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Papers
49 resultsShowing papers from Ludong University
ClearAcute exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induced oxidative stress in Sepia esculenta Larvae
Researchers exposed cuttlefish larvae (Sepia esculenta) to polystyrene nanoplastics and found significant oxidative stress — a type of cellular damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals — along with changes in the expression of genes involved in stress response pathways. This study extends understanding of nanoplastic harm beyond commonly studied species to economically important marine cephalopods.
Mechanisms of nanoplastic-induced energy metabolism reprogramming in juvenile Sepia esculenta: mRNA profile, miRNA/mRNA network, and ceRNA network
Researchers found that nanoplastics disrupted energy metabolism in juvenile cuttlefish, a popular seafood in China, by suppressing normal energy production pathways and causing oxidative stress. The study used advanced genetic analysis to show how nanoplastics reprogram the way these animals process energy at the molecular level. Since cuttlefish are widely consumed, these effects raise questions about seafood safety in nanoplastic-contaminated waters.
Plastic mulch productivity-sustainability tradeoffs and pathways toward an eco-friendly framework: insights from a global meta-analysis
This meta-analysis pools data from global studies on plastic mulch used in farming, finding that it boosts crop yields by nearly 29% but leaves persistent plastic residue in soil. The plastic fragments that remain in farmland soil eventually break down into microplastics, which can contaminate crops and enter the food supply. The study calls for biodegradable alternatives to balance food production needs with the growing problem of agricultural microplastic pollution.
Potential threats of microplastics and pathogenic bacteria to the immune system of the mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis
This study found that microplastics weakened the immune system of Mediterranean mussels, making them more vulnerable to bacterial infections from Vibrio, a common marine pathogen. Long-term microplastic exposure drained the mussels' energy reserves and suppressed their immune defenses, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. Since these mussels are widely consumed as seafood, microplastic-driven disease susceptibility could affect both mussel populations and the safety of shellfish for human consumption.
The pollution characteristics and risk assessment of microplastics in mollusks collected from the Bohai Sea
Scientists analyzed microplastic contamination in 21 species of shellfish from the Bohai Sea in China and found that about 92% of individual animals contained microplastics, mostly fibers. They estimated that people who eat these shellfish could consume roughly 3,400 microplastic particles per year. The study highlights that seafood from coastal waters is a meaningful source of microplastic exposure for humans, especially when organs like the digestive gland are eaten.
Polystyrene microplastics photo-aged under simulated sunlight influences gonadal development in the Pacific oyster
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics aged by simulated sunlight harmed the reproductive development of Pacific oysters, reducing gonad size and disrupting sex hormones. Female oysters were especially affected, with altered energy allocation and significant changes in genes related to reproductive development. Since most microplastics in the ocean have been weathered by sunlight, these findings suggest that real-world microplastic exposure may pose a greater threat to shellfish reproduction than laboratory tests with fresh plastics indicate.
Toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics to benthic Sargassum horneri: The role of nitrogen availability in modulating stress responses
Researchers studied how micro- and nanoplastics affect the growth and stress responses of Sargassum horneri, a common seaweed, under different nitrogen conditions. They found that both particle sizes inhibited growth and disrupted photosynthesis, but high nitrogen levels could partially offset some of the damage from microplastics. The study highlights that nutrient availability plays an important role in how marine plants cope with plastic pollution.
Polystyrene microplastics induces the injury of human corneal epithelial cells through ROS-mediated p53 pathway
Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics caused significant damage to human corneal eye cells, including cell cycle arrest, necrosis, and programmed cell death. The damage was driven by an overproduction of reactive oxygen species that activated a key stress-response pathway in the cells. The study suggests that microplastic exposure may pose risks to eye health, particularly for the cells that form the outermost layer of the cornea.
Polarization transmission characteristics of polystyrene microplastics in aqueous environments
This study investigated how polarized light interacts with polystyrene microplastic particles suspended in water. While primarily a detection methods paper, it advances techniques for identifying microplastics in water and biological fluids like blood and urine, which is essential for accurately measuring human exposure levels.
Deficit irrigation of reclaimed water relieves oat drought stress while controlling the risk of PAEs pollution in microplastics-polluted soil
Researchers investigated whether carefully managed irrigation with reclaimed water could help drought-stressed oat crops while limiting chemical pollution from phthalate esters in soils contaminated with microplastics. They found that moderate deficit irrigation improved crop growth while reducing the accumulation of these harmful chemicals in both plants and soil. The study suggests that managing irrigation levels can balance water scarcity needs with pollution risks in microplastic-affected farmland.
Effects of biochar amendment and organic fertilizer on microbial communities in the rhizosphere soil of wheat in Yellow River Delta saline-alkaline soil
Researchers studied how adding biochar and organic fertilizer to salty alkaline soil in China's Yellow River Delta affected the microbial communities around wheat roots. Both amendments increased beneficial soil bacteria and improved soil fertility indicators like organic matter and available nutrients. The findings suggest that biochar and organic fertilizer together can help rehabilitate degraded saline soils by promoting healthier microbial ecosystems.
Distinct impacts of microplastics on the carbon sequestration capacity of coastal blue carbon ecosystems: A case of seagrass beds
Researchers examined how microplastic pollution affects the ability of seagrass beds to capture and store carbon, a process important for combating climate change. Evidence indicates that microplastics can alter sediment properties, disrupt microbial communities, and inhibit seagrass growth, all of which reduce carbon storage capacity. The study highlights that microplastic contamination may be undermining one of nature's key tools for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Edwardsiella piscicida infection reshapes the intestinal microbiome and metabolome of big-belly seahorses: mechanistic insights of synergistic actions of virulence factors
Researchers identified the bacterium Edwardsiella piscicida as a lethal pathogen in big-belly seahorses and mapped how its virulence factors reshape the intestinal microbiome and metabolism of infected animals. They found 15 core virulence factors that work together to disrupt gut bacteria, increase harmful metabolites, and trigger intestinal inflammation. The study provides insights into how bacterial infections exploit the gut environment, which could inform disease prevention strategies in aquaculture.
Microplastics distribution, ecological risk and outflows of rivers in the Bohai Rim region of China - A flux model considering small and medium-sized rivers
Researchers assessed microplastic pollution across rivers flowing into the Bohai Sea in northern China, including smaller waterways that are often overlooked. They found that small and medium-sized rivers contributed nearly half of the total microplastic outflow to the sea, with Shandong province accounting for over 80 percent of the regional total. The study emphasizes that focusing only on major rivers significantly underestimates the true scale of microplastic transport into coastal waters.
Polarization transmission characteristics of polystyrene microplastics in aqueous environments
This study examined how polystyrene microplastics affect light transmission in water, including biological fluids like blood. The findings are relevant because understanding how microplastics behave in bodily fluids could improve detection methods and help researchers better study these particles in the human body.
Polarization transmission characteristics of polystyrene microplastics in aqueous environments
This study examined how polystyrene microplastics affect light transmission in water, including biological fluids like blood. The findings are relevant because understanding how microplastics behave in bodily fluids could improve detection methods and help researchers better study these particles in the human body.
Plastisphere provides a unique ecological niche for microorganisms in Zostera marina seagrass meadows
Researchers incubated three types of microplastics in a seagrass meadow for one month and found that microbial communities on plastic surfaces differed significantly from those on natural substrates. Microplastic invasion shifted carbon- and nitrogen-fixing microbes and related genes, potentially affecting the carbon sequestration capacity of seagrass ecosystems. The study also raises concerns about antibiotic resistance genes accumulating on microplastic surfaces in these environments.
Characterization and potential risks of microplastics in marine mollusks using the laser direct infrared (LDIR) technique
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in marine mollusks from China's Yantai coastal waters using laser direct infrared imaging. The study found an average of 7.55 particles per gram of soft tissue, with fibers and small particles under 50 micrometers dominating, and carnivorous species showing the highest contamination likely due to biomagnification through the food chain.
Plastics in the marine environment are reservoirs for antibiotic and metal resistance genes
Metagenomic analysis of microbial communities on plastic particles from the North Pacific Gyre revealed high abundances of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and metal resistance genes (MRGs) compared to surrounding seawater. The study demonstrates that ocean plastic debris functions as a reservoir and potential long-range vector for resistance genes, posing a global health concern.
Transcriptomic analysis of oxidative stress mechanisms induced by acute nanoplastic exposure in Sepia esculenta larvae
Researchers used transcriptomic analysis to reveal that acute nanoplastic exposure in cuttlefish larvae triggered oxidative stress through disruption of antioxidant enzyme gene expression, identifying key molecular pathways affected by plastic pollution in marine cephalopods.
Metagenomic insights into the abundance and composition of resistance genes in aquatic environments: Influence of stratification and geography
A global survey of 122 lake and seawater metagenomic datasets found that antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and metal resistance genes (MRGs) were significantly more abundant in lake water than seawater, with multidrug resistance and bacitracin resistance as the most prevalent ARGs. The study provides a large-scale baseline for resistance gene abundance in aquatic environments and its variation with geography and stratification.
Acute effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on the immune response in Sepia esculenta larvae
Researchers examined acute effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on golden cuttlefish larvae, finding that short-term exposure triggered immune response changes, providing early evidence of nanoplastic toxicity in economically important cephalopod species.
Lipidomic alterations in oysters caused by environmentally relevant exposure to microplastics and estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals
Researchers examined how environmentally relevant exposure to microplastics and estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals affected lipid profiles in oysters. The study found that estrogens were more bioavailable than microplastics in oysters, and that the amplification of endocrine disruptor effects by smooth-surfaced polyethylene microplastics was relatively low in molluscs.
Exploration of immune response mechanisms in cadmium and copper co-exposed juvenile golden cuttlefish (Sepia esculenta) based on transcriptome profiling
Researchers used transcriptome analysis to explore immune responses in juvenile golden cuttlefish co-exposed to cadmium and copper, identifying 15 key immune-regulating genes and evidence of inflammatory and innate immune activation.