Microplastics: morphological and genetic developmental effects in a marine invertebrate.

Informazioni relative al progetto

MICRODEV

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 882904

DOI

10.3030/882904

Progetto chiuso

Data della firma CE 6 Marzo 2020

Data di avvio 1 Marzo 2021

Data di completamento 15 Settembre 2023

Finanziato da

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Costo totale

€ 183 473,28

Contributo UE

€ 183 473,28

Coordinato da

STAZIONE ZOOLOGICA ANTON DOHRN
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MICRODEV (Microplastics: morphological and genetic developmental effects in a marine invertebrate.)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-03-01 al 2023-02-28

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

Fifty trillion microplastic particles are floating in the sea. Although microplastics alter the development of a range of marine invertebrates, the consequences of these developmental effects are likely underestimated, and the effects for ecosystems are unknown. No systematic studies have characterized the range of developmental defects elicited by microplastic contamination on marine invertebrates. Using the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus as a model, this project aimed at: (1) explore the morphological and genetic consequences of microplastic exposure on development; (2) identify which characteristics of the plastic particles cause the effects; (3) assess if the effects are specific, altering developmental pathways, or a consequence of general toxicity. This multidisciplinary, novel work will transform our understanding of the effects of microplastic contamination on development, including the underlying genetic mechanisms, and their implications for other animals exposed to MP contamination. Plastic waste is a topic of major societal interest, and media coverage around plastics and marine pollution suggests that this project is of great interest to the general public, and is meant to help stakeholders (fishermen/farmers and third sector (NGOs) along with plastic manufacturers) and regulatory bodies avoid damage to stocks and livelihoods.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

We have shown that new plastic nurdles are able leach harmful chemicals, in particular heavy metals (Zn) that, at high concentrations, disrupt the development of sea urchin embryos. These chemicals produce transcriptomic changes that involve the disruption of major developmental gene regulatory networks as well as metabolic pathways, and challenge axis formation and cell type specification and differentiation in sea urchin larvae (Paganos et al., 2023).
Continuous exposure of adult P. lividus to high concentrations of PVC leachates, containing high amounts of zinc (1µg/g), for two weeks does not affect their capacity to produce embryos and larvae, and fertilisation of eggs can also happen in these conditions. However, embryos grown in contaminated water have higher levels of arrested development at very early stages (before gastrulation) when they are derived from adults that were in contaminated water. We also found that, in contaminated conditions, adults show reduced immune cell counts and increased oxidative stress. Nevertheless, their production of gametes (but not embryogenesis) appears resilient to contaminated water. However, sublethal effects seen in the adults may lead to transgenerational effects that reduce developmental robustness of the embryos. (Jimenez-Guri et al., 2023).
These results have been disseminated in several conferences and meetings, and have been published in open access journals (https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160901 and https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115604). Three more publications are expected to arise from the action.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

This project has progressed knowledge beyond the state of the art by systematically describing morphological effects of plastic leachates contamination in developing embryos, and mechanistically describing transcriptomic changes and metabolic consequences. We also further knowledge in the consequences of plastic leachate toxicity in adult sea urchins and show its implication in the increased oxidative stress of their immune cells. Further results on different species from the morphological and transcriptomic point of view are expected from this project. The results have the potential to greatly benefit the EU and beyond and strongly align to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Strategy on Plastics in a Circular Economy Initiative, which deal with marine litter and the negative impacts on marine-related bio-diversity. Plastic waste is a topic of major societal interest, and media coverage around plastics and marine pollution suggests that this project is of great interest to the general public. Beneficiaries include fishermen/farmers and third sector (NGOs) along with and plastic manufacturers and policy makers.

Pre-production plastic nurdles in the environment

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Morphological and genetic differences between treated and untreated larvae