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Papers
83 resultsShowing papers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
ClearMicroplastics accumulate fungal pathogens in terrestrial ecosystems
Microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems serve as selective microhabitats that accumulate distinct fungal communities, including opportunistic human pathogens such as cryptococcal and Phoma-like species, making plastic waste a persistent reservoir and potential vector for fungal infections in soil environments.
Presence of microplastic particles increased abundance of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes in microbial communities from the Oder river water and sediment
Researchers incubated microplastic particles in water from the Oder River and found that bacteria growing on the plastic surfaces had significantly higher levels of disease-causing organisms and antibiotic resistance genes compared to surrounding water. This suggests that microplastics in rivers and waterways serve as platforms that concentrate harmful bacteria and help spread drug resistance, posing risks to communities that depend on these water sources.
Shape, size, and polymer dependent effects of microplastics on Daphnia magna
Researchers systematically tested how the shape, size, and material of microplastic particles affect the water flea Daphnia magna by comparing polystyrene particles to non-plastic control particles with similar properties. They found that small polystyrene beads and fragments caused harmful effects on reproduction and body shape, while none of the non-plastic control particles caused any damage. The study suggests that the toxic effects are specific to the plastic polymer itself, not simply a result of ingesting small particles.
Tandem microplastic degradation and hydrogen production by hierarchical carbon nitride-supported single-atom iron catalysts
Researchers developed an iron-based catalyst that can break down polyethylene plastic — including microplastics — into smaller organic molecules while simultaneously producing hydrogen fuel from the leftover products. This two-in-one approach achieved near-complete plastic degradation under neutral water conditions, suggesting a promising path to both cleaning up plastic pollution and generating clean energy.
Ingestion of microplastics by fish and its potential consequences from a physical perspective
This commentary summarizes recent findings on the effects of micro- and nanoplastic ingestion by fish, noting that while particles pass through the gut relatively quickly, the total lifetime exposure is likely substantial and increasing. Evidence indicates that ingested microplastics can cause intestinal damage, behavioral changes, altered lipid metabolism, and may even reach the liver. The review highlights that cumulative exposure over a fish's lifetime is a growing concern as plastic pollution in marine environments continues to rise.
Micro- and nano-plastics activation of oxidative and inflammatory adverse outcome pathways
This review maps the biological harm caused by micro- and nanoplastics to formal toxicity pathways, finding that oxidative stress is a common starting point for damage at every level from cells to whole organisms. Researchers found that in ecological settings, this oxidative damage cascades into growth inhibition and behavioral changes, while in human health contexts it may trigger inflammatory responses. The study highlights that more mammalian research is needed to fully define the health risks of plastic particle exposure.
Microplastics are detected in bull epididymal sperm and polystyrene microparticles impair sperm fertilization
Researchers found microplastics in all bull sperm samples tested, and when they exposed bovine sperm to polystyrene particles at concentrations matching those found naturally, the sperm's ability to fertilize eggs dropped significantly. Embryos produced from the exposed sperm also showed increased cell death and oxidative damage. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that microplastics at levels already present in reproductive tissues can directly impair fertility.
Plastiphily is linked to generic virulence traits of important human pathogenic fungi
A study of soil near human dwellings found that microplastics selectively attract and concentrate dangerous fungal pathogens, including species that cause serious human infections. The microplastic surfaces essentially act as tiny habitats where disease-causing fungi accumulate and may develop enhanced survival traits. This suggests that the trillions of microplastic particles in soil could be amplifying the spread of fungal infections, adding a new dimension to microplastic health risks.
Neutrophils and extracellular traps in crystal-associated diseases
Researchers reviewed how crystals that form inside the body — such as uric acid crystals in gout or silica particles in silicosis — trigger immune cells called neutrophils to release web-like DNA traps (NETs) that cause tissue damage. This inflammatory mechanism may also be relevant to how hard microplastic particles behave once inside human tissues, as they share some physical properties with disease-causing crystals.
Balancing food safety and sustainability: trade-off risk assessments and predictive modeling
Researchers reviewed how holistic trade-off risk assessments that balance food safety against broader sustainability and public health goals can replace zero-risk frameworks, highlighting Monte Carlo simulations, AI-based predictive tools, and One Health approaches as key methods for defining proportionate food safety targets.
Cellular internalization pathways of environmentally exposed microplastic particles: Phagocytosis or macropinocytosis?
Researchers studied how microplastic particles coated with natural biomolecules from freshwater versus saltwater environments are taken up by cells. They found that the protein coatings formed in different water types were chemically distinct and led to different cellular uptake pathways: freshwater-coated particles entered cells mainly through phagocytosis, while saltwater-coated particles used macropinocytosis. The study reveals that where a microplastic particle has been in the environment fundamentally changes how it interacts with living cells.
An Exploratory Review of Microplastic Pollution, Associated Microbiomes and Pathogens in Water
This review analyzes over a decade of research on microplastic pollution in surface waters across five continents, focusing on the microorganisms that colonize plastic surfaces. Researchers found that microplastics serve as floating habitats for bacteria, including potential human pathogens and antibiotic-resistant strains. The study highlights that microplastic pollution poses a dual threat by both contaminating water and providing a vehicle for harmful microbes to spread.
Influence of the polymer type of a microplastic challenge on the reaction of murine cells
Researchers compared how mouse cells respond to microplastic particles made from different polymer types, including polystyrene, polyethylene, PVC, and plant-based alternatives. They found that immune cells could take up all particle types, while other cell types were selective based on the particles' surface charge. Importantly, none of the tested microplastic types showed significant short-term toxic effects on the cells, though longer-term impacts remain unclear.
Aged polyethylene microplastics and glyphosate-based herbicide co-exposure toxicity in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)
This study looked at what happens when Pacific white shrimp are exposed to both aged microplastics and a common herbicide (glyphosate) at the same time. Researchers found that while microplastics alone had mild effects, combining them with the herbicide changed how toxic the herbicide was to the shrimp, suggesting that microplastics in the environment may alter the impact of other chemical pollutants on marine life.
Gathering at the top? Environmental controls of microplastic uptake and biomagnification in freshwater food webs
This review examines the uptake and potential biomagnification of microplastics through freshwater food webs, from primary producers to top predators. Researchers found that while microplastics accumulate in organisms at multiple levels of the food chain, evidence for true biomagnification remains limited and inconsistent. The study identifies key environmental and physical factors that control microplastic exposure pathways and calls for more standardized field studies to resolve whether microplastics concentrate up the food chain.
Asthma and allergic diseases: Cross talk of immune system and environmental factors
This review summarizes current understanding of how environmental factors, including the microbiome and geographic location, influence immune regulation in the context of allergy and asthma. Researchers examined how different routes of exposure to environmental agents interact with both innate and adaptive immune responses. The study highlights the need for comprehensive investigation of environmentally driven immune changes to better understand disease prevention and progression.
Polycarbonate and polystyrene nanoplastic particles act as stressors to the innate immune system of fathead minnow (<i>Pimephales promelas</i>)
Researchers studied the effects of polycarbonate and polystyrene nanoplastic particles on the innate immune system of fathead minnows. The study found that these nanoplastics acted as stressors to the fish immune system, suggesting that small-scale plastic particles can interfere with immune function in freshwater organisms.
Microplastic-Contaminated Feed Interferes with Antioxidant Enzyme and Lysozyme Gene Expression of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Leading to Hepatopancreas Damage and Increased Mortality
Researchers fed Pacific white shrimp diets contaminated with high-density polyethylene microplastics and observed dose-dependent immune suppression and organ damage. The microplastics disrupted the expression of antioxidant enzyme and lysozyme genes and caused significant histopathological changes in the hepatopancreas. The study demonstrates that dietary microplastic exposure can compromise the immune defenses of commercially important crustaceans, potentially increasing their susceptibility to disease.
Long-term exposure of Daphnia magna to polystyrene microplastic (PS-MP) leads to alterations of the proteome, morphology and life-history
Researchers exposed Daphnia magna water fleas to polystyrene microplastics over their full lifespan and found significant changes in body size, reproduction, and the proteome under chronic exposure conditions. The study suggests that long-term microplastic exposure can cause subtle but meaningful physiological disruptions in freshwater organisms, even when short-term effects appear minimal.
Do microplastic particles affect Daphnia magna at the morphological, life history and molecular level?
Researchers examined the effects of two polymer mixtures on the water flea Daphnia magna at morphological, life history, and molecular levels. At low but environmentally realistic microplastic concentrations, they found no significant changes in mortality, body size, or reproduction in adult organisms. However, differential gene expression analysis revealed molecular-level responses, suggesting that even when visible effects are absent, microplastics may trigger subtle biological changes.
Microplastics are present in women’s and cows’ follicular fluid and polystyrene microplastics compromise bovine oocyte function in vitro
Researchers detected microplastics in the follicular fluid of both women and cows, marking one of the first studies to find these particles in reproductive tissues. In laboratory tests, polystyrene microplastics impaired bovine egg cell function at concentrations comparable to what was found in the follicular fluid. The findings raise questions about whether microplastic exposure could be a contributing factor in the widespread declines in reproductive health observed in recent decades.
The need for environmentally realistic studies on the health effects of terrestrial microplastics
Researchers reviewed 114 studies on the health effects of microplastics in laboratory rodents and found that most experiments used concentrations and plastic types that do not reflect what animals and humans actually encounter in the real world. The plastic types, sizes, and doses used in lab settings often differ substantially from environmental conditions. The study calls for more environmentally realistic research designs to generate data that can meaningfully inform health risk assessments for terrestrial species, including humans.
The Occurrence of Microplastics and the Formation of Biofilms by Pathogenic and Opportunistic Bacteria as Threats in Aquaculture
This review examines how microplastics in aquaculture environments serve as habitats and transport vehicles for pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria, with more than 30 taxa of pathogens detected on plastic-associated biofilms. The study suggests that the combination of plastic persistence, closed aquaculture conditions, and pathogen affinity for plastic surfaces creates a significant threat to aquaculture production and food safety.
Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Food Animal Production: Environmental Implications and One Health Challenges
This review examines how antibiotic use in livestock and aquaculture contributes to the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes across the human-animal-environment interface. Researchers found that a substantial proportion of resistance genes detected in farm environments are shared with those found in human clinical settings. The study emphasizes the need for a One Health approach to surveillance and highlights the role of environmental reservoirs, including those contaminated with microplastics, in disseminating resistance.