Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Effects of Ocean Acidification, Hypoxia, and Warming on the Gut Microbiota of the Thick Shell Mussel Mytilus coruscus Through 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Researchers found that combined ocean acidification, hypoxia, and warming significantly altered the gut microbiota of the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus, disrupting microbial community structure and potentially compromising host health under future climate scenarios.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of microplastics exposure on mussel (Mytilus edulis) gut microbiota

Researchers exposed marine mussels (Mytilus edulis) to microplastics and analyzed changes to their gut microbiota, finding significant shifts in microbial community composition that could affect digestion, immunity, and overall health.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 111 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthesized effects of medium-term exposure to seawater acidification and microplastics on the physiology and energy budget of the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus

Researchers found that combined exposure to ocean acidification and microplastics significantly reduced the feeding rate, food absorption, and energy budget of the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus, with acidification amplifying the negative effects of microplastics.

2022 Environmental Pollution 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics exposure on the reconfiguration of viral community structure and disruption of ecological functions in the digestive gland of Mytilus coruscus

Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastic ingestion affects the viral community in the digestive glands of thick-shelled mussels through a field exposure experiment. They found that microplastic ingestion significantly reduced virome diversity and altered viral community composition, while microplastic biofilms carried abundant antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors. The findings suggest that microplastics may serve as vectors for spreading resistance genes and destabilizing microbial networks in marine organisms.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Changes in the microbiome and associated host tissue structure in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) following exposure to polystyrene microparticles

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) exposed to polystyrene microplastics at concentrations found in coastal waters showed reduced microbiome diversity in digestive gland and gill tissues at high exposure levels, along with altered host tissue structure. The co-disruption of the microbiome and host tissues suggests that MP exposure can degrade the symbiotic relationships that support mussel health.

2022 Canadian Journal of Zoology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Physiological and transcriptome analysis of Mytilus coruscus in response to Prorocentrum lima and microplastics

The combined effects of diarrhetic shellfish toxin and microplastics on the mussel Mytilus coruscus were assessed at physiological and transcriptomic levels, revealing synergistic disruption of immune function, antioxidant responses, and metabolic pathways. The study provides molecular-level evidence of interactive toxicity between two common coastal contaminants.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics can aggravate the impact of ocean acidification on the health of mussels: Insights from physiological performance, immunity and byssus properties

Researchers found that the combination of ocean acidification and microplastic exposure weakened mussel immune systems, reduced feeding performance, and degraded the quality of byssus threads used for attachment. The study suggests that co-occurring ocean acidification and microplastic pollution could increase the vulnerability of bivalves to disease and dislodgement, threatening their survival in future marine environments.

2022 Environmental Pollution 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of microplastics exposure on copepod (Eurytemora affinis) and mussel (Mytilus edulis) gut microbiota

Researchers studied how microplastic exposure affects the copepod Eurytemora affinis and the mussel Mytilus edulis, examining effects on feeding, reproduction, and overall health at relevant environmental concentrations. Results showed microplastics impaired physiological functions in both species, with additional risks from microorganism-colonized plastic surfaces.

2024 Open MIND
Article Tier 2

Microplastic exposure reshapes the virome and virus–bacteria networks with implications for immune regulation in Mytilus coruscus

Researchers exposed mussels to microplastics for seven days and analyzed how the pollution affected viral communities in their tissues. They found that microplastic exposure suppressed DNA virus diversity while activating RNA viral metabolism, and restructured interactions between bacteria-infecting viruses and opportunistic pathogens. The study suggests that microplastics may influence immune function in shellfish by reshaping the viral community and virus-mediated immune interactions.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics impair digestive performance but show little effects on antioxidant activity in mussels under low pH conditions

Researchers exposed thick shell mussels to polystyrene microplastics under both normal and acidified ocean conditions. They found that microplastics had little effect on antioxidant defenses but significantly impaired digestive enzyme activity, with ocean acidification worsening the impact. The study suggests that the combined stress of microplastics and lower pH may pose particular risks to the digestive function of marine shellfish.

2019 Environmental Pollution 160 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-dependent effects of microplastics on intestinal microbiome for Perna viridis

Researchers found that the size of microplastic particles determines how they change the gut bacteria of green mussels, with the smallest particles causing the most disruption to beneficial bacteria and promoting potentially harmful species. Since mussels are widely consumed as seafood, changes to their gut health and the bacteria they carry could affect human food safety.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) exposure to nylon microfibers leads to a shift in digestive gland microbiota

Researchers exposed blue mussels to nylon microfibers for 52 days and found significant shifts in the bacterial communities living in their digestive glands. Beneficial bacterial groups declined while potentially harmful genera, including Vibrio, increased in abundance. The findings suggest that microplastic accumulation poses a dual threat to filter-feeding shellfish by both physically burdening them and disrupting the gut bacteria they depend on for digestion and immune defense.

2025 Environmental Pollution 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Chronic polystyrene microplastics exposure-induced changes in thick-shell mussel (Mytilus coruscus) metaorganism: A holistic perspective

Researchers took a holistic approach to studying how chronic microplastic exposure affects thick-shell mussels, examining both the animal host and its associated microbial community together. They found that polystyrene microplastics disrupted the mussel's immune function and significantly altered the composition of its microbiome. The study suggests that understanding microplastic impacts requires looking at the entire organism-microbiome system rather than studying each component in isolation.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 7 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

Unraveling the interplay between environmental microplastics and salinity stress on Mytilus galloprovincialis larval development: A holistic exploration

Researchers studied how environmental microplastics and increased salinity together affect the early development of Mediterranean mussel larvae. The combination caused larval deformities, developmental problems, and changes in gene activity related to shell formation, stress response, and cell damage. These findings are concerning because climate change is altering ocean salinity in coastal areas where microplastic pollution is also heavy, and mussels are a food source that could pass accumulated microplastics to humans.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microbial communities on microplastics from seawater and mussels: Insights from the northern Adriatic Sea

Researchers studied the microbial communities that colonize microplastics in seawater and mussels from the northern Adriatic Sea, including the first-ever genetic sequencing of a microplastic particle recovered from inside a mussel. They found that the microbes on particles from both environments were similar, suggesting a shared colonization pattern. The presence of potentially harmful bacteria like Campylobacter on some particles raises questions about microplastics serving as vehicles for pathogen transfer in the marine food chain.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined physiological effects of differentially charged nanoplastics and ocean acidification on the mussel Mytilus coruscus

Researchers assessed the combined effects of differentially charged nanoplastics and ocean acidification on the mussel Mytilus coruscus to understand interactions between these co-occurring stressors. The study found that nanoplastic charge significantly influenced toxicological outcomes, with ocean acidification modulating the physiological responses of mussels to nanoplastic exposure.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Nylon Microfibers Develop a Distinct Plastisphere but Do Not Impact the Gut Microbiome of the Blue Mussel (mytilus Edulis)

Researchers exposed blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) to nylon microfibers, Spartina spp. particles, or no particles for 21 days and analyzed gut microbiome composition via 16S rRNA sequencing, finding that while nylon fibers developed a distinct plastisphere microbial community, exposure did not significantly alter the gut microbiome of the host mussels.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

The multiple responses of Mytilus galloprovincialis in the multi-stressor scenario: Impacts of low pH, low dissolved oxygen, and microplastics

Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to the combined stressors of low pH, low dissolved oxygen, and microplastics for 15 days. While whole-organism functions like respiration were unaffected, the study found significant cellular-level impacts, suggesting that microplastics interact with ocean acidification and deoxygenation to cause subtle but measurable stress in marine invertebrates.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination alters microbial community in commercially important bivalves, Geloina expansa, Anadara cornea, and Meretrix meretrix from tropical waters

Researchers exposed three commercially important tropical bivalve species to polyethylene terephthalate microplastics for 10 days and found significant changes in their gut microbial communities. The effects varied between species and collection locations, with some bivalves showing increased harmful bacteria and reduced beneficial microbes. The study suggests that microplastic pollution can disrupt the gut health of seafood species that are important food sources in tropical regions.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined Microplastics and Cadmium Exposure Induces Persistent Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Pearl Oyster Pinctada fucata martensii

Researchers examined the combined effects of microplastics and cadmium on the gut microbiome of pearl oysters over a 48-hour exposure followed by a 5-day recovery period. The study found that co-exposure caused persistent shifts in gut microbial community composition that did not fully recover, suggesting that combined pollutant exposure may have lasting effects on the gut health of marine aquaculture species.

2026 Fishes
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation, microbiome composition and immunity, and epigenetic signatures associated with exposure to spherical, fibrous, and fragmented microplastics in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Researchers exposed Mediterranean mussels to microplastics of different shapes (spheres, fibers, and fragments) and found that all types accumulated in the mussels but caused different toxic effects. Fiber-shaped microplastics changed shape inside the mussel tissue, and all forms altered the mussels' gut bacteria, immune gene activity, and DNA methylation patterns. Since mussels are widely consumed as seafood and serve as indicators of ocean health, these findings suggest that microplastic shape matters when assessing risks to both marine life and human food safety.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and food shortage impair the byssal attachment of thick-shelled mussel Mytilus coruscus

Researchers found that microplastic exposure combined with food shortage significantly impaired byssal attachment in the mussel Mytilus coruscus, reducing thread production and adhesion strength, which could compromise mussel survival in polluted marine environments.

2021 Marine Environmental Research 39 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