Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microfiber Content in Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from Morro Bay, California

Researchers measured microfiber contamination in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from Morro Bay, California, to assess exposure levels in a commercially important shellfish species. Microfibers were detected in oysters across sampling sites, with concentrations varying by location and season, indicating consistent exposure to synthetic fiber pollution in this coastal environment.

2024 American Journal of Undergraduate Research
Article Tier 2

Do Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of Microplastics Pose a Threat to the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica?

This study exposed eastern oysters to polyester microfibers at environmentally realistic concentrations for 45 days, finding that even low doses affected their physiology including feeding, growth, and energy use. The results suggest that ecologically relevant microplastic levels may pose a threat to commercially important filter-feeding shellfish.

2022
Article Tier 2

Cellular Bioreactivity of Micro- and Nano-Plastic Particles in Oysters

Polystyrene nano (50 nm) and micro (3 μm) beads were exposed to Eastern oysters and internalization into cells was evaluated, finding that both particle sizes were taken up by hemocytes (immune cells) with nanoparticles reaching intracellular locations more effectively than microparticles. The study provides cellular-level evidence that nanoplastics can penetrate oyster immune cells, raising concern about immunological disruption in commercially important shellfish.

2018 Frontiers in Marine Science 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Single and repetitive microplastics exposures induce immune system modulation and homeostasis alteration in the edible mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

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.

2018 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 192 citations
Article Tier 2

Exposure to plastic debris alters expression of biomineralization, immune, and stress-related genes in the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica)

Researchers exposed eastern oysters to plastic debris during their first year of life and then analyzed changes in gene activity using RNA sequencing. They found that plastic exposure altered the expression of genes involved in shell building, immune response, and stress management. The study suggests that chronic contact with degrading plastics in the ocean can disrupt multiple biological processes in shellfish.

2025 PLoS ONE 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induce dose-specific transcriptomic disruptions in energy metabolism and immunity of the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera

Pearl oysters (Pinctada margaritifera) exposed to three doses of polystyrene microbeads showed dose-dependent reductions in energy balance, and transcriptomic analysis revealed disruptions to pathways controlling immunity and energy metabolism that scaled with exposure concentration.

2020 Environmental Pollution 87 citations
Article Tier 2

Metabolic profiles and protein expression responses of Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) to polystyrene microplastic stress

Researchers exposed Pacific oysters to polystyrene microplastics for 21 days and found the particles caused oxidative stress and disrupted the oysters' metabolism, particularly amino acid processing. Different microplastic concentrations triggered different metabolic changes in the oysters. Since oysters are a popular seafood, these findings raise questions about food safety and whether microplastic-stressed shellfish could affect consumer health.

2024 Food Chemistry 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of nanoplastics on hemolymph immune parameters and microbiota composition in Mytilus galloprovincialis

Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels exposed to amino-modified polystyrene nanoplastics for 96 hours showed disrupted hemolymph immune parameters and significant shifts in microbiota composition, suggesting nanoplastics alter both immune function and the microbial communities mussels rely on.

2020 Marine Environmental Research 93 citations
Article Tier 2

The stress-immunity axis in shellfish.

This review examines the stress-immunity relationship in shellfish, covering how environmental stressors — including chemical contaminants like microplastics — activate immune responses and affect shellfish health. Since shellfish are consumed by humans and accumulate microplastics from the water they filter, understanding how plastic pollution stresses these animals is important for seafood safety.

2021 Journal of invertebrate pathology
Article Tier 2

Mucus Production as a Strategy of Oysters Against Synthetic Textile Microfibers

Researchers found that oysters exposed to synthetic textile microfibers responded by producing elevated levels of protective mucus in their mantle tissue. This mucus response represents a physiological defense mechanism against microplastic ingestion but may incur energetic costs to the organism.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and depuration of polyester microfibers by Crassostrea gasar (Adanson, 1757).

Researchers exposed the oyster Crassostrea gasar to environmentally sourced polyester microfibers at 0.5 mg/L and found accumulation in gill and digestive gland tissues, with evidence of clearance after a depuration period, raising concerns about microfiber effects on bivalve aquaculture.

2024 Marine environmental research
Article Tier 2

Differential sensitivity of hemocyte subpopulations (mytilus edulis) to aged polyethylene terephthalate micro-and-nanoplastic particles

This study examined how different hemocyte populations in Mytilus edulis mussels respond to aged polystyrene microplastics, finding that granulocytes and hyalinocytes differ in their sensitivity. The results improve understanding of how microplastic exposure impairs bivalve immune function.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on gene expression to nonspecific immune system in pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).

This study found that high-density polyethylene microplastic particles in shrimp feed suppressed immune defense genes in Pacific white shrimp and caused intestinal and gill tissue damage at concentrations well below lethal levels. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure could compromise immune function and health in farmed crustaceans.

2022 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from Haizhou Bay: Tissue-Specific Distribution, Digestive Enzyme Dysfunction, and Lipid Metabolism Perturbation

This study systematically evaluated microplastic distribution in Pacific oysters from Haizhou Bay, China, finding MP contamination across all tissues examined and documenting that MP accumulation altered digestive enzyme activities and fatty acid metabolism in these commercially harvested shellfish.

2025
Article Tier 2

Impact of polyester and cotton microfibers on growth and sublethal biomarkers in juvenile mussels

Researchers exposed juvenile mussels to polyester and cotton microfibers at realistic ocean concentrations for 94 days and found that polyester microfibers reduced mussel growth rates by up to 36%, suggesting that microplastic fiber pollution could harm marine ecosystems and threaten shellfish aquaculture.

2023 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental and Sublethal Concentrations of Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induced Antioxidant System, Transcriptomic Responses, and Disturbed Gut Microbiota in Oyster Magallana Hongkongensis

Researchers exposed Hong Kong oysters to polystyrene nanoplastics at both environmentally realistic and higher concentrations. Even at the lower, real-world concentrations, the nanoplastics significantly altered the oysters' gut bacteria and gene expression patterns, while higher doses also triggered immune and antioxidant stress responses, raising concerns about food safety and ecosystem health.

2024 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Are microplastics impacting shellfish?

Researchers investigated whether microplastic contamination measurably impacts shellfish physiology, growth, reproduction, and health outcomes, assessing the ecological and food safety implications of microplastic exposure in commercially and ecologically important bivalve species.

2024
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics Associated with Triclosan on the Oyster Crassostrea brasiliana: An Integrated Biomarker Approach

Brazilian oysters (Crassostrea brasiliana) were exposed to microplastics alone and in combination with the antibacterial chemical triclosan, with combined exposure causing greater oxidative stress, immune disruption, and genotoxicity than either stressor alone.

2020 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollution in marine bivalves: The immunosuppressive effects of microplastics on Anadara granosa

Researchers exposed blood clams to polystyrene microplastics for one week and found that the plastics suppressed their immune system in a dose-dependent manner. Higher microplastic concentrations reduced the clams' immune cell counts, hemoglobin, and disease-fighting enzymes. Since blood clams are a commercially harvested seafood species, weakened immunity could increase disease outbreaks in clam populations and potentially affect the safety of shellfish consumed by humans.

2025 Marine Environmental Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Realistic environmental exposure to microplastics does not induce biological effects in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

Pacific oysters were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of polyethylene and polypropylene fragments for 10 days followed by depuration, with microplastics detected in tissues but no significant effects on clearance rate, tissue integrity, antioxidant defense, or DNA damage. The results suggest that realistic environmental concentrations of these larger fragments may not cause measurable biological harm to oysters.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 111 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics exposure in European flat oyster, Ostrea edulis: Evaluation of accumulation and depuration under controlled conditions and molecular assessment of a set of reference genes

Researchers evaluated microplastic accumulation and effects in European flat oysters under controlled exposure conditions, examining how filter feeding concentrates plastic particles and whether ingestion impairs oyster health. Exposure resulted in measurable microplastic accumulation in oyster tissue, with effects observed on feeding behavior and physiological condition.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and low tide warming: Metabolic disorders in intertidal Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas)

Researchers exposed Pacific oysters to environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics during a simulated tidal cycle and then subjected them to warming during low tide. They found that microplastic exposure disrupted the oysters' metabolism and made them more vulnerable to heat stress, with effects worsening over time even at very low particle concentrations. The study suggests that microplastic pollution may reduce the ability of intertidal shellfish to cope with rising temperatures.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic concentrations in cultured oysters in two seasons from two bays of Baja California, Mexico

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in cultured Pacific oysters from two bays in Baja California, Mexico, across winter and summer seasons. Microfibers were the most abundant particle type found in all samples, with higher concentrations observed during winter. The study suggests that seasonal and spatial factors influence microplastic accumulation in farmed shellfish, which is relevant given that oysters are consumed whole by humans.

2021 Environmental Pollution 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyester Microfibers Exposure Modulates Mytilus galloprovincialis Hemolymph Microbiome

Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to polyester microfibers and found that the fibers significantly altered the microbial communities in the mussels' circulatory fluid. The changes in the microbiome could potentially affect the mussels' immune function and overall health. The findings suggest that microfiber pollution in the ocean may disrupt the delicate balance between marine organisms and their beneficial bacteria.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 7 citations