Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Microbead-Mediated Enhancement of Bacterial Toxicity: Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Korean Rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli, Following Exposure to Streptococcus iniae

Korean rockfish were co-exposed to polystyrene microbeads and the bacterium Streptococcus iniae for five days, and oxidative stress and apoptosis were measured in liver tissue. Combined high-dose exposure significantly elevated oxidative stress markers and caspase-3 expression compared to either stressor alone, suggesting microplastics may enhance bacterial infection severity.

2025 Water
Article Tier 2

Toxicity Effects of Microplastics Individually and in Combination the Fish Pathogen Yersinia Ruckeri on the Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss)

Researchers found that co-exposure of rainbow trout to polystyrene microplastics and the fish pathogen Yersinia ruckeri exacerbated blood biochemical disruptions and hepatic oxidative stress compared to either stressor alone. The results suggest microplastics may act as a predisposing factor that amplifies bacterial infection severity in fish.

2021 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Concurrent impacts of polystyrene nanoplastic exposure and Aeromonas hydrophila infection on oxidative stress, immune response and intestinal microbiota of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Researchers studied the combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and a bacterial infection on grass carp, a common freshwater fish. They found that nanoplastic exposure worsened the impact of the infection by increasing oxidative stress, suppressing immune responses, and disrupting the gut microbiome. The study suggests that nanoplastic pollution in waterways could make fish more vulnerable to disease by weakening their natural defenses.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Polyethylene microplastic exposure and concurrent effect with Aeromonas hydrophila infection on zebrafish

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastic exposure in zebrafish caused oxidative stress, altered antioxidant enzyme activity, and induced intestinal damage, with concurrent Aeromonas hydrophila infection amplifying these toxic effects and increasing mortality rates.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the metabolic and oxidative stress induced by biofouled microplastics exposure in Seriola lalandi (yellowtail kingfish)

This study tested how microplastics covered in natural ocean bacteria (biofouled) affect yellowtail kingfish compared to clean microplastics. The biofouled microplastics caused more oxidative stress and metabolic disruption in the fish than clean ones. Since fish in the wild almost always encounter bacteria-coated microplastics rather than clean ones, previous studies using only clean plastics may have underestimated the real health risks.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of antibiotics and microplastics on the growth of Sebastes schlegelii

Researchers studied the combined effects of antibiotics and polyamide microplastics on the growth and nutritional quality of black rockfish. They found that individual exposure to either antibiotics or microplastics significantly reduced growth rates, and combined exposure compounded these negative effects. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of antibiotics and microplastics in marine aquaculture environments may pose meaningful risks to fish health and seafood quality.

2024 E3S Web of Conferences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene on Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer growth and expression of functional genes

Researchers exposed juvenile Asian sea bass to polyethylene microplastics and the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene, both individually and in combination, over 56 days. They found that co-exposure caused more severe effects on growth and gene expression related to immune function and stress response than either contaminant alone. The study highlights that microplastics may worsen the toxic effects of chemical pollutants already present in marine environments.

2024 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C Toxicology & Pharmacology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of microplastics on Yersinia ruckeri infection in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Researchers found that microplastic exposure predisposed rainbow trout to more severe Yersinia ruckeri infections, with co-exposed fish showing worse blood biochemical parameters and hepatic oxidative stress compared to fish exposed to the pathogen alone.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 39 citations
Article Tier 2

The Toxicity of Polyethylene Microplastic Exposure and Its Concurrent Effect With Aeromonas Hydrophila Infection To Zebrafish

This study exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics while simultaneously infecting them with Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria, a common fish pathogen. Microplastic exposure worsened bacterial infection outcomes, suggesting that plastic pollution may reduce fish immune defenses. The interaction between microplastic contamination and disease susceptibility is relevant to understanding how pollution affects aquatic ecosystem health.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Biotransformation and oxidative stress markers in yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus): Interactive impacts of microplastics and florfenicol

Researchers studied how microplastics interact with the antibiotic florfenicol to affect detoxification enzymes and oxidative stress in yellowfin seabream. They found that combined exposure to both pollutants caused more pronounced liver damage and oxidative stress than either substance alone, and that recovery took longer. The study suggests that microplastics can worsen the toxic effects of antibiotics used in aquaculture.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

The Effects of Different Concentrations of Microplastics on the Physiology and Behavior of Sebastes schlegelii

Researchers exposed juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) to polystyrene microplastics for 24 days, finding that concentrations of 0.1 mg/L and above caused significant antioxidant enzyme disruption, immune suppression with rising inflammatory cytokines, and reduced survival at 1 mg/L.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Acute co-exposure to microbeads and cadmium enhances accumulation and alters plasma biochemical markers and stress indicators in Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli

Researchers found that combined acute exposure of Korean rockfish to microbeads and cadmium enhanced heavy metal accumulation in fish tissues more than cadmium alone, with microplastics facilitating metal adsorption and transport in ways that increase contaminant bioavailability.

2025 Fish Physiology and Biochemistry
Article Tier 2

Gut microbiota related response of Oryzias melastigma to combined exposure of polystyrene microplastics and tetracycline

Researchers exposed estuarine fish to polystyrene microplastics and the antibiotic tetracycline, both alone and in combination, for four weeks. The combined exposure caused more severe disruption to gut bacteria and liver tissue than either pollutant alone, with microplastics appearing to worsen the effects of tetracycline. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of microplastics and antibiotics in coastal waters may pose greater ecological risks than either contaminant by itself.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity effects of microplastics individually and in combination with Aeromonas hydrophila on freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylous)

Researchers investigated the combined effects of microplastics and the pathogenic bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila on freshwater crayfish over 30 days. The study found that co-exposure to microplastics and the pathogen caused more severe disruptions to blood biochemistry, liver oxidative balance, and immune function than either stressor alone, suggesting microplastics can amplify pathogen-related damage.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-exposure to microplastics and bisphenol A increases viral susceptibility in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) via oxidative stress

Researchers found that juvenile fish exposed to both microplastics and BPA (a chemical found in plastics) together became more susceptible to viral infection, even though neither pollutant alone had that effect. The combination shut down the fish's antioxidant defenses and caused liver cell death, weakening their immune system. This study is important because it shows that common pollutants can interact in unexpected ways, and real-world exposure to multiple contaminants may be more dangerous than lab tests of single substances suggest.

2025 Advanced Biotechnology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics enhance the intestinal damage and genotoxicity of sulfamethoxazole to medaka juveniles (Oryzias melastigma) in coastal environment

Scientists exposed young medaka fish to the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole and polystyrene nanoplastics, both individually and together, to study their combined effects on intestinal health. They found that co-exposure caused more severe gut damage than either pollutant alone, disrupting the gut microbiome and triggering changes in gene expression related to immune defense and DNA repair. The study suggests that nanoplastics may amplify the harmful effects of antibiotics on fish in coastal environments.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effects of polyamide microplastics and the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus on the immune parameters of Mytilus coruscus

When mussels were exposed to nylon microplastics along with harmful Vibrio bacteria, they suffered gill damage, increased oxidative stress, and weakened immune defenses compared to either stressor alone. The combined exposure suppressed key immune enzymes that mussels need to fight infection. Since mussels are widely consumed as seafood, this study raises concerns that microplastic-contaminated shellfish could carry more pathogens and be less safe to eat.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) physiological response to microplastics and enrofloxacin: Novel pathways to investigate microplastic synergistic effects on pharmaceuticals

Scientists studied how microplastics interact with the antibiotic enrofloxacin in rainbow trout and found that the combination increased toxicity beyond what either pollutant caused alone. The microplastics appeared to change how the antibiotic was absorbed and processed in the fish, leading to greater liver damage and immune system disruption. Since fish are exposed to both pollutants in real waterways, this synergistic toxicity could affect seafood safety and the health of people who consume contaminated fish.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicological assessment of microplastics and florfenicol on Acanthopagrus latus: mucus, humoral immune responses and DNA damage

Researchers exposed yellowfin seabream to microplastics and the antibiotic florfenicol, both individually and in combination, over a 10-day period. They found that microplastics elevated cholesterol, glucose, and liver enzyme levels while suppressing immune markers in both blood and skin mucus. The combined exposure to microplastics and florfenicol produced more severe and longer-lasting effects than the antibiotic alone.

2025 Ecotoxicology 1 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Effects of microplastics on the toxicity of co-existing pollutants to fish: A meta-analysis

Meta-analysis of 1,380 biological endpoints from 55 studies found that microplastics in co-existing pollutant solutions significantly increased toxicity to fish beyond what the pollutants caused alone, particularly elevating immune system damage, metabolic disruption, and oxidative stress. The effect depended on fish life stage and microplastic size, but not on pollutant or polymer type.

2023 Water Research 81 citations