Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in lettuce triggered by microplastics-stress

Researchers grew lettuce in water containing polystyrene microplastics and found that the particles accumulated in root tips and leaf veins, causing water loss stress and changes in gene expression. The plants responded by activating stress defense systems and altering their metabolism, including increased production of protective compounds in root secretions. This study provides molecular-level evidence that microplastics can stress food crops and change their biology, raising questions about the safety and nutritional quality of vegetables grown in contaminated environments.

2023 Environmental Pollution 107 citations
Article Tier 2

Different recovery patterns of the surviving bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis based on transcriptome profiling exposed to spherical or fibrous polyethylene microplastics

Researchers used gene expression analysis to study how Mediterranean mussels respond to and recover from exposure to different shapes of polyethylene microplastics. They found that spherical and fibrous particles triggered distinct stress responses and different recovery patterns over a 14-day period. The study suggests that the shape of microplastics matters significantly in determining their biological impact on marine organisms.

2024 Heliyon 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the deep: Suspended particles affect the model species Mytilus galloprovincialis under hyperbaric conditions

Researchers exposed juvenile Mediterranean mussels to polyethylene microplastics at three concentrations and three pressure levels (1, 4, and 50 Bar) for 96 hours to simulate deep-sea conditions. Microplastics significantly reduced filtration rates and triggered oxidative stress, with transcriptomic analysis revealing pressure-dependent differences in how mussels respond to plastic exposure.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal the hormesis-like effects of polyethylene microplastics on Pisum sativum L

Researchers used integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics to investigate hormesis-like effects of microplastics — where low concentrations stimulate while higher concentrations inhibit biological processes. The multi-omics approach revealed complex dose-dependent molecular responses to microplastic exposure.

2024 Environmental Technology & Innovation 7 citations
Article Tier 2

The Growth Inhibition of Polyethylene Nanoplastics on the Bait-Microalgae Isochrysis galbana Based on the Transcriptome Analysis

Researchers found that polyethylene nanoplastics (50 nm) significantly inhibited growth and reduced chlorophyll in the bait microalga Isochrysis galbana through oxidative stress and disrupted gene expression, while larger microplastics had no significant impact.

2023 Microorganisms 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptomic analysis following polystyrene nanoplastic stress in the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

Researchers used transcriptomic analysis to study how polystyrene nanoplastics affect gene expression in Pacific white shrimp. They found that nanoplastic exposure activated lysosome pathways and disrupted genes involved in immune response, protein processing, and metabolism. The study provides molecular-level evidence that nanoplastics can interfere with multiple biological systems in commercially important shrimp species.

2023 Fish & Shellfish Immunology 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Combination of transcriptomics, metabolomics and physiological traits reveals the effects of polystyrene microplastics on photosynthesis, carbon and nitrogen metabolism in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Researchers used transcriptomics and metabolomics to investigate how polystyrene microplastics affect photosynthesis and carbon-nitrogen metabolism in cucumber plants. The study found that both 5-micrometer and 0.1-micrometer particles reduced photosynthetic capacity and disrupted metabolic pathways, though they did so through different molecular mechanisms involving distinct gene expression changes.

2023 Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Distinguish the toxic differentiations between acute exposure of micro- and nano-plastics on bivalves: An integrated study based on transcriptomic sequencing

Researchers found that nanoplastics are more toxic than microplastics in mussels, causing severe inflammatory responses and greater oxidative stress, with transcriptomic analysis revealing contrasting gene expression patterns between the two particle sizes.

2022 Aquatic Toxicology 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake and transcriptional effects of polystyrene microplastics in larval stages of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Researchers exposed larval stages of a marine organism to polystyrene microplastics and measured gene expression changes, finding tissue-dependent transcriptional responses that suggest microplastics can affect development even at early life stages.

2018 Environmental Pollution 142 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

Proteome analysis during polystyrene microplastic biodegradation in filamentous fungi

This proteome analysis study examined protein expression changes in filamentous fungi during polystyrene microplastic biodegradation, identifying upregulated enzymes and metabolic pathways involved in PS polymer breakdown that could inform biotechnology-based plastic degradation strategies.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
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

Metabolomics revealing the response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) exposed to polystyrene microplastics

Researchers used metabolomics to investigate how polystyrene microplastics affect rice plants through both laboratory and field experiments. The study found that microplastic exposure reduced shoot biomass in a dose-dependent manner and altered antioxidant enzyme activity, suggesting that microplastics in agricultural soil can stress crops through measurable metabolic changes.

2020 Environmental Pollution 265 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptional response provides insights into the effect of chronic polystyrene nanoplastic exposure on Daphnia pulex

RNA sequencing of Daphnia pulex after 21 days of polystyrene nanoplastic exposure identified 244 differentially expressed genes, with key downregulated genes involved in trehalose metabolism and chitin synthesis and upregulated genes involved in stress response pathways. The transcriptomic analysis reveals metabolic and immune disruption as central mechanisms of chronic nanoplastic toxicity in this keystone freshwater species.

2019 Chemosphere 125 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptomic and physiological effects of polyethylene microplastics on Zea mays seedlings and their role as a vector for organic pollutants

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics cause transcriptomic and physiological changes in corn seedlings, altering gene expression related to stress responses and growth, while also serving as vectors that increase the bioavailability of organic pollutants to plant roots.

2023 Chemosphere 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Toxicity effects of nanoplastics on soybean (Glycine max L.): Mechanisms and transcriptomic analysis

Researchers exposed soybean plants to polystyrene nanoplastics and observed inhibited stem and root growth, increased oxidative stress, and disrupted photosynthesis. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that nanoplastics altered the expression of genes involved in plant stress responses, hormone signaling, and metabolic pathways. The study suggests that nanoplastic contamination in agricultural soils could negatively affect crop growth and yield at the molecular level.

2022 Chemosphere 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics affect rice (Oryza sativa L.) quality by interfering metabolite accumulation and energy expenditure pathways: A field study

Researchers conducted a field study examining how polystyrene microplastics affect rice grain quality at the molecular level using metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis. They found that microplastic exposure interfered with metabolite accumulation and energy pathways in the rice plants, ultimately reducing grain quality. The study provides real-world evidence that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils can directly compromise the nutritional quality of a major food crop.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 193 citations
Article Tier 2

Transcriptional effects of polyethylene microplastics ingestion in developing zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Researchers exposed developing zebrafish to polyethylene microplastics and used transcriptomic analysis to identify changes in gene expression related to immune function, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress. The study suggests that even at relatively low concentrations, ingested microplastics can alter key biological pathways during early fish development.

2018 Environmental Pollution 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Responses of microRNA in digestive glands of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics

Polystyrene nanoplastics triggered significant microRNA expression changes in the digestive glands of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, with altered miRNAs involved in immune regulation, apoptosis, and stress response pathways. The findings indicate that microRNA-mediated gene regulation is an important molecular mechanism of nanoplastic toxicity in marine bivalves.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of transcriptomic profiling to investigate the toxicity mechanisms caused by dietary exposure of nanoplastics in fish

Researchers used transcriptomic profiling to evaluate the impact of dietary nanoplastic exposure on European sea bass, finding changes in gene expression in intestinal tissue after 21 days of feeding with polystyrene nanoparticle-containing food. The study suggests that while no significant changes were observed in enzymatic stress markers, nanoplastics may trigger subtle molecular-level responses in the fish gut.

2023 Aquatic Toxicology 7 citations