Insight into the immune and microbial response of the white-leg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei to microplastics. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Zhenlu; Fan, Lanfen; Wang, Jun; Xie, Shaolin; Zhang, Chaonan; Zhou, Jiang; Zhang, Li; Xu, Guohuan; Zou, Jixing
• Is Part Of: Marine environmental research. Volume 169(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Microplastics -- Litopenaeus vannamei -- Immunity -- Microflora; Marine pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Marine ecology -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Écologie marine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 577.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105377
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-1136

Abstract

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) are a new type of environmental pollutant. To investigate the response of shrimp and their microflora to MPs, Litopenaeus vannamei ( L. vannamei ) was exposed to different concentrations of MPs (0, 50, 500, and 5000 μg/L, i.e., C, L, M and H groups) for 48 h. The survival rate, intake of MPs, immune-related gene expression and microbial response under MP exposure were detected. The results showed that the survival rate in the H group was significantly lower than those in the C, L and M groups, while the relative expression levels of proPO, TLR and ALF in the M and H groups were significantly higher than those in the C and L groups. For the microbial response, microbial community richness in the L group was significantly decreased, while community richness and diversity in the H group were significantly increased compared with those in the C group. The relative abundances of 3, 4 and 11 taxa were significantly changed after MP treatment at the phylum, class and genus levels, respectively. The results suggested that short-term exposure to low concentrations of MPs did not cause immune defense responses or death but affected the balance of bacterial composition in shrimp. Exposure to high concentrations of MPs can induce immune responses and microbial changes and can even cause death in shrimp. These findings increase our understanding of MP impacts on aquatic organisms. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Shrimp microflora are more sensitive to low concentration of microplastics. High concentrations of microplastics may cause shrimp death. Microplastics may induce the immune response and microbial dysbiosis of shrimp.