Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Micro/nanoplastic-mediated gut dysbiosis and its impact on cardiac and neuroimmune function in zebrafish model: A multi-omics approach

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastic exposure disrupts gut microbiome balance and its downstream effects on cardiac and neuroimmune function, primarily using zebrafish as a model. The study suggests that chronic exposure alters gut barrier integrity and microbial composition, triggering systemic consequences including neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity, with findings showing translational relevance to human health outcomes.

2026 The Science of The Total Environment
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive review of ecological risks and toxicity mechanisms of microplastics in freshwater: Focus on zebrafish as a model organism

This comprehensive review examines how microplastics affect zebrafish, a widely used laboratory model, covering impacts on the gut, liver, reproductive system, nervous system, and immune function. Researchers found that microplastics can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of gut bacteria across multiple organ systems. The review highlights that zebrafish studies provide valuable insights into the biological mechanisms by which microplastics may affect freshwater organisms and, potentially, human health.

2025 Aquatic Toxicology 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Zebrafish as Model Organism in Aquatic Ecotoxicology: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

This review assessed zebrafish as model organisms for aquatic ecotoxicology, summarizing current trends and future directions in using Danio rerio to study the effects of environmental pollutants including microplastics. The authors highlight the zebrafish model's utility for integrating molecular, cellular, and whole-organism responses.

2023 IntechOpen eBooks 4 citations
Article Tier 2

O Modelo Zebrafish e sua Contribuição ao Meio Ambiente

This Brazilian review examined zebrafish as a model organism for testing water quality and the toxicity of micropollutants including microplastics in wastewater. Zebrafish are increasingly used as a standard test system for evaluating the biological effects of microplastic exposure because their genetics and physiology closely mirror human responses.

2021
Article Tier 2

Effects on immunity of exposure to microplastics in adult zebrafish

Adult zebrafish exposed to microplastics showed changes in liver gene expression, gut and gill tissue damage, and altered swimming behavior, indicating that microplastic exposure triggers multiple biological stress responses. The study highlights the relevance of zebrafish as a model for assessing microplastic toxicity.

2019 Use Siena air (University of Siena)
Article Tier 2

Effects of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Neurodevelopment and Neurodegeneration in Zebrafish

This review covers how micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) exposure affects neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration in zebrafish, summarising evidence on impaired neurodevelopment, behavioural changes, and markers of neurodegeneration from studies using various polymer types and exposure routes. It frames zebrafish as a key model for understanding MNP neurotoxicity.

2025
Article Tier 2

Research progress of model animal zebrafish in toxicity evaluation of microplastics

This review examines the use of zebrafish as a model organism for evaluating the toxicity of microplastics, synthesizing research on how microplastic exposure affects development, reproduction, and physiological function in this well-established vertebrate model. The authors highlight zebrafish as a particularly valuable system for mechanistic toxicology studies given its genetic tractability and the breadth of endpoints assessable across life stages.

2022 SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The Role of Danio rerio in Understanding Pollutant-Induced Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis in Aquatic Ecosystems

This review examines how freshwater pollutants—including pesticides, heavy metals, antibiotics, dyes, and microplastics—disrupt gut microbiome composition in zebrafish and other aquatic animals. It highlights the zebrafish model as a key tool for understanding pollutant-driven microbiome dysbiosis and its metabolic consequences.

2025 Toxics
Article Tier 2

Plastics in our water: Fish microbiomes at risk?

This review examined how microplastics and leached plasticizers affect the gut microbiomes of freshwater and marine fish, summarizing evidence for dysbiosis and reduced microbial diversity and discussing potential consequences for fish immunity, metabolism, and environmental fitness.

2021 Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part D Genomics and Proteomics 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro/nano-plastics cause neurobehavioral toxicity in discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus): Insight from brain-gut-microbiota axis

Researchers exposed juvenile discus fish to microfibers and nanoplastics and found that both types caused neurobehavioral problems, but through different mechanisms involving the brain-gut-microbiota axis. Nanoplastics weakened swimming and predatory abilities, while microfibers reduced growth, and both disrupted gut microbial communities that influence brain function. The study provides the first evidence linking microplastic-induced gut microbiome changes to neurological effects in fish through the gut-brain connection.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 173 citations
Review Tier 2

Advances of microplastics ingestion on the morphological and behavioral conditions of model zebrafish: A review

This review summarizes research on how microplastic ingestion affects zebrafish, a popular lab animal that shares genetic similarities with humans. Studies show that microplastics cause a range of harmful effects in zebrafish, including abnormal behavior, oxidative stress, immune disruption, and reproductive problems, with smaller particles and higher concentrations causing the most damage. Since zebrafish are used as a model for human health, these findings raise concerns about what similar exposure levels could mean for people.

2024 Aquatic Toxicology 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Dysregulation of gut health in zebrafish by differentially charged nanoplastic exposure: an integrated analysis of histopathology, immunology, and microbial informatics

Researchers studied how nanoplastics with different surface charges affect gut health in zebrafish using histopathology, immunology, and microbial analysis. The study found that gut damage and microflora disturbance caused by nanoplastic ingestion significantly depended on the surface functional groups of the particles.

2023 Environmental Science Nano 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics induce intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and disorders of metabolome and microbiome in zebrafish

Researchers exposed zebrafish to polystyrene microplastics for 21 days and found significant intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of both the gut microbiome and metabolic processes. The microplastics altered the balance of beneficial and harmful gut bacteria and changed the levels of key metabolites involved in energy and amino acid metabolism. The study provides detailed evidence that microplastic ingestion can cause widespread disruption to gut health in aquatic organisms.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 898 citations
Article Tier 2

Zebrafish: An emerging model to study microplastic and nanoplastic toxicity

This review highlights zebrafish as an increasingly valuable model organism for studying the toxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics due to their transparent embryos, genetic similarity to humans, and ease of laboratory use. Researchers summarized existing zebrafish studies showing that plastic particles can cross biological barriers and accumulate in tissues, causing various toxic effects. The study positions zebrafish research as a key tool for advancing our understanding of how plastic particle exposure affects living organisms.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 434 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of MP Polyethylene Microparticles on Microbiome and Inflammatory Response of Larval Zebrafish

Zebrafish larvae exposed to polyethylene microplastics for up to 10 days showed no broad metabolic disturbances or inflammatory changes, but oxidative stress markers increased at 15 days and the gut microbiome was disrupted, with higher levels of bacteria linked to intestinal disease. The findings suggest microplastics alter the microbial environment of fish guts without triggering obvious inflammation.

2020 Toxics 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Research Progress of Zebrafish Model in Aquatic Ecotoxicology

This review examines how zebrafish are used as model organisms to study the toxic effects of environmental pollutants in water, including microplastics. Zebrafish are ideal because they reproduce quickly, are inexpensive to maintain, and allow researchers to study effects at the genetic, cellular, and whole-organism level. The paper provides a reference guide for scientists choosing model animals for aquatic toxicology research.

2023 Water 48 citations
Article Tier 2

From particle size to brain function: a zebrafish-based review of micro/nanoplastic-induced neurobehavioral toxicity and mechanistic pathways

This review uses zebrafish as a model to examine how micro- and nanoplastics cause neurobehavioral toxicity, linking particle size to brain function disruption. Researchers summarize evidence that these plastic particles impair fish behavior and cause molecular-level damage in the nervous system. The findings highlight the growing concern that micro- and nanoplastics are emerging neurotoxicants in aquatic environments.

2025 Environmental Science Nano 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The Zebrafish as an Alternative Animal Model for Ecotoxicological Research and Testing

This review highlights zebrafish as a valuable model for studying the toxic effects of environmental contaminants, including microplastics, because they share many biological pathways with humans. Zebrafish embryos, larvae, and adults can be used to screen for harmful effects of pollutants quickly and at multiple life stages. The approach helps researchers understand how microplastics and other environmental contaminants might affect human health without requiring direct human testing.

2024 Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model for research in toxicological studies

This review explains why zebrafish (Danio rerio) are a valuable model organism for toxicology research, summarizing how their biology, genetics, and organ systems resemble those of humans enough to yield insights about human health risks. Zebrafish are widely used in microplastic toxicology studies, and this review provides context for understanding the significance of zebrafish findings for human health. The paper covers applications across disease modeling and environmental toxicology.

2021 Journal of Applied and Natural Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The zebrafish gut microbiome influences benzo[a]pyrene developmental neurotoxicity

Researchers found that the gut microbiome of zebrafish influences developmental neurotoxicity caused by benzo[a]pyrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, showing that microbial community composition modifies how the host responds to early-life toxicant exposure. The study highlighted gut-brain axis interactions as an important dimension of environmental toxicology.

2024 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Zebrafish: an efficient vertebrate model for understanding role of gut microbiota

This review describes how zebrafish serve as an efficient vertebrate model for studying gut microbiota and host-microbe interactions. Researchers found that zebrafish share key similarities with humans in intestinal physiology, and their optical transparency and high fecundity make them uniquely suited for microbiome research. The study outlines methods for creating germ-free zebrafish and summarizes current understanding of gut microbiota functions in this model organism.

2022 Molecular Medicine 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Chronic Exposure of Adult Zebrafish to Polyethylene and Polyester-based Microplastics: Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Alterations Reflecting Dysbiosis and Resilience

Researchers exposed adult zebrafish to polyethylene and polyester microplastics at environmentally relevant concentrations and found significant disruptions to metabolic pathways and gut microbiome composition. Polyethylene primarily affected cell membrane compounds and inflammation-related metabolites, while polyester altered lipid metabolism and gut bacterial interactions. The study reveals that chronic microplastic exposure can cause subtle but meaningful shifts in fish metabolism and gut health, even at low concentrations.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

The Gut-Brain-Microbiome Axis and Its Link to Autism: Emerging Insights and the Potential of Zebrafish Models

This review examines emerging evidence linking gut microbiome dysbiosis to autism spectrum disorder through the gut-brain axis, and discusses the potential of zebrafish as a model organism for investigating these connections and testing interventions.

2021 Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polystyrene microplastics on the composition of the microbiome and metabolism in larval zebrafish

Researchers exposed larval zebrafish to two sizes of polystyrene microplastics and found significant changes in gut microbiome composition and metabolic activity. The microplastics altered the abundance and diversity of gut bacteria and disrupted metabolic pathways important for development. The study suggests that early-life exposure to microplastics could have meaningful biological consequences by reshaping the gut environment of developing organisms.

2018 Chemosphere 472 citations