Work

From Compensation to Collapse: UVB-Driven Disruption of Host–Microbiota Homeostasis Exacerbates Amphibian Ecological Risk

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: , with its cutaneous respiration and limited photoprotective mechanisms, exhibits high sensitivity to UVB, making it a suitable model for ecotoxicological studies. While UVB is known to cause DNA damage, immune suppression, and microbial dysbiosis, its mechanisms in multi-organ interactions, dose-response thresholds, and host-microbiome regulatory networks remain poorly understood. This study employed a gradient UVB exposure regime integrated with histopathology, oxidative stress assays, and 16S rRNA sequencing to systematically evaluate the effects of UVB on (1) cascade damage across skin, liver, and intestinal barriers; (2) immune cell distribution; (3) redox dynamics; and (4) microbial community structure and function. Our findings demonstrate that low-dose UVB activated compensatory antioxidant defenses without structural disruption, whereas exposure beyond a critical threshold induced nonlinear redox collapse, microbial dysbiosis, and multi-organ barrier failure, collectively exacerbating ecological adaptation risks. These results reveal a cross-scale mechanism by which UVB impairs amphibian health via disruption of host-microbe homeostasis, providing a conceptual and empirical framework for assessing species vulnerability under ongoing climate change.

Source: Animals

DOI: 10.3390/ani15223236

Authors: Zi’ao Yuan, Jirui Fei, Siqi Li, Yueluan Wu, Peng Liu

Institution: Harbin Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896