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Computational genomics of zebrafish under micro- and Nanoplastic stress: identification of pathways and hub genes
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This in silico review used protein-protein interaction networks and computational toxicogenomics to identify hub genes—including casp3a, tp53, and nfe2l2a—as central regulators of zebrafish responses to micro- and nanoplastic stress, providing targets for mechanistic and biomarker research.
This review synthesizes in silico evidence on the toxicological effects of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in zebrafish (Danio rerio). With the increasing prevalence of these pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, evaluating their molecular impacts is essential for risk assessment. We systematically mined toxicogenomic studies from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science and applied network biology approaches to identify gene-gene interactions underlying micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) toxicity. Using STRING for protein-protein interaction mapping and Cytoscape with cytoHubba for hub-gene detection, we identified casp3a, casp3b, bcl2a, tp53, and nfe2l2a as central regulators of stress responses. Enrichment analyses linked these genes to oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammatory signalling, and transcriptional dysregulation, pathways implicated in cardiotoxic, neurotoxic, reproductive, and developmental outcomes. While zebrafish provide a relevant vertebrate model, the present findings are derived exclusively from computational analyses and require experimental validation. By integrating toxicogenomics with network-based approaches, this review provides mechanistic insights into MNP-induced perturbations in zebrafish and highlights molecular pathways that may mediate broader ecological and human health risks.
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This review pulls together existing research on how tiny plastic particles (micro- and nanoplastics) affect zebrafish, a small fish whose genes are surprisingly similar to ours and is commonly used to study health effects. The studies show these plastic particles can damage the brain, liver, gut, and reproductive organs by triggering harmful changes in gene activity, cell stress, and inflammation. Since zebrafish are often used as an early warning system for human health risks, this research suggests plastic pollution exposure — something we all experience through food, water, and air — deserves serious attention as a potential health concern.
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This review uses zebrafish as a model to examine how micro- and nanoplastics cause neurobehavioral toxicity, linking particle size to brain function disruption. Researchers summarize evidence that these plastic particles impair fish behavior and cause molecular-level damage in the nervous system. The findings highlight the growing concern that micro- and nanoplastics are emerging neurotoxicants in aquatic environments.
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