed changes in lipid-related pathways and shifts in gut bacteria, particularly increases in Acinetobacter and Enterococcus. While studied in insects, these metabolic disruptions from low-level microplastic exposure could have broader implications for understanding how microplastics affect metabolism in other organisms.
Microplastic-mediated delivery of di-butyl phthalate alters C. elegans lifespan and reproductive fidelity
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Researchers used Caenorhabditis elegans to test how microplastics serve as vehicles for the plasticizer di-butyl phthalate, finding that MP-mediated delivery of this chemical shortened worm lifespan and altered metabolic pathways compared to chemical exposure alone.
Adsorption behavior and neurotoxic synergy of thallium and polystyrene microplastics in Caenorhabditis elegans
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Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics and the toxic metal thallium interact and affect the nervous system of the roundworm C. elegans. They found that the microplastics adsorbed thallium and that the combined exposure produced worse neurotoxic effects than either pollutant alone. The study highlights how microplastics can act as carriers for other environmental toxins, amplifying their harmful effects on living organisms.
Accumulation of microplastics and Tcep pollutants in agricultural soil: Exploring the links between metabolites and gut microbiota in earthworm homeostasis
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Researchers investigated the co-occurrence of polyethylene microplastics and the flame retardant TCEP in agricultural soils and their combined effects on earthworm health. The study found that co-exposure disrupted earthworm gut microbiota and metabolic homeostasis, suggesting that the interaction between microplastics and chemical additives in agricultural soil may pose greater ecological risks than either contaminant alone.
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