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Ingestion of polystyrene microplastics by Bombyx mori larvae disrupts midgut epithelial barrier integrity and potentially promotes susceptibility to BmNPV infection
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Researchers fed polystyrene microplastics to silkworm larvae and found that exposure disrupted the midgut epithelial barrier and altered the gut microbiome, reducing beneficial bacteria while increasing opportunistic pathogens. This disruption was associated with significantly increased viral gene expression and replication of the baculovirus BmNPV. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion may increase susceptibility to viral infections by compromising gut barrier integrity.
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants with potential implications for host-virus interactions, which has attracted global interest because MPs have been recognized as emerging pollutants. Despite growing concern over MPs, their influence on viral infections, particularly in invertebrate models, remains poorly understood. In this study, we employed the silkworm, Bombyx mori, as a model organism to investigate the impact of microplastic (MP) exposure on viral replication and the gut microbiome. Real-time PCR and Western blotting results showed that exposure to MPs was accompanied by significantly increased BmNPV viral gene expression (ie-1, vp39, gp41) and VP39 production in the midgut, suggesting an increase in BmNPV replication. Exposure to MPs disrupted gut microbiome composition, leading to a decrease in beneficial bacteria (e.g., Vibrionaceae) and an increase in opportunistic pathogens, potentially contributing to increased susceptibility to BmNPV. Notably, the increased permeability of the midgut epithelium in response to MP exposure likely facilitated viral entry and enhanced infection. These findings underscore the potential risks of MPs in facilitating viral replication and systemic infection and emphasize the necessity of further research to explore the complex relationships between MPs, gut microbiota, and viral infections across different ecological settings.
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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.
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Researchers tested the effects of polystyrene microplastics and nanoplastics on silkworms and found that while the particles did not affect body weight or survival, they significantly altered immune gene activity and antioxidant responses. Interestingly, microplastics boosted immune defenses while nanoplastics suppressed them, meaning silkworms exposed to nanoplastics were more vulnerable to bacterial infection. The study suggests that plastic particle size is a critical factor in determining the nature and severity of toxic effects on organisms.
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