Microplastics: A tissue-specific threat to microbial community and biomarkers of discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus)

Jun-Nan Huang; Yuan Zhang; Lei Xu; Kai-Xuan He; Bin Wen; Pei-Wen Yang; Jie-Yu Ding; Jing-Ze Li; Huan-Chao Ma; Jian-Zhong Gao; Zai-Zhong Chen

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127751

Microplastics: A tissue-specific threat to microbial community and biomarkers of discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus)

J Hazard Mater. 2022 Feb 15;424(Pt D):127751. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127751. Epub 2021 Nov 10.

Authors

Jun-Nan Huang¹, Yuan Zhang¹, Lei Xu¹, Kai-Xuan He¹, Bin Wen², Pei-Wen Yang³, Jie-Yu Ding³, Jing-Ze Li³, Huan-Chao Ma³, Jian-Zhong Gao⁴, Zai-Zhong Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
² Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; National Demonstration Centre for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address: bwen@shou.edu.cn.
³ National Demonstration Centre for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; National Demonstration Centre for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
⁵ Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Collaborative Innovation for Aquatic Animal Genetics and Breeding, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Centre of Aquaculture, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; National Demonstration Centre for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China. Electronic address: chenzz@shou.edu.cn.

PMID: 34799162
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127751

Abstract

As detriments in aquatic environments, microplastics (MPs) have been commonly studied on organisms, but tissue-scale effects of MPs were poorly understood. Discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus), herewith, were exposed to polystyrene MPs (0/20/200 μg/L) for 28 d. We found that MPs significantly inhibited growth performance. MPs were observed in skin, gill and intestine after 14/28-d exposure. MPs bioaccumulation was independent of exposure time, but increased with MPs concentrations. Microbial community diversity of fish gill, but not skin and intestine, in MPs treatments was significantly increased. Bacterial community of MP-treated skin and gill were obviously separated from control. Skin dominant phyla changed from Actinobacteriota to Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Proteobacteria gradually occupied dominance in gill after exposure. Furthermore, MPs-induced skin oxidative stress was demonstrated by the activation of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Skin malondialdehyde also increased and showed significant correlations with four bacterial phyla, e.g., Proteobacteria. Gill Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity decreased, strongly correlating to microbial community changes caused by MPs. Intestinal digestive enzymes activity (pepsin, lipase and α-amylase) reduced, revealing correlation with bacterial community especially Fibrobacterota. These results suggest a tissue-specific effect of MPs to microbial community and biomarkers in aquatic organism.

Keywords: Fish skin; Microbiota community; Microparticle; Tissue-specific.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Biomarkers
Cichlids*
Microbiota*
Microplastics
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / toxicity

Substances

Biomarkers
Microplastics
Plastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical