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Chaofan Sun1, Jia Teng1, Dongyu Wang1
1Research and Development Center for Efficient Utilization of Coastal Bioresources, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, PR China; Muping Coastal Environment Research Station, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, PR China; Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China.
Abstract:
Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in marine environments, and they are easily attached by various microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria. When bivalves mistakenly eat MPs, pathogenic bacteria attached to MPs enter their bodies through the Trojan horse effect, causing adverse effects. In this study, the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis was exposed to aged polymethylmethacrylate MPs (PMMA-MPs, 20 μm) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus attached to PMMA-MPs to explore the effect of synergistic exposure by measuring lysosomal membrane stability, ROS content, phagocytosis, apoptosis in hemocytes, antioxidative enzyme activities and apoptosis-related gene expression in gills and digestive glands. The results showed that MP exposure alone did not cause significant oxidative stress in mussels, but after long-term coexposure to MPs and V. parahaemolyticus, the activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly inhibited in the gills of mussels. Both single MP exposure and coexposure will affect hemocyte function. Coexposure can induce hemocytes to produce higher ROS, improve phagocytosis, significantly reduce the stability of the lysosome membrane, and induce the expression of apoptosis-related genes, causing apoptosis of hemocytes compared with single MP exposure. Our results demonstrate that MPs attached to pathogenic bacteria have stronger toxic effects on mussels, which also suggests that MPs with pathogenic bacteria might have an influence on the immune system and cause disease in mollusks. Thus, MPs may mediate the transmission of pathogens in marine environments, posing a threat to marine animals and human health. This study provides a scientific basis for the ecological risk assessment of MP pollution in marine environments.
Insights
Microplastics (MPs) carrying pathogenic bacteria pose a greater threat to mussels than MPs alone. This synergistic effect impacts immune function and may facilitate pathogen spread in marine ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Environmental Toxicology
- Microplastic Research
Background:
- Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in marine environments and can harbor pathogenic bacteria.
- Bivalves ingest MPs, potentially leading to the internal transfer of pathogens via a Trojan horse mechanism.
- Understanding the combined effects of MPs and pathogens is crucial for assessing marine ecosystem health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the synergistic toxic effects of polymethylmethacrylate MPs (PMMA-MPs) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus on the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.
- To evaluate the impact of coexposure on hemocyte function, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in mussels.
- To determine if MPs act as vectors for pathogenic bacteria, influencing disease transmission in marine environments.
Main Methods:
- Mussels were exposed to PMMA-MPs (20 μm) and V. parahaemolyticus, both individually and in combination.
- Key physiological and cellular responses were measured, including lysosomal membrane stability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, phagocytosis, and apoptosis in hemocytes.
- Antioxidant enzyme activities and apoptosis-related gene expression were analyzed in gill and digestive gland tissues.
Main Results:
- Single MP exposure did not induce significant oxidative stress, but long-term coexposure inhibited antioxidant enzyme activity in mussel gills.
- Coexposure to MPs and V. parahaemolyticus significantly increased ROS production and phagocytosis in hemocytes.
- Coexposure led to reduced lysosomal membrane stability and induced apoptosis in hemocytes compared to single MP exposure.
Conclusions:
- MPs contaminated with pathogenic bacteria exhibit stronger toxic effects on mussels than MPs alone.
- The synergistic action of MPs and pathogens can compromise the immune system of bivalves, potentially leading to disease.
- MPs can mediate pathogen transmission in marine environments, posing risks to marine life and human health, highlighting the need for ecological risk assessment of MP pollution.
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