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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Uptake and Biological Impacts of Miroplastics and Nanoplastics in Sea Squirts
ClearThe relationship between Ascidians and plastic pollution: A systematic review of interaction mechanisms, biological impacts, and ecological roles
This systematic review examines how sea squirts interact with micro- and nanoplastic pollution in ocean environments. These filter-feeding animals consistently accumulate plastic particles and show significant cellular damage as a result, making them useful biological indicators of marine plastic contamination. The findings illustrate how microplastics move through marine food webs, with implications for the seafood that ends up on our plates.
The relationship between Ascidians and plastic pollution: A systematic review of interaction mechanisms, biological impacts, and ecological roles
This systematic review looks at how sea squirts (ascidians), which are filter-feeding marine animals, interact with microplastic pollution. The research found that these organisms consistently accumulate microplastics and suffer significant health effects at the cellular level, making them useful indicators of ocean plastic contamination. Since ascidians are part of the marine food web, their plastic accumulation can contribute to the transfer of microplastics up the food chain.
Environmental stress and nanoplastics’ effects on Ciona robusta: regulation of immune/stress-related genes and induction of innate memory in pharynx and gut
Researchers found that nanoplastics combined with environmental stressors triggered immune and stress-related gene regulation changes in the marine organism Ciona robusta, along with apoptosis induction, suggesting synergistic harmful effects on marine invertebrates.
Toxicity of environmental and polystyrene plastic particles on the bivalve Corbicula fluminea: focus on the molecular responses
Researchers exposed freshwater bivalves to environmental microplastics and nanoplastics collected from a river, as well as to laboratory polystyrene nanoparticles, and measured molecular-level responses. Gene expression analysis revealed that plastic particle exposure activated stress response and immune defense pathways in gill and visceral tissues. The study indicates that even environmentally relevant concentrations of plastic particles can trigger measurable biological stress in filter-feeding organisms.
Ingested microscopic plastics translocate from the gut cavity of juveniles of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis
Microscopic polystyrene particles (1 micrometer) were found to be ingested by juvenile sea squirts (Ciona intestinalis) and then move from the gut into body tissues, a process called translocation. This ability to penetrate tissue barriers is concerning because it means microplastics can potentially affect internal organs in marine filter-feeders.
How sea urchins face microplastics: Uptake, tissue distribution and immune system response
Sea urchins exposed to polystyrene microplastics showed particle uptake across multiple tissues (including coelom and gonads), dose-dependent changes in immune cell populations, and elevated oxidative stress, with smaller particles causing greater harm than larger ones.
Physiological responses of juvenile Ciona intestinalis type A (C. robusta) to microplastic shape and size: Pronounced effects of fibrous particles
Researchers exposed juvenile sea squirts to three different shapes of microplastics and found that fibrous particles had the most pronounced negative effects on heart rate, squirting activity, and mucus secretion. The shape of microplastics proved to be a more important factor than size or chemical composition in determining biological impact. The findings highlight that fiber-shaped microplastics, which are among the most common forms in the ocean, may pose greater risks to marine organisms than spherical particles.
Microplastic and nanoplastic exposure induced transcriptional and physiological alterations and triggered immune responses in the sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota
Researchers exposed sea cucumbers to polyethylene microplastics and nanoplastics for 14 days and measured changes in gene expression, oxidative stress, and immune function. They found that nanoplastics caused more severe effects than microplastics, including widespread changes in gene activity and signs of immune system activation. The study raises concerns about the vulnerability of bottom-feeding marine animals that inadvertently consume plastic particles from sediment.
Nanoparticle-Biological Interactions in a Marine Benthic Foraminifer
Researchers exposed single-celled marine organisms called foraminifera to three types of engineered nanoparticles — including polystyrene nanoplastics — and found that all three accumulated inside the cells and triggered oxidative stress (a form of cellular damage). This study shows that even microscopic seafloor organisms are vulnerable to nanoplastic pollution, expanding the known range of species harmed by plastic contamination.
Potential harmful impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on the health of a tropical sea cucumber, Holothuria leucospilota, evidenced by changes of gut microflora, histology, immune and oxidative indexes
Scientists exposed tropical sea cucumbers to both nano-sized and micro-sized plastic particles and found that both caused gut damage, altered the gut microbiome, triggered oxidative stress, and disrupted immune function. Notably, the smaller nanoplastics had stronger effects than the larger microplastics, and plastic particles were observed accumulating in the gut tissue.
In vivo bioaccumulation and responses of hemocytes of mussels Perna viridis to microplastics and nanoplastics exposure
Researchers found that mussels exposed to environmentally realistic levels of micro- and nanoplastics quickly accumulated the particles in their blood cells (hemocytes) at concentrations approaching those of the surrounding water. The smaller nanoplastics were more readily taken up and caused more damage to cellular structures called lysosomes. Since mussels are widely consumed as seafood, their ability to concentrate microplastics in their tissues is relevant to human dietary exposure.
First Evaluation of Microplastic Content in Benthic Filter-feeders of the Gulf of La Spezia (Ligurian Sea)
Microplastics were found inside filter-feeding organisms (including sea squirts and mussels) in the Gulf of La Spezia, Italy, with evidence that particles are retained in their tissues. Filter-feeders are commonly eaten by humans, making this contamination a direct concern for seafood safety.
Evidence of size-dependent toxicity of polystyrene nano- and microplastics in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka, 1867) during the intestinal regeneration
Sea cucumbers exposed to polystyrene particles of different sizes for 30 days showed that nanoplastics (80 nm) accumulated more in intestinal tissue and caused greater harm than larger microplastics. The nanoplastics disrupted cell growth, immune function, and triggered oxidative damage through different biological pathways than the larger particles. Since sea cucumbers are a harvested seafood, this raises concerns about nanoplastic contamination in marine food sources.
Unveiling the hidden impacts: A comprehensive review of microplastic effects on marine bivalves
This review synthesizes research on how microplastics accumulate in marine bivalves through their filter-feeding behavior, covering mechanisms of ingestion, bioaccumulation, oxidative stress induction, immune disruption, and growth inhibition, with implications for food safety given widespread human consumption of bivalves.
Interplay Between Nanoplastics and the Immune System of the Mediterranean Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus
Researchers exposed immune cells (coelomocytes) of the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus to carboxylated polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the NPs were internalized by phagocytosis, activated oxidative stress responses, and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, demonstrating direct immune cell toxicity.
Environmental and Sublethal Concentrations of Polystyrene Nanoplastics Induced Antioxidant System, Transcriptomic Responses, and Disturbed Gut Microbiota in Oyster Magallana Hongkongensis
Researchers exposed Hong Kong oysters to polystyrene nanoplastics at both environmentally realistic and higher concentrations. Even at the lower, real-world concentrations, the nanoplastics significantly altered the oysters' gut bacteria and gene expression patterns, while higher doses also triggered immune and antioxidant stress responses, raising concerns about food safety and ecosystem health.
Toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on the intestine of Amphioctopus fangsiao (Mollusca: Cephalopoda): From physiological responses to underlying molecular mechanisms
Researchers investigated the toxic effects of polystyrene microplastics on the intestine of the octopus Amphioctopus fangsiao, finding significant physiological damage including oxidative stress, immune suppression, and disrupted intestinal barrier function through altered gene expression pathways.
Continuum of size from microplastics to nanoplastics: effects on the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana at different levels of biological organization.
Researchers exposed the estuarine bivalve Scrobicularia plana to environmental microplastics and nanoplastics at low concentrations (0.008-100 ug/L), along with standard polystyrene nanoplastics, finding ecotoxicological effects on gills and digestive gland tissues at multiple levels of biological organisation.
Cellular and tissue-level responses of mussels (Mytilus edulis) to aged polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastic particles
This study exposed mussels to environmentally realistic concentrations of aged PET micro- and nanoplastics and found measurable cellular damage even at the lowest doses tested. The plastic particles caused inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue changes in the mussels' digestive systems. Since mussels are a common seafood and are often eaten whole, these findings are relevant to understanding human microplastic exposure through shellfish consumption.
Nanoplastic-Induced Genotoxicity and Intestinal Damage in Freshwater Benthic Clams (Corbicula fluminea): Comparison with Microplastics
Researchers compared the effects of nanoplastics and microplastics on freshwater clams and found that both caused intestinal damage and changes in gut bacteria, but through different biological mechanisms. Nanoplastics triggered cell death through mitochondrial pathways and caused more severe damage to intestinal mucus layers, while microplastics activated immune responses and increased harmful bacteria in the gut. The study suggests that plastic particle size plays a key role in determining the type and severity of biological harm.
Effects of microplastics on gene expression to nonspecific immune system in pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).
This study found that high-density polyethylene microplastic particles in shrimp feed suppressed immune defense genes in Pacific white shrimp and caused intestinal and gill tissue damage at concentrations well below lethal levels. The findings suggest that microplastic exposure could compromise immune function and health in farmed crustaceans.
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.
Adverse effects of dietary virgin (nano)microplastics on growth performance, immune response, and resistance to ammonia stress and pathogen challenge in juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka)
Dietary polystyrene nano- and microplastics significantly reduced growth in juvenile sea cucumbers, caused oxidative stress, and suppressed immune and ammonia detoxification responses, with 100 nm nanoplastics proving more toxic than 20 µm microplastics in a size-dependent manner.
Effects of medium-term exposure to a high concentration of polystyrene nanoplastics in Chilean mussels (Mytilus chilensis)
Researchers exposed Chilean mussels to high concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics for 28 days and observed an initial antioxidant and immune response in gills that declined over time, with histological changes including hemocytic infiltration and epithelial damage in gills, the primary site of nanoplastic accumulation.