Environmental antibiotics in wastewater disrupt zebrafish embryonic development via Wnt/β-catenin signaling: mechanistic insights and implications for risk assessment.
Zhu H, Lan X, Zhou K, Huang H, Song X
Summary
PubMedAntibiotic residues from wastewater are contaminating aquatic environments and disrupting fish embryonic development through molecular signaling pathways. Advanced wastewater treatment and molecular-based monitoring frameworks are needed to protect aquatic ecosystems.
chevron_right Technical Details
Key Findings
Meta-analysis of 121 studies identified amoxicillin, trimethoprim, and norfloxacin as the highest-priority antibiotic contaminants in WWTP effluents
Zebrafish embryos exposed to environmentally relevant antibiotic concentrations showed dose-dependent developmental toxicity including pericardial edema, oxidative stress, and impaired cardiac function
CRISPR interference targeting Wnt1 attenuated cardiac malformations and apoptosis, establishing Wnt/β-catenin dysregulation as the mechanistic link between antibiotic exposure and developmental toxicity
Original Abstract
Antibiotic residues in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are a matter of global environmental health concern. This study combined global WWTP monitoring data with epidemiological modeling and zebrafish embryo assays to assess developmental risks. A meta-analysis of 121 studies identified amoxicillin, trimethoprim and norfloxacin as high priority contaminants. Ecological modeling using generalized additive models (GAM) revealed a statistical association between effluent antibiotic levels and neonatal disease incidence. Zebrafish exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations exhibited dose-dependent developmental toxicity, including pericardial edema, oxidative stress, and impaired cardiac function. Molecular analysis indicated dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, with Wnt1 upregulation mediating toxic effects. Functional validation using CRISPR interference targeting wnt1 attenuated cardiac malformations and apoptosis, while docking simulations confirmed strong antibiotic-Wnt1 binding. These findings establish a mechanistic link between environmental antibiotic exposure and developmental toxicity and underscore the potential of Wnt1 as a biomarker for ecological risk assessment. This work supports the need for advanced tertiary treatment strategies and molecular-based monitoring frameworks.
This connects to 6 other discoveries — 0 species, 1 topics, 5 related articles