Article
Environmental Sciences
J. M. Goncalves, M. Benedetti, G. d'Errico, F. Regoli, M. J. Bebianno
Summary: Concerns about plastic pollution and toxicity towards animals and people are increasing. Polystyrene (PS), a commonly used plastic polymer, ends up in the marine environment through illegal dumping, improper waste management, and lack of treatment. Nanoplastics (<1000 nm) have gained interest due to their small size that allows them to cross cellular boundaries and cause toxic effects. This study examined the cellular viability and acute toxicity of PS nano-plastics (PS-NPs) on Mytilus galloprovincialis haemocytes and Aliivibrio fischeri bacteria, as well as the neurotoxic effects and uptake of PS-NPs in mussel tissues. The results showed decreased cellular viability and significant neurotoxic effects, with PS-NPs being ingested primarily through the gills and then translocated throughout the mussel's body. The ingestion of PS-NPs compromised digestive gland function and reproductive success. The study provides a synthetic assessment of cellular hazard from PS-NPs based on weighted criteria and previous data on cellular biomarkers.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Ioannis Georgoulis, Christian Bock, Gisela Lannig, Hans O. Portner, Inna M. Sokolova, Konstantinos Feidantsis, Ioannis A. Giantsis, Basile Michaelidis
Summary: This study investigates the stress memory effect of heat hardening on M. galloprovincialis metabolite profile, aiming to identify the underlying biochemical mechanisms that enhance mussels' thermal tolerance.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rodrigo Alvarez-Ruiz, Yolanda Pico, Julian Campo
Summary: This study assessed the bioaccumulation of 20 chemical substances catalogued as ECs in Mytilus galloprovincialis, showing the accumulation of certain substances in the visceral mass and haemolymph of mussels, with MPs acting as a vector for the accumulation of PFASs.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joanna M. Goncalves, Vania Serrao Sousa, Margarida Ribau Teixeira, Maria Joao Bebianno
Summary: This study examined the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on marine mussels and found that nanoplastics induce genotoxicity and oxidative damage in these organisms, overwhelming antioxidant enzymes and causing tissue-dependent toxicity over time. The results suggest that mussel tissues are incapable of coping with the adverse effects of nanoplastics.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Deliang Yu, Zheng Peng, Huifeng Wu, Xiaoying Zhang, Chenglong Ji, Xiao Peng
Summary: In this study, differentially expressed miRNAs in blue mussels exposed to cadmium were identified through small RNA sequencing. The research revealed significant changes in the expression of known and novel miRNAs, as well as target genes related to immune defense, apoptosis, lipid and xenobiotic metabolism under Cd stress. This study provides insights into the role of miRNAs in mollusk species under environmental stress, particularly in response to heavy metal exposure.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vanessa Queiros, Ulisses M. Azeiteiro, Marta Casado Belloso, Juan Luis Santos, Esteban Alonso, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Rosa Freitas, Benjamin Pina, Carlos Barata
Summary: Coastal ecosystems are facing threats from pollutants and climate change, particularly the increasing use of antineoplastic drugs and their potential release into aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the transcription of specific genes in Mytilus galloprovincialis gills exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of Ifosfamide and cisplatin under different temperature scenarios. The results showed that the drugs upregulated genes related to DNA damage and apoptosis, and warmer temperatures further enhanced these effects.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ayesha Rafiq, Marco Capolupo, Giulia Addesse, Paola Valbonesi, Elena Fabbri
Summary: Antidepressants are commonly found in marine coastal waters, with concentrations in the low ng/L range. This study evaluated the effects of four antidepressants on mussels, finding that these drugs can impact reproduction and larval development, and primarily target lysosomal functions, leading to accumulation of neurochemicals in the digestive gland.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Paula Masia, Alba Ardura, Eva Garcia-Vazquez
Summary: Due to marine pollution, there is an increasing risk of consumers ingesting microplastics through seafood. This study quantified and analyzed microplastics in mussels and table salt from the Bay of Biscay in Spain using Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy. The microplastics content varied in mussels depending on the pollution level of the collection point, while it was much lower in table salt. Chemicals found in microplastics were classified as hazardous to human health. There was a significant correlation between microplastics in sand and mussels, indicating that the risk of microplastics ingestion depends on the harvesting area. It is recommended to regularly analyze microplastics in mussels and disclose their content on seafood labels for informed consumption.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Giovanni Luca Russo, Antonio Luca Langellotti, Gabriele Buonocunto, Sharon Puleo, Rossella Di Monaco, Aniello Anastasio, Valeria Vuoso, Giorgio Smaldone, Marco Baselice, Federico Capuano, Francesca Garofalo, Paolo Masi
Summary: This study investigates the effects of cooking temperatures, freeze-thaw processes, and food preservatives on the quality and shelf-life of sous vide Mediterranean mussels. The study found that higher cooking temperatures improved microbiological quality and refrigerated mussels maintained taste comparability to freshly cooked samples. Freezing and slow thawing preserved moisture content and reheating frozen samples via microwaving resulted in more intense flavor. Food additives reduced spoilage and lipid oxidation, inhibited bacterial growth, and maintained acceptable nitrogen content. The study provides valuable insights for optimizing cooking and preservation methods for sous vide cooked seafood.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Federica Salatiello, Marco Gerdol, Alberto Pallavicini, Annamaria Locascio, Maria Sirakov
Summary: This study investigated the transcriptome of the bivalve mollusk Mytilus galloprovincialis to identify suitable reference genes for gene expression analyses. Through genome-wide bioinformatics analysis, the Act/Cyp-A gene pair was identified as the most appropriate for gene expression analysis across different tissues.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Juan Blanco, Carmen Marino, Helena Martin, Gonzalo Alvarez, Araceli E. Rossignoli
Summary: The study revealed that the uptake of domoic acid by Mytilus galloprovincialis appears to follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with a transporter mechanism that is not dependent on chlorides.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Neza Koritnik, Marco Gerdol, Gasper Solinc, Tomaz Svigelj, Simon Caserman, Franci Merzel, Ellie Holden, Justin L. P. Benesch, Francesco Trenti, Graziano Guella, Alberto Pallavicini, Maria Vittoria Modica, Marjetka Podobnik, Gregor Anderluh
Summary: Pore-forming toxins are important components in the venom of many animals. In this study, researchers discovered 27 unique actinoporin-like genes in Mytilus galloprovincialis, a type of mussel. They named these genes mytiporins. The researchers found that mytiporins exhibited significant molecular diversity and gene presence-absence variation. They also characterized one of the mytiporins, mytiporin-1, and found that it had weaker permeabilization activity and a different pore structure compared to the typical actinoporin fragaceatoxin C. The findings suggest that mytiporins may play a role in digestive processes or mucosal immunity.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
I. Bernardini, J. Fabrello, M. Vecchiato, S. Ferraresso, M. Babbucci, L. Peruzza, G. Dalla Rovere, L. Masiero, M. G. Marin, L. Bargelloni, A. Gambaro, T. Patarnello, V. Matozzo, M. Milan
Summary: This study provides the first overview on the effects of AS on one of the most widely farmed mollusk species, showing that high concentrations of AS can disrupt key cellular processes while low concentrations can lead to transcriptional changes and transient increase of opportunistic pathogens.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Imen Bouzidi, Anis Fkiri, Badreddine Sellami, Abdel Halim Harrath, Fehmi Boufahja, Amine Mezni, Loic Vidal, Cyril Vaulot, Ludovic Josien, Hamouda Beyrem, Karine Mougin
Summary: The study found that composite nanoparticles composed of different materials have a good photocatalytic degradation effect on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, while also having a certain impact on marine organisms, possibly causing oxidative stress responses.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Z. Jaksic, T. Bulic, M. Micic, A. Gavrilovic
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the physiological fitness and survival rate of Mediterranean mussels under acute exposure to high ammonia concentrations, as well as the changes in haemocyte population and biochemical parameters. The results showed that mussels have an inherent response to ammonia exposure, and the modulation of haemocyte population structure may serve as a bioindicator for mussels exposed to high ammonia concentrations.
