We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Response of moulting genes and gut microbiome to nano-plastics and copper in juvenile horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed juvenile horseshoe crabs to polystyrene nanoplastics and copper, both alone and in combination, and found that combined exposure significantly altered molting gene expression and disrupted gut microbial communities. The nanoplastics and copper together triggered stress responses not seen with either pollutant alone, including changes in heat shock protein and hormone receptor gene activity. The study raises concerns about how multiple pollutants in coastal waters may jointly affect the development of this ancient and ecologically important species.
Nanoplastics (NPs) and heavy metals are typical marine pollutants, affecting the gut microbiota composition and molting rate of marine organisms. Currently, there is a lack of research on the toxicological effects of combined exposure to horseshoe crabs. In this study, we investigated the effects of NPs and copper on the expression of molt-related genes and gut microbiome in juvenile tri-spine horseshoe crabs Tachypleus tridentatus by exposing them to NPs (100 nm, 10 particles L) and/or Cu (10 μgL) in seawater for 21 days. Compared with the control group, the relative mRNA expression of ecdysone receptor (EcR), retinoid x receptor (RXR), calmodulin-A-like isoform X1 (CaM X1), and heat shock 70 kDa protein (Hsp70) were significantly increased under the combined stress of NPs and Cu. There were no significant differences in the diversity and abundance indices of the gut microbial population of horseshoe crabs between the NPs and/or Cu groups and the control group. According to linear discriminant analysis, Oleobacillus was the most abundant microorganism in the NPs and Cu stress groups. These results indicate that exposure to either NPs stress alone or combined NPs and Cu stress can promote the expression levels of juvenile molting genes. NPs exposure has a greater impact on the gut microbial community structure of juvenile horseshoe crabs compared to Cu exposure. This study is helpful for predicting the growth and development of horseshoe crabs under complex environmental pollution.
More Papers Like This
Combined effects of nanoplastics and heavy metal on antioxidant parameters of juvenile tri-spine horseshoe crabs
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that combined exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics and copper ions caused greater oxidative stress in juvenile tri-spine horseshoe crabs than either stressor alone, with antioxidant enzyme levels remaining disrupted even after a seven-day recovery period.
Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and copper on gill tissue structure, metabolism, and immune function of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that nanoplastics and copper together caused more damage to crab gill tissue than either pollutant alone, disrupting the animals' antioxidant defenses, metabolism, and immune function. The combined exposure suppressed important detoxification genes that help the crabs cope with environmental stress. Since crabs are a common seafood, these findings raise concerns about how co-occurring pollutants in waterways could affect both aquatic life and the safety of shellfish for human consumption.
Combined effects of norfloxacin and polystyrene nanoparticles on the oxidative stress and gut health of the juvenile horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed juvenile horseshoe crabs to an antibiotic (norfloxacin) and polystyrene nanoparticles, finding that both pollutants disrupted gut microbiota composition and suppressed key metabolic pathways in the microbiome, while antioxidant defenses eventually compensated for initial oxidative stress after extended exposure.
Transcriptomic insights into an ancient and endangered species: Adverse effects of nanopolystyrene on the behavior and energy metabolism of Tachypleus tridentatus
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed juvenile horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus tridentatus) — an ancient, endangered species — to nanopolystyrene at environmental concentrations, finding impaired swimming, altered burrowing, and transcriptomic changes across oxidative stress, energy metabolism, and serotonin signaling pathways, with behavioral disruptions potentially linked to disturbed neurotransmitter-receptor interactions.
New insights into the responding mechanism of Eriocheir sinensis hepatopancreas under nanoplastics and copper stress by transcriptome analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used transcriptome analysis to investigate how nanoplastics and copper individually and in combination affect the hepatopancreas of Chinese mitten crabs. They found that co-exposure led to greater accumulation and more severe tissue damage than either pollutant alone, with significant disruptions to immune and metabolic gene pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastics may enhance the toxicity of heavy metals in aquatic organisms through synergistic interactions.
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.