Microplastics and Plastic Pollution

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) visualizes internalization and biological impact of nanoplastics in live intestinal organoids

This paper uses FLIM to study nanoplastic interactions and effects in intestinal organoids, finding species-specific uptake and disruptions in mitochondrial function and inflammation.

Microbial Colonisation of Polyethylene in Offshore Marine Environments: Insights from the Southern and South Atlantic Oceans.

This study examines microbial colonization of polyethylene in Southern and South Atlantic Oceans, finding that location and environmental conditions, not material type, drive community structure and function.

Long-term exposure to microplastics and heat affects bumblebee behavior patterns, colony development and social networks

This study examines how microplastic exposure and heat affect bumblebee behavior, colony development, and social networks over one generation.

Polyolefin colonization and partial degradation by Gordonia sp., and Arthrobacter sp. isolated from wetlands and compost

This study identifies Gordonia sp. iso11 as a PP-degrading bacterium capable of significant mass loss and biofilm formation, with evidence of biosurfactant production and a putative LDPE-degrading enzyme.

Construction of an MRCUT1 Cutinase-Expressing Saccharomyces boulardii Probiotic Yeast Strain Capable of Degrading Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Microplastics

This paper genetically engineers Saccharomyces boulardii to express MRCUT1 cutinase, enabling PET microplastic degradation in vitro, with significant weight loss observed within a week.

Hydrophobins from Aspergillus mediate fungal interactions with microplastics

This study identifies hydrophobins as key proteins enabling fungal binding to microplastics, offering potential strategies for mitigating microplastic-related health risks.

Small Particles, Big Problems: Polystyrene nanoparticles induce DNA damage, oxidative stress, migration, and mitogenic pathways predominantly in non-malignant lung cells

This study shows that polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) cause DNA damage, oxidative stress, migration, and mitogenic pathways in non-malignant lung cells but not in cancer cells.

Oral exposure to PET microplastics alters the pancreatic transcriptome-implications for the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes

This study shows that PET microplastics exposure alters pancreatic gene expression in pigs, potentially contributing to type 1 diabetes pathogenesis.

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF A QUESTIONNAIRE ASSESSING MICROPLASTICS EXPOSURE, KNOWLEDGE, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD MICROPLASTICS IN RELATION TO COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN INDONESIA

The paper develops and validates a questionnaire to assess microplastics exposure, knowledge, and attitudes in relation to cognitive function among Indonesian adults.

Growth but not corticosterone, oxidative stress or telomere length is negatively affected by microplastic exposure in a filter-feeding amphibian

The paper examines the effects of microplastic exposure on growth and stress physiology in Xenopus laevis larvae, finding that growth is negatively impacted while stress and health markers remain unchanged.

Short-Term Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics Alters Cognition, Immune, and Metabolic Markers in an APOE Genotype and Sex-Dependent Manner

This study shows that short-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics affects cognition, immune, and metabolic markers in a sex and APOE genotype-dependent manner in mice.

MICROPLASTICS IN THE MOUNT TERMINILLO SNOW (RIETI, ITALY)

This study measures microplastic concentrations in snow from Mount Terminillo, finding high levels of microfibers and specific polymers, with signs of degradation.

Primary and secondary microplastics do not affect hatching of Japanese flounder eggs

This study examines the effects of primary and secondary microplastics on the hatching rate of Japanese flounder eggs and finds no impact.

Accelerated plastic aging in suspension (APAS): A simple, reproducible approach for the generation of model micro- and nanoplastics through simulated environmental forces

The paper introduces APAS, a method to generate environmentally relevant micro- and nanoplastics by simulating natural aging processes, and shows its ability to produce complex particles with physicochemical properties similar to real-world MNPs.

Complete genome sequences of nine isolates from microplastics in the Bow River, Calgary, Canada

The paper reports the complete genome sequences of nine bacterial isolates from microplastics in the Bow River, revealing their potential for plastic biodegradation.

Microplastics as a novel facilitator for antimicrobial resistance: Effects of concentration, composition, and size on Escherichia coli multidrug resistance

This study shows that microplastics enhance multidrug resistance in E. coli by promoting biofilm formation and selecting for resistant strains.

Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from the intestines of Tenebrio molitor larvae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) that consume expanded polystyrene

This study identifies Klebsiella pneumoniae from Tenebrio molitor larvae as an EPS-degrading bacterium with moderate degradation efficiency.

Eco-Microbiology: Discovering Biochemical Enhancers of PET Biodegradation by Piscinibacter sakaiensis

This paper identifies biochemical enhancers of PET biodegradation by Piscinibacter sakaiensis using iterative screening and biodegradation assays.

An experimental approach to understanding plastic leachate impacts on marine microorganisms

This study assesses the impact of plastic leachates on marine microbial communities, finding significant compositional differences in communities exposed to PLA leachate but no changes in plastic degradation gene transcripts.

The impact of various microplastics on bacterial community and antimicrobial resistance genes in Norwegian and South African wastewater

This study examines how different microplastics affect bacterial communities and antimicrobial resistance genes in wastewater from Norway and South Africa.

Osmoregulation affects elimination of microplastics in fish in freshwater and marine environments

This study investigates how osmoregulation and feeding affect microplastic elimination in fish across freshwater and marine environments using Javanese medaka.

Effects of microplastics on Daphnia-associated microbiomes in situ and in vitro

This study examines how microplastics affect Daphnia-associated microbiomes in urban and natural freshwater environments, finding changes in community composition and functional traits linked to MP levels.

Effects of Plastic Ingestion on Blood Chemistry, Gene Expression and Body Condition in Wedge-Tailed Shearwaters (Ardenna Pacifica)

This study examines the sublethal effects of plastic ingestion on Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, finding negative correlations between body weight, gene expression changes, and blood chemistry parameters.

Trophic transfer and bioaccumulation of nanoplastics in Coryphaena hippurus (Mahi-mahi) and effect of depuration

This study examines nanoplastic transfer through a two-step food chain to mahi-mahi larvae and evaluates NP retention and tissue damage after depuration.

Polystyrene nanoplastics promote neurodegeneration by catalyzing TDP43 hyperphosphorylation

This study shows that polystyrene nanoplastics promote neurodegeneration by catalyzing TDP43 hyperphosphorylation in motor neurons.

Isolation of Plastic Digesting Microbes from the Gastrointestinal Tract of Tenebrio Molitor

This study examines how feeding Tenebrio molitor larvae on polystyrene or polyethylene diets affects their gut microbiota's ability to degrade plastics.

The Plastisphere: Marine fungi communities in the plastics age

The paper investigates fungal communities on different plastic types in the North Sea to understand substrate-specific fungal diversity and ecological impacts.

Developmental toxicity of pre-production plastic pellets affects a large swathe of invertebrate taxa

The paper tests the developmental toxicity of plastic pellets on invertebrates from multiple phyla, finding concentration-dependent effects on embryonic development and morphogenesis.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) micro- and nanoplastic particles affect the mitochondrial efficiency of human brain vascular pericytes without inducing oxidative stress

This study investigates the effects of PET micro- and nanoplastics on human brain vascular pericytes, finding no oxidative stress but increased mitochondrial respiration and suggesting a potential mitohormesis response.

Microplastics from disposable paper cups are enriched in the placenta and fetus, leading to metabolic and reproductive toxicity during pregnancy

This study shows that microplastics from disposable paper cups accumulate in mouse placenta and fetus, causing metabolic and reproductive toxicity at exposure levels considered safe.