We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Exposure to virgin and marine incubated microparticles of biodegradable and conventional polymers modulates the hepatopancreas transcriptome of Mytilus galloprovincialis.
AI summary Read the abstract
Exposure to both virgin and marine-incubated microparticles from conventional and biodegradable polymers altered gene expression in the hepatopancreas of Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), with marine weathering generally increasing the immunological and metabolic stress response.
Biodegradable polymers have been proposed as an alternative to conventional plastics to mitigate the impact of marine litter, but the research investigating their toxicity is still in its infancy. This study evaluates the potential ecotoxicological effects of both virgin and marine-incubated microparticles (MPs), at environmentally relevant concentration (0.1 mg/l), made of different biodegradable polymers (Polycaprolactone, Mater-Bi, cellulose) and conventional polymers (Polyethylene) on Mytilus galloprovincialis by using transcriptomics. This approach is increasingly being used to assess the effects of pollutants on organisms, obtaining data on numerous biological pathways simultaneously. Whole hepatopancreas de novo transcriptome sequencing was performed, individuating 972 genes differentially expressed across experimental groups compared to the control. Through the comparative transcriptomic profiling emerges that the preponderant effect is attributable to the marine incubation of MPs, especially for incubated polycaprolactone (731 DEGs). Mater-Bi and cellulose alter the smallest number of genes and biological processes in the mussel hepatopancreas. All microparticles, regardless of their polymeric composition, dysregulated innate immunity, and fatty acid metabolism biological processes. These findings highlight the necessity of considering the interactions of MPs with the environmental factors in the marine ecosystem when performing ecotoxicological evaluations. The results obtained contribute to fill current knowledge gaps regarding the potential environmental impacts of biodegradable polymers.
More Papers Like This
Effect of aging of microplastics on gene expression levels of the marine mussel Mytilus edulis: Comparison in vitro/in vivo exposures
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared the effects of aged versus non-aged polyethylene microplastics on the marine mussel Mytilus edulis using both in vitro and in vivo exposures at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study found that gene expression changes in xenobiotic defense, immune function, and cell cycle control differed depending on whether the plastic was aged and the type of exposure method used. These findings highlight that the environmental weathering state of microplastics is an important factor in determining their biological effects on marine organisms.
Different recovery patterns of the surviving bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis based on transcriptome profiling exposed to spherical or fibrous polyethylene microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used gene expression analysis to study how Mediterranean mussels respond to and recover from exposure to different shapes of polyethylene microplastics. They found that spherical and fibrous particles triggered distinct stress responses and different recovery patterns over a 14-day period. The study suggests that the shape of microplastics matters significantly in determining their biological impact on marine organisms.
Single and repetitive microplastics exposures induce immune system modulation and homeostasis alteration in the edible mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined transcriptome-wide gene expression changes in Mediterranean mussels after single and repeated microplastic exposures, finding significant immune system modulation and disruption of cellular homeostasis. The study suggests that both short-term and chronic microplastic exposure can alter immune regulation pathways in filter-feeding bivalves, with repeated exposures showing cumulative effects.
Uptake and transcriptional effects of polystyrene microplastics in larval stages of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed larval stages of a marine organism to polystyrene microplastics and measured gene expression changes, finding tissue-dependent transcriptional responses that suggest microplastics can affect development even at early life stages.
Comparative multi-biomarker hazard assessment of weathered environmental microplastics and their DMSO-extractable leachates in Mytilus galloprovincialis.
AI summary Read the abstract
Mussels were exposed in the lab to weathered microplastics collected from a Moroccan beach, along with chemicals extracted from those particles. Both caused cell damage, but the extracted chemicals caused stronger DNA damage and changes in gene activity than the plastic particles themselves, varying by plastic type.
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.