Papers

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Article Tier 2

Microplastics in aquaculture - Potential impacts on inflammatory processes in Nile tilapia

Researchers fed Nile tilapia a diet containing a mixture of four common microplastics and found that the particles triggered inflammatory responses in both adult and juvenile fish. The microplastics activated immune pathways and caused tissue changes in the gut and other organs, with juveniles being more sensitive. Since tilapia is one of the most widely farmed fish in the world, these findings raise concerns about the safety of farm-raised fish exposed to microplastic-contaminated water.

2024 Heliyon 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Multi-Species Probiotics as Sustainable Strategy to Alleviate Polyamide Microplastic-Induced Stress in Nile Tilapia

Researchers tested whether multi-species probiotics could counteract the toxic effects of polyamide microplastics in Nile tilapia over a six-week experiment. The study found that probiotic supplementation alleviated microplastic-induced stress by improving growth performance, immune response, and physiological health markers, suggesting that probiotics may be a sustainable strategy for protecting farmed fish from microplastic contamination.

2025 Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential of feed supplements on morphometric and gonad weight of fish exposed to microplastics

Researchers investigated whether probiotic supplements from lactic acid bacteria and Vitamin C could mitigate the effects of microplastic exposure on the morphometric measurements and gonad weight of tilapia, finding that feed supplementation supported recovery in fish exposed to microplastic-contaminated diets.

2022 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of polystyrene microplastics on the antioxidant system and immune response in GIFT (Oreochromis niloticus)

Farmed tilapia exposed to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes showed elevated oxidative stress and immune inflammation markers, particularly in the brain, compared to unexposed fish. The findings suggest chronic microplastic exposure can impair immune defenses in commercially important freshwater fish, raising concerns for both aquaculture and wild fisheries.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Probiotics ameliorate polyethylene microplastics-induced liver injury by inhibition of oxidative stress in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Researchers investigated whether probiotics could protect Nile tilapia from liver damage caused by polystyrene microplastics. The study found that fish pre-fed with probiotics showed significantly reduced oxidative stress markers in the liver compared to those exposed to microplastics alone, suggesting that probiotics may help mitigate microplastic-induced hepatic oxidative damage in fish.

2022 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 56 citations
Article Tier 2

In vitro effects of virgin microplastics on fish head-kidney leucocyte activities

Researchers investigated the in vitro effects of PVC and polyethylene microplastics on immune cells from two fish species, gilthead seabream and European sea bass. They found that microplastic exposure affected phagocytic activity, respiratory burst, and the expression of genes related to inflammation and oxidative stress in the immune cells. The study suggests that microplastics may directly modulate fish immune function, potentially making them more vulnerable to infections and disease.

2017 Environmental Pollution 192 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-algal astaxanthin ameliorates polystyrene microplastics-triggered necroptosis and inflammation by mediating mitochondrial Ca2+ homeostasis in carp’s head kidney lymphocytes (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Researchers investigated whether astaxanthin, a natural pigment from microalgae, could protect carp immune cells from damage caused by polystyrene microplastics. They found that astaxanthin reduced inflammation and cell death triggered by microplastics by helping maintain calcium balance within the cells' mitochondria. The study suggests that natural antioxidant compounds may help mitigate some of the harmful immune effects of microplastic exposure in fish.

2023 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics induce gut microbiome and metabolome changes in Javanese medaka fish (Oryzias javanicus Bleeker, 1854)

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastic exposure altered gut microbiome composition and metabolic profiles in Javanese medaka fish, with effects on amino acid and lipid metabolism pathways suggesting microplastics can disrupt gut health in aquatic organisms.

2022 Toxicology Reports 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Lipid-Rich diet protects aquatic vertebrates by reducing polystyrene nanoparticles deposition and alleviating harmful effects from exposure

Researchers showed in zebrafish that polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate selectively in a narrow intestinal segment and alter immune and lipid metabolism gene expression, and that a lipid-rich diet significantly reduced intestinal nanoplastic deposition and partially restored normal transcriptomic profiles.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Immunotoxicity of microplastics in fish

This review examines how microplastics damage the immune systems of fish, from harming their gills and organs to disrupting immune cell signaling and gene expression. Over time, microplastic exposure weakens fish immunity by killing immune cells and reducing their ability to fight off infections, with implications for the broader food chain that connects aquatic life to human diets.

2024 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Supplementary Feed Potential on Histology and Immune Response of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) Exposed to Microplastics

Researchers found that supplementing tilapia feed with probiotics or vitamin C significantly mitigated microplastic-induced organ damage, reducing liver necrosis and inflammation markers while improving intestinal structure and immune cytokine balance.

2023 Sains Malaysiana 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Fluorescent Microplastic Uptake by Immune Cells of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Researchers exposed immune cells from the head kidney, spleen, and peripheral blood of Atlantic salmon to fluorescent polystyrene microplastics (1-5 µm) at environmental and elevated concentrations and measured uptake and cytotoxicity. They found that immune cells actively internalised microplastics in a size- and concentration-dependent manner, with uptake varying by cell type and organ, raising concern about impairment of immune function in fish exposed to small microplastics.

2020 Frontiers in Environmental Science 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics on Gene Expression, Muscular Performance, and Immunological Responses in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Seasonal and Habitat Variations

Researchers found microplastics in both the gut and muscle tissue of Nile tilapia fish from two sites along the Nile River in Egypt, with contamination levels varying by season and location. The microplastics activated genes linked to muscle wasting, cell death, and inflammation while suppressing growth-related genes, with the worst effects seen during summer months. Since tilapia is a widely consumed fish, these findings raise concerns about microplastic-related damage being passed to humans through the food supply.

2025 Marine Biotechnology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induce toxic effects in fish: Bioaccumulation, hematological parameters and antioxidant responses

Researchers exposed juvenile fish to polyamide microplastics and found the particles accumulated primarily in the intestine, gills, and liver, causing reduced blood oxygen-carrying capacity, liver stress, and disrupted antioxidant defenses. These findings matter because fish are an important food source for humans, and microplastic accumulation in fish tissues could transfer these contaminants to people through their diet.

2025 Chemosphere 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nano/microplastics induce microbiota dysbiosis, oxidative damage, and innate immune disruption in zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene particles of two different sizes and found that both nano- and micro-sized plastics disrupted gut bacteria, caused oxidative damage, and altered immune responses. The severity of effects depended on particle size and concentration, with smaller particles and higher doses causing more harm. The study suggests that plastic particles in waterways may pose a broader threat to fish health than previously understood, affecting digestion, stress defenses, and immunity simultaneously.

2022 Microbial Pathogenesis 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of microplastic binding capacity on antioxidant and immune responses of Korean rockfish Sebastes schlegeli in a co-exposure environment with microplastics and Streptococcus iniae

Researchers investigated what happens when Korean rockfish are exposed to both microplastics and the fish pathogen Streptococcus iniae at the same time. They found that microplastics can bind to the bacteria and amplify harmful effects on the fish's antioxidant defenses and immune responses beyond what either stressor causes alone. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution in coastal aquaculture environments may worsen the impact of bacterial infections on fish health.

2025 Chemosphere 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induced endocrine disruption, alteration in testicular tissue in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) pre-fed on Amphora coffeaeformis

Researchers found that microplastic exposure caused hormonal disruption, reduced sperm quality, and damaged testicular tissue in male tilapia fish, but pre-feeding the fish with a microalgae feed supplement partially protected against these reproductive harms. The study suggests that dietary interventions may help mitigate microplastic toxicity in fish farmed for human consumption.

2021 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Inhibitory effects of polystyrene microplastics on caudal fin regeneration in zebrafish larvae

Exposure to polystyrene microplastics significantly impaired fin regeneration in injured zebrafish larvae, disrupting the signaling pathways and immune responses needed for tissue repair. The study is the first to show microplastics can reduce the regenerative capacity of fish, with potential long-term consequences for their survival in the wild.

2020 Environmental Pollution 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrated transcriptomics and proteomics analyses reveal the ameliorative effect of hepatic damage in tilapia caused by polystyrene microplastics with chlorella addition

Tilapia fish were exposed to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes, and researchers found that the particles caused liver damage including fat metabolism disruption, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Interestingly, adding the green algae Chlorella to the exposure partially helped reduce the harmful effects, suggesting that natural microorganisms may offer some protective benefit against microplastic toxicity in fish.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptome sequencing and metabolite analysis reveal the toxic effects of nanoplastics on tilapia after exposure to polystyrene

Researchers exposed larval tilapia to polystyrene nanoplastics and then analyzed changes in gene expression and metabolic profiles after a recovery period. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted immune-related pathways, energy metabolism, and lipid processing in the fish, with some effects persisting even after exposure ended. The study suggests that nanoplastics can cause lasting metabolic and immune disruptions in freshwater fish.

2021 Environmental Pollution 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics on Immune Responses of the Yellow Catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco Under Hypoxia

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics suppressed immune responses in yellow catfish under hypoxic conditions, with combined MP and low-oxygen exposure causing greater immunotoxicity than either stressor alone, relevant to freshwater aquaculture settings.

2021 Frontiers in Physiology 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Immunotoxicological effects of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid on European seabass are reduced by polyethylene microplastics

Researchers fed European seabass diets containing the industrial chemical PFOS, polyethylene microplastics, or both combined, and measured immune system effects. Surprisingly, they found that when PFOS was adsorbed onto microplastics, its toxic effects on the fish immune system were actually reduced compared to PFOS exposure alone. The study suggests that microplastics may sometimes limit the bioavailability of certain chemical pollutants, though the overall environmental implications remain complex.

2023 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano-selenium ameliorates microplastics-induced injury: Histology, antioxidant capacity, immunity and intestinal microbiota of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Researchers tested whether nano-selenium supplements could protect grass carp from damage caused by polystyrene microplastics. They found that nano-selenium reduced the tissue damage, oxidative stress, and immune suppression caused by microplastic exposure, and helped restore healthy gut bacteria. The study suggests that dietary nano-selenium may be a practical strategy for protecting farmed fish from the harmful effects of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics alter the intestinal microbiota function and the hepatic metabolism status in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)

Researchers fed marine medaka fish polystyrene microplastics of two sizes for 28 days and examined effects on gut microbiota and liver metabolism. They found that microplastic exposure significantly altered the functional composition of gut bacteria and disrupted hepatic metabolic pathways, even without causing visible tissue damage. The study suggests that microplastics can affect fish health through subtle microbiome and metabolic changes that precede obvious physical harm.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 129 citations