51
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DeLeo DM, Herrera S, Lengyel SD, Quattrini AM, Kulathinal RJ, Cordes EE. Gene expression profiling reveals deep-sea coral response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:4066-4077. [PMID: 30137660 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Deep-sea coral communities are key components of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and were adversely affected by the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. Coral colonies exposed to oil and dispersant exhibited mortality, damage and physiological signatures of stress. Understanding how corals respond to oil and dispersant exposure at the molecular level is important to elucidate the sublethal effects of the DWH disaster and reveal broader patterns of coral stress responses. Gene expression profiles from RNAseq data were compared between corals at an impacted site and from a reference site. A total of 1,439 differentially expressed genes (≥twofold) were shared among impacted Paramuricea biscaya colonies. Genes involved in oxidative stress, immunity, wound repair, tissue regeneration and metabolism of xenobiotics were significantly differentially expressed in impacted corals. Enrichment among the overexpressed genes indicates the corals were enduring high metabolic demands associated with cellular stress responses and repair mechanisms. Underexpression of genes vital to toxin processing also suggests a diminished capacity to cope with environmental stressors. Our results provide evidence that deep-sea corals exhibited genome-wide cellular stress responses to oil and dispersant exposure and demonstrate the utility of next-generation sequencing for monitoring anthropogenic impacts in deep waters. These analyses will facilitate the development of diagnostic markers for oil and dispersant exposure in deep-sea invertebrates and inform future oil spill response efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M DeLeo
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, Florida
| | - Santiago Herrera
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
| | - Stephen D Lengyel
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Andrea M Quattrini
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Biology, Harvey Mudd College, F.W. Olin Science Center, Claremont, California
| | - Rob J Kulathinal
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Erik E Cordes
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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52
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Palmer CV, Baird AH. Coral tumor-like growth anomalies induce an immune response and reduce fecundity. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2018; 130:77-81. [PMID: 30154275 DOI: 10.3354/dao03258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Coral growth anomalies (GAs) are chronic diseases that adversely affect organism health and fitness. We investigated immunity and fecundity within and among GA-affected and visually healthy control colonies of the reef-building coral Acropora hyacinthus. Compared to controls, GAs had higher activity of the key immunity enzyme phenoloxidase (PO), suggesting a localised immune response within the GA. Both GAs and healthy tissue of GA-affected colonies had significantly greater total potential PO (tpPO)-PO activity inclusive of the activated latent PO, prophenoloxidase-than control colonies. Higher tpPO activity in GA-affected corals suggests elevated constitutive immunity compared to visually healthy controls. Additionally, fewer GA-affected colonies produced gametes, fewer polyps had oocytes (p < 0.001) and the number of oocytes per polyp was lower. Therefore, GAs in A. hyacinthus might induce, or represent a shift in resource investment towards immunity and away from reproduction. While the effect on population growth is likely to be small, reduced fecundity in GA-affected colonies does suggest a selective pressure against GAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline V Palmer
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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53
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Galtier d'Auriac I, Quinn RA, Maughan H, Nothias LF, Little M, Kapono CA, Cobian A, Reyes BT, Green K, Quistad SD, Leray M, Smith JE, Dorrestein PC, Rohwer F, Deheyn DD, Hartmann AC. Before platelets: the production of platelet-activating factor during growth and stress in a basal marine organism. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1307. [PMID: 30111600 PMCID: PMC6111180 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Corals and humans represent two extremely disparate metazoan lineages and are therefore useful for comparative evolutionary studies. Two lipid-based molecules that are central to human immunity, platelet-activating factor (PAF) and Lyso-PAF were recently identified in scleractinian corals. To identify processes in corals that involve these molecules, PAF and Lyso-PAF biosynthesis was quantified in conditions known to stimulate PAF production in mammals (tissue growth and exposure to elevated levels of ultraviolet light) and in conditions unique to corals (competing with neighbouring colonies over benthic space). Similar to observations in mammals, PAF production was higher in regions of active tissue growth and increased when corals were exposed to elevated levels of ultraviolet light. PAF production also increased when corals were attacked by the stinging cells of a neighbouring colony, though only the attacked coral exhibited an increase in PAF. This reaction was observed in adjacent areas of the colony, indicating that this response is coordinated across multiple polyps including those not directly subject to the stress. PAF and Lyso-PAF are involved in coral stress responses that are both shared with mammals and unique to the ecology of cnidarians.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert A Quinn
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | | | - Louis-Felix Nothias
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Mark Little
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Clifford A Kapono
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ana Cobian
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Brandon T Reyes
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Kevin Green
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Steven D Quistad
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA.,Laboratoire de Génétique de l'Evolution (LGE), Institute of Chemistry, Biology, and Innovation, ESPCI ParisTech/CNRS UMR 8231/PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Matthieu Leray
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - Jennifer E Smith
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Pieter C Dorrestein
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Forest Rohwer
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Dimitri D Deheyn
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Aaron C Hartmann
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA .,National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
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Abstract
Climate change is killing coral at an unprecedented rate. As immune systems promote homeostasis and survival of adverse conditions I propose we explore coral health in the context of holobiont immunity. Caroline Palmer proposes the concept of coral holobiont damage thresholds to stimulate research into coral health and immunity as tropical reefs are increasingly threatened by climate change. This framework may be used to develop targeted approaches to coral reef restoration, management and conservation.
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55
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Nie L, Cai SY, Shao JZ, Chen J. Toll-Like Receptors, Associated Biological Roles, and Signaling Networks in Non-Mammals. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1523. [PMID: 30034391 PMCID: PMC6043800 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The innate immune system is the first line of defense against pathogens, which is initiated by the recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and endogenous damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Among all the PRRs identified, the toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the most ancient class, with the most extensive spectrum of pathogen recognition. Since the first discovery of Toll in Drosophila melanogaster, numerous TLRs have been identified across a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species. It seems that TLRs, the signaling pathways that they initiate, or related adaptor proteins are essentially conserved in a wide variety of organisms, from Porifera to mammals. Molecular structure analysis indicates that most TLR homologs share similar domain patterns and that some vital participants of TLR signaling co-evolved with TLRs themselves. However, functional specification and emergence of new signaling pathways, as well as adaptors, did occur during evolution. In addition, ambiguities and gaps in knowledge still exist regarding the TLR network, especially in lower organisms. Hence, a systematic review from the comparative angle regarding this tremendous signaling system and the scenario of evolutionary pattern across Animalia is needed. In the current review, we present overview and possible evolutionary patterns of TLRs in non-mammals, hoping that this will provide clues for further investigations in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Nie
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Shi-Yu Cai
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jian-Zhong Shao
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiong Chen
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
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56
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Fuess LE, Mann WT, Jinks LR, Brinkhuis V, Mydlarz LD. Transcriptional analyses provide new insight into the late-stage immune response of a diseased Caribbean coral. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:172062. [PMID: 29892394 PMCID: PMC5990752 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.172062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Increasing global temperatures due to climate change have resulted in respective increases in the severity and frequency of epizootics around the globe. Corals in particular have faced rapid declines due to disease outbreaks. Understanding immune responses and associated potential life-history trade-offs is therefore a priority. In the autumn of 2011, a novel disease of octocorals of the genus Eunicea was first documented in the Florida Keys. Termed Eunicea Black Disease (EBD), the disease is easily identified by the dark appearance of affected tissue, caused by a strong melanization response on the part of the host. In order to better understand the response of corals to EBD, we conducted full transcriptome analysis of 3 healthy and 3 diseased specimens of Eunicea calyculata collected from offshore southeast Florida. Differential expression and protein analyses revealed a strong, diverse immune response to EBD characterized by phagocytosis, adhesion and melanization on the part of the host. Furthermore, coexpression network analyses suggested this might come at the cost of reduced cell cycle progression and growth. This is in accordance with past histological studies of naturally infected hard corals, suggesting that potential trade-offs during infection may affect post-outbreak recovery of reef ecosystems by reducing both organismal growth and fecundity. Our findings highlight the importance of considering factors beyond mortality when estimating effects of disease outbreaks on ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Fuess
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Whitney T. Mann
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Lea R. Jinks
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Vanessa Brinkhuis
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 8th Avenue SE, St Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Laura D. Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
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57
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Mayfield AB, Chen YJ, Lu CY, Chen CS. The proteomic response of the reef coral Pocillopora acuta to experimentally elevated temperatures. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0192001. [PMID: 29385204 PMCID: PMC5792016 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although most reef-building corals live near the upper threshold of their thermotolerance, some scleractinians are resilient to temperature increases. For instance, Pocillopora acuta specimens from an upwelling habitat in Southern Taiwan survived a nine-month experimental exposure to 30°C, a temperature hypothesized to induce stress. To gain a greater understanding of the molecular pathways underlying such high-temperature acclimation, the protein profiles of experimental controls incubated at 27°C were compared to those of conspecific P. acuta specimens exposed to 30°C for two, four, or eight weeks, and differentially concentrated proteins (DCPs) were removed from the gels and sequenced with mass spectrometry. Sixty unique DCPs were uncovered across both eukaryotic compartments of the P. acuta-dinoflagellate (genus Symbiodinium) mutualism, and Symbiodinium were more responsive to high temperature at the protein-level than the coral hosts in which they resided at the two-week sampling time. Furthermore, proteins involved in the stress response were more likely to be documented at different cellular concentrations across temperature treatments in Symbiodinium, whereas the temperature-sensitive host coral proteome featured numerous proteins involved in cytoskeletal structure, immunity, and metabolism. These proteome-scale data suggest that the coral host and its intracellular dinoflagellates have differing strategies for acclimating to elevated temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson B. Mayfield
- Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, Annapolis, MD, United States of America
- Taiwan Coral Research Center, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
| | - Yi-Jyun Chen
- Taiwan Coral Research Center, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Yu Lu
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Center for Research Resources and Development, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chii-Shiarng Chen
- Taiwan Coral Research Center, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan
- Department of Marine Biotechnology and Resources, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Marine Biotechnology, National Dong-Hwa University, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan
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58
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Mera H, Bourne DG. Disentangling causation: complex roles of coral-associated microorganisms in disease. Environ Microbiol 2017; 20:431-449. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hanaka Mera
- College of Science and Engineering; James Cook University; Townsville Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - David G. Bourne
- College of Science and Engineering; James Cook University; Townsville Queensland 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science; PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland 4810 Australia
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59
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Transcriptomes and expression profiling of deep-sea corals from the Red Sea provide insight into the biology of azooxanthellate corals. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6442. [PMID: 28743941 PMCID: PMC5526985 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05572-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the importance of deep-sea corals, our current understanding of their ecology and evolution is limited due to difficulties in sampling and studying deep-sea environments. Moreover, a recent re-evaluation of habitat limitations has been suggested after characterization of deep-sea corals in the Red Sea, where they live at temperatures of above 20 °C at low oxygen concentrations. To gain further insight into the biology of deep-sea corals, we produced reference transcriptomes and studied gene expression of three deep-sea coral species from the Red Sea, i.e. Dendrophyllia sp., Eguchipsammia fistula, and Rhizotrochus typus. Our analyses suggest that deep-sea coral employ mitochondrial hypometabolism and anaerobic glycolysis to manage low oxygen conditions present in the Red Sea. Notably, we found expression of genes related to surface cilia motion that presumably enhance small particle transport rates in the oligotrophic deep-sea environment. This is the first study to characterize transcriptomes and in situ gene expression for deep-sea corals. Our work offers several mechanisms by which deep-sea corals might cope with the distinct environmental conditions present in the Red Sea As such, our data provide direction for future research and further insight to organismal response of deep-sea coral to environmental change and ocean warming.
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60
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Gajigan AP, Conaco C. A microRNA regulates the response of corals to thermal stress. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:3472-3483. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Revised: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrian P. Gajigan
- Marine Science Institute; University of the Philippines Diliman; Quezon City Philippines
| | - Cecilia Conaco
- Marine Science Institute; University of the Philippines Diliman; Quezon City Philippines
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61
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Populations of the Lizard,Sceloporus occidentalis, that Differ in Melanization have Different Rates of Wound Healing. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 325:491-500. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.2033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Abstract
The evolution of the tumor necrosis factor/tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNF/TNFR) is complicated and not well understood. To date, most TNFR studies have focused on vertebrate models leaving the role of TNFRs in invertebrates largely unexplored. The evolution of important cellular processes including stress response, apoptosis, development, and inflammation will be better understood by examining the TNF/TNFR superfamily in ancient invertebrate phyla. How widespread is this gene family within the evolutionary tree of life and is there evidence for similar function in invertebrates? A first step is to identify the presence or absence of these genes within basal metazoan taxa using the signature cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of the TNFR superfamily. In this perspective, we will start by examining what is currently known about the function of TNFRs in invertebrates. Then, we will assess the role of TNFRs in apoptosis and explore the origins of the domains found in TNFRs including the death domain (DD) and CRD. Finally, we will examine the phylogenetic relationship between TNFRs containing DDs identified to date. From these data, we propose a model for a Precambrian origin of TNFRs and their functional role in apoptosis.
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63
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Anderson DA, Walz ME, Weil E, Tonellato P, Smith MC. RNA-Seq of the Caribbean reef-building coral Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia-Merulinidae) under bleaching and disease stress expands models of coral innate immunity. PeerJ 2016; 4:e1616. [PMID: 26925311 PMCID: PMC4768675 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 01/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change-driven coral disease outbreaks have led to widespread declines in coral populations. Early work on coral genomics established that corals have a complex innate immune system, and whole-transcriptome gene expression studies have revealed mechanisms by which the coral immune system responds to stress and disease. The present investigation expands bioinformatic data available to study coral molecular physiology through the assembly and annotation of a reference transcriptome of the Caribbean reef-building coral, Orbicella faveolata. Samples were collected during a warm water thermal anomaly, coral bleaching event and Caribbean yellow band disease outbreak in 2010 in Puerto Rico. Multiplex sequencing of RNA on the Illumina GAIIx platform and de novo transcriptome assembly by Trinity produced 70,745,177 raw short-sequence reads and 32,463 O. faveolata transcripts, respectively. The reference transcriptome was annotated with gene ontologies, mapped to KEGG pathways, and a predicted proteome of 20,488 sequences was generated. Protein families and signaling pathways that are essential in the regulation of innate immunity across Phyla were investigated in-depth. Results were used to develop models of evolutionarily conserved Wnt, Notch, Rig-like receptor, Nod-like receptor, and Dicer signaling. O. faveolata is a coral species that has been studied widely under climate-driven stress and disease, and the present investigation provides new data on the genes that putatively regulate its immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Anderson
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America; Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Marcus E Walz
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee, Wisconsin , United States of America
| | - Ernesto Weil
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez , Mayagüez, Puerto Rico , United States of America
| | - Peter Tonellato
- Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Matthew C Smith
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , Milwaukee, Wisconsin , United States of America
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64
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Trapani MR, Parisi MG, Parrinello D, Sanfratello MA, Benenati G, Palla F, Cammarata M. Specific inflammatory response of Anemonia sulcata (Cnidaria) after bacterial injection causes tissue reaction and enzymatic activity alteration. J Invertebr Pathol 2016; 135:15-21. [PMID: 26836977 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2016.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Revised: 01/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of multicellular organisms was marked by adaptations to protect against pathogens. The mechanisms for discriminating the ''self'' from ''non-self" have evolved into a long history of cellular and molecular strategies, from damage repair to the co-evolution of host-pathogen interactions. We investigated the inflammatory response in Anemonia sulcata (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) following injection of substances that varied in type and dimension, and observed clear, strong and specific reactions, especially after injection of Escherichia coli and Vibrio alginolyticus. Moreover, we analyzed enzymatic activity of protease, phosphatase and esterase, showing how the injection of different bacterial strains alters the expression of these enzymes and suggesting a correlation between the appearance of the inflammatory reaction and the modification of enzymatic activities. Our study shows for the first time, a specific reaction and enzymatic responses following injection of bacteria in a cnidarian.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Trapani
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - M G Parisi
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - D Parrinello
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - M A Sanfratello
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - G Benenati
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - F Palla
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - M Cammarata
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Palermo, Italy.
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65
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Morgan M, Goodner K, Ross J, Poole AZ, Stepp E, Stuart CH, Wilbanks C, Weil E. Development and application of molecular biomarkers for characterizing Caribbean Yellow Band Disease in Orbicella faveolata. PeerJ 2015; 3:e1371. [PMID: 26557440 PMCID: PMC4636412 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular stress responses associated with coral diseases represent an under-studied area of cnidarian transcriptome investigations. Caribbean Yellow Band Disease (CYBD) is considered a disease of Symbiodinium within the tissues of the coral host Orbicella faveolata. There is a paucity of diagnostic tools to assist in the early detection and characterization of coral diseases. The validity of a diagnostic test is determined by its ability to distinguish host organisms that have the disease from those that do not. The ability to detect and identify disease-affected tissue before visible signs of the disease are evident would then be a useful diagnostic tool for monitoring and managing disease outbreaks. Representational Difference Analysis (RDA) was utilized to isolate differentially expressed genes in O. faveolata exhibiting CYBD. Preliminary screening of RDA products identified a small number of genes of interest (GOI) which included an early growth response factor and ubiquitin ligase from the coral host as well as cytochrome oxidase from the algal symbiont. To further characterize the specificity of response, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was utilized to compare the expression profiles of these GOIs within diseased tissues (visible lesions), tissues that precede visible lesions by 2–4 cm (transition area), and tissues from healthy-looking colonies with no signs of disease. Results show there are distinctive differences in the expression profiles of these three GOIs within each tissue examined. Collectively, this small suite of GOIs can provide a molecular “finger print” which is capable of differentiating between infected and uninfected colonies on reefs where CYBD is known to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Morgan
- Department of Biology, Berry College , Mount Berry, GA , United States
| | - Kylia Goodner
- Department of Genetics, Yale University , New Haven, CT , United States
| | - James Ross
- Department of Biology, Berry College , Mount Berry, GA , United States
| | - Angela Z Poole
- Department of Biology, Western Oregon University , Monmouth, OR , United States
| | - Elizabeth Stepp
- The Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University , Augusta, GA , United States
| | - Christopher H Stuart
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem, NC , United States
| | - Cydney Wilbanks
- Department of Biology, Berry College , Mount Berry, GA , United States
| | - Ernesto Weil
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico , Lajas, Puerto Rico , United States
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66
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Ocampo ID, Zárate-Potes A, Pizarro V, Rojas CA, Vera NE, Cadavid LF. The immunotranscriptome of the Caribbean reef-building coral Pseudodiploria strigosa. Immunogenetics 2015; 67:515-30. [PMID: 26123975 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-015-0854-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The viability of coral reefs worldwide has been seriously compromised in the last few decades due in part to the emergence of coral diseases of infectious nature. Despite important efforts to understand the etiology and the contribution of environmental factors associated to coral diseases, the mechanisms of immune response in corals are just beginning to be studied systematically. In this study, we analyzed the set of conserved immune response genes of the Caribbean reef-building coral Pseudodiploria strigosa by Illumina-based transcriptome sequencing and annotation of healthy colonies challenged with whole live Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Searching the annotated transcriptome with immune-related terms yielded a total of 2782 transcripts predicted to encode conserved immune-related proteins that were classified into three modules: (a) the immune recognition module, containing a wide diversity of putative pattern recognition receptors including leucine-rich repeat-containing proteins, immunoglobulin superfamily receptors, representatives of various lectin families, and scavenger receptors; (b) the intracellular signaling module, containing components from the Toll-like receptor, transforming growth factor, MAPK, and apoptosis signaling pathways; and (3) the effector module, including the C3 and factor B complement components, a variety of proteases and protease inhibitors, and the melanization-inducing phenoloxidase. P. strigosa displays a highly variable and diverse immune recognition repertoire that has likely contributed to its resilience to coral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván D Ocampo
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cr 30 No. 45-08, Bogotá, Colombia
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Seveso D, Montano S, Reggente MA, Orlandi I, Galli P, Vai M. Modulation of Hsp60 in response to coral brown band disease. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2015; 115:15-23. [PMID: 26119296 DOI: 10.3354/dao02871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Brown band disease (BrB), a virulent coral disease characterized by a dense concentration of ciliates ingesting coral tissue, is responsible for ongoing coral losses on Indo-Pacific reefs. Although several efforts have been made to identify the microbial communities associated with BrB and study the disease ecology, less attention has been given to the effect of ciliate presence on coral physiology. Levels of the mitochondrial heat shock protein 60-kDa (Hsp60, a biomarker indicative of cellular stress) were analyzed in apparently healthy coral polyps located at different distances along the advancing front of infection in Acropora muricata colonies affected by BrB in a Maldivian reef. Different Hsp60 levels were found in different parts of the same colony. Starting from a basal protein level in the healthy control colonies, a down-regulation of Hsp60 expression was detected near the ciliate band, indicating that the Hsp60 defense activity was probably already compromised due to the rapid progression rate of the BrB ciliate on the diseased branches and/or to the etiology of the disease. Moving away from the band, the Hsp60 levels gradually returned to a state comparable to that found in the control, showing that cellular damage was confined to areas near the infection. In conclusion, we propose the analysis of Hsp60 modulation as a useful tool for examining physiological variations that are not detected at the morphological level in corals subjected to epizootic diseases, while providing new insights into the immune response of corals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Seveso
- Department of Biotechnologies and Biosciences, University of Milano - Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, Milano 20126, Italy
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Pinzón JH, Kamel B, Burge CA, Harvell CD, Medina M, Weil E, Mydlarz LD. Whole transcriptome analysis reveals changes in expression of immune-related genes during and after bleaching in a reef-building coral. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2015; 2:140214. [PMID: 26064625 PMCID: PMC4448857 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.140214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is negatively affecting the stability of natural ecosystems, especially coral reefs. The dissociation of the symbiosis between reef-building corals and their algal symbiont, or coral bleaching, has been linked to increased sea surface temperatures. Coral bleaching has significant impacts on corals, including an increase in disease outbreaks that can permanently change the entire reef ecosystem. Yet, little is known about the impacts of coral bleaching on the coral immune system. In this study, whole transcriptome analysis of the coral holobiont and each of the associate components (i.e. coral host, algal symbiont and other associated microorganisms) was used to determine changes in gene expression in corals affected by a natural bleaching event as well as during the recovery phase. The main findings include evidence that the coral holobiont and the coral host have different responses to bleaching, and the host immune system appears suppressed even a year after a bleaching event. These results support the hypothesis that coral bleaching changes the expression of innate immune genes of corals, and these effects can last even after recovery of symbiont populations. Research on the role of immunity on coral's resistance to stressors can help make informed predictions on the future of corals and coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge H. Pinzón
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX 76016, USA
- Author for correspondence: Jorge H. Pinzón e-mail:
| | - Bishoy Kamel
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802, USA
| | - Colleen A. Burge
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Baltimore County Columbus Center, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
| | - C. Drew Harvell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Mónica Medina
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802, USA
| | - Ernesto Weil
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico—Mayagüez, La Parguera, PR 00865, USA
| | - Laura D. Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX 76016, USA
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Thompson JR, Rivera HE, Closek CJ, Medina M. Microbes in the coral holobiont: partners through evolution, development, and ecological interactions. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2015; 4:176. [PMID: 25621279 PMCID: PMC4286716 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2014.00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last two decades, genetic and genomic studies have revealed the astonishing diversity and ubiquity of microorganisms. Emergence and expansion of the human microbiome project has reshaped our thinking about how microbes control host health-not only as pathogens, but also as symbionts. In coral reef environments, scientists have begun to examine the role that microorganisms play in coral life history. Herein, we review the current literature on coral-microbe interactions within the context of their role in evolution, development, and ecology. We ask the following questions, first posed by McFall-Ngai et al. (2013) in their review of animal evolution, with specific attention to how coral-microbial interactions may be affected under future environmental conditions: (1) How do corals and their microbiome affect each other's genomes? (2) How does coral development depend on microbial partners? (3) How is homeostasis maintained between corals and their microbial symbionts? (4) How can ecological approaches deepen our understanding of the multiple levels of coral-microbial interactions? Elucidating the role that microorganisms play in the structure and function of the holobiont is essential for understanding how corals maintain homeostasis and acclimate to changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janelle R. Thompson
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hanny E. Rivera
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionWoods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Collin J. Closek
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, PA, USA
| | - Mónica Medina
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity Park, PA, USA
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Traylor-Knowles N, Palumbi SR. Translational environmental biology: cell biology informing conservation. Trends Cell Biol 2014; 24:265-7. [PMID: 24766840 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2014.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Typically, findings from cell biology have been beneficial for preventing human disease. However, translational applications from cell biology can also be applied to conservation efforts, such as protecting coral reefs. Recent efforts to understand the cell biological mechanisms maintaining coral health such as innate immunity and acclimatization have prompted new developments in conservation. Similar to biomedicine, we urge that future efforts should focus on better frameworks for biomarker development to protect coral reefs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki Traylor-Knowles
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA.
| | - Stephen R Palumbi
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
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71
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Work T, Meteyer C. To understand coral disease, look at coral cells. ECOHEALTH 2014; 11:610-8. [PMID: 24723160 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-014-0931-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Revised: 03/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Diseases threaten corals globally, but 40 years on their causes remain mostly unknown. We hypothesize that inconsistent application of a complete diagnostic approach to coral disease has contributed to this slow progress. We quantified methods used to investigate coral disease in 492 papers published between 1965 and 2013. Field surveys were used in 65% of the papers, followed by biodetection (43%), laboratory trials (20%), microscopic pathology (21%), and field trials (9%). Of the microscopic pathology efforts, 57% involved standard histopathology at the light microscopic level (12% of the total investigations), with the remainder dedicated to electron or fluorescence microscopy. Most (74%) biodetection efforts focused on culture or molecular characterization of bacteria or fungi from corals. Molecular and immunological tools have been used to incriminate infectious agents (mainly bacteria) as the cause of coral diseases without relating the agent to specific changes in cell and tissue pathology. Of 19 papers that declared an infectious agent as a cause of disease in corals, only one (5%) used microscopic pathology, and none fulfilled all of the criteria required to satisfy Koch's postulates as applied to animal diseases currently. Vertebrate diseases of skin and mucosal surfaces present challenges similar to corals when trying to identify a pathogen from a vast array of environmental microbes, and diagnostic approaches regularly used in these cases might provide a model for investigating coral diseases. We hope this review will encourage specialists of disease in domestic animals, wildlife, fish, shellfish, and humans to contribute to the emerging field of coral disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Work
- Honolulu Field Station, National Wildlife Health Center, US Geological Survey, PO Box 50167, Honolulu, HI, 96850, USA,
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Vidal-Dupiol J, Dheilly NM, Rondon R, Grunau C, Cosseau C, Smith KM, Freitag M, Adjeroud M, Mitta G. Thermal stress triggers broad Pocillopora damicornis transcriptomic remodeling, while Vibrio coralliilyticus infection induces a more targeted immuno-suppression response. PLoS One 2014; 9:e107672. [PMID: 25259845 PMCID: PMC4178034 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 08/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Global change and its associated temperature increase has directly or indirectly changed the distributions of hosts and pathogens, and has affected host immunity, pathogen virulence and growth rates. This has resulted in increased disease in natural plant and animal populations worldwide, including scleractinian corals. While the effects of temperature increase on immunity and pathogen virulence have been clearly identified, their interaction, synergy and relative weight during pathogenesis remain poorly documented. We investigated these phenomena in the interaction between the coral Pocillopora damicornis and the bacterium Vibrio coralliilyticus, for which the infection process is temperature-dependent. We developed an experimental model that enabled unraveling the effects of thermal stress, and virulence vs. non-virulence of the bacterium. The physiological impacts of various treatments were quantified at the transcriptome level using a combination of RNA sequencing and targeted approaches. The results showed that thermal stress triggered a general weakening of the coral, making it more prone to infection, non-virulent bacterium induced an ‘efficient’ immune response, whereas virulent bacterium caused immuno-suppression in its host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremie Vidal-Dupiol
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- * E-mail:
| | - Nolwenn M. Dheilly
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
| | - Rodolfo Rondon
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Reponse Immunitaire des Macroorganismes et Environnement, Ecologie des Systèmes Marins côtiers, UMR 5119 CNRS-Ifremer-UM2, Montpellier, France
| | - Christoph Grunau
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
| | - Céline Cosseau
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
| | - Kristina M. Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Michael Freitag
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Mehdi Adjeroud
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Unité 227 CoRéUs2 “Biocomplexité des écosystèmes coralliens de l’Indo-Pacifique”, Laboratoire d’excellence CORAIL, Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Guillaume Mitta
- CNRS, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
- Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Ecologie et Evolution des Interactions, UMR 5244, Perpignan, France
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Pinzón C. JH, Beach-Letendre J, Weil E, Mydlarz LD. Relationship between phylogeny and immunity suggests older Caribbean coral lineages are more resistant to disease. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104787. [PMID: 25133685 PMCID: PMC4136782 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases affect coral species fitness and contribute significantly to the deterioration of coral reefs. The increase in frequency and severity of disease outbreaks has made evaluating and determining coral resistance a priority. Phylogenetic patterns in immunity and disease can provide important insight to how corals may respond to current and future environmental and/or biologically induced diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine if immunity, number of diseases and disease prevalence show a phylogenetic signal among Caribbean corals. We characterized the constitutive levels of six distinct innate immune traits in 14 Caribbean coral species and tested for the presence of a phylogenetic signal on each trait. Results indicate that constitutive levels of some individual immune related processes (i.e. melanin concentration, peroxidase and inhibition of bacterial growth), as well as their combination show a phylogenetic signal. Additionally, both the number of diseases affecting each species and disease prevalence (as measures of disease burden) show a significant phylogenetic signal. The phylogenetic signal of immune related processes, combined with estimates of species divergence times, indicates that among the studied species, those belonging to older lineages tend to resist/fight infections better than more recently diverged coral lineages. This result, combined with the increasing stressful conditions on corals in the Caribbean, suggest that future reefs in the region will likely be dominated by older lineages while modern species may face local population declines and/or geographic extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge H. Pinzón C.
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Joshuah Beach-Letendre
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ernesto Weil
- Department of Marine Sciences University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, United States of America
| | - Laura D. Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America
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Corals and their potential applications to integrative medicine. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2014; 2014:184959. [PMID: 24757491 PMCID: PMC3976867 DOI: 10.1155/2014/184959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the last few years, we have pursued the use and exploitation of invertebrate immune systems, most notably their humoral products, to determine what effects their complex molecules might exert on humans, specifically their potential for therapeutic applications. This endeavor, called “bioprospecting,” is an emerging necessity for biomedical research. In order to treat the currently “untreatable,” or to discover more efficient treatment modalities, all options and potential sources must be exhausted so that we can provide the best care to patients, that is, proceed from forest and ocean ecosystems through the laboratory to the bedside. Here, we review current research findings that have yielded therapeutic benefits, particularly as derived from soft and hard corals. Several applications have already been demonstrated, including anti-inflammatory properties, anticancer properties, bone repair, and neurological benefits.
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Anderson DA, Armstrong RA, Weil E. Hyperspectral sensing of disease stress in the Caribbean reef-building coral, Orbicella faveolata - perspectives for the field of coral disease monitoring. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81478. [PMID: 24324697 PMCID: PMC3852271 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The effectiveness of management plans developed for responding to coral disease outbreaks is limited due to the lack of rapid methods of disease diagnosis. In order to fulfill current management guidelines for responding to coral disease outbreaks, alternative methods that significantly reduce response time must be developed. Hyperspectral sensing has been used by various groups to characterize the spectral signatures unique to asymptomatic and bleached corals. The 2010 combined bleaching and Caribbean yellow band disease outbreak in Puerto Rico provided a unique opportunity to investigate the spectral signatures associated with bleached and Caribbean yellow band-diseased colonies of Orbicella faveolata for the first time. Using derivative and cluster analyses of hyperspectral reflectance data, the present study demonstrates the proof of concept that spectral signatures can be used to differentiate between coral disease states. This method enhanced predominant visual methods of diagnosis by distinguishing between different asymptomatic conditions that are identical in field observations and photographic records. The ability to identify disease-affected tissue before lesions become visible could greatly reduce response times to coral disease outbreaks in monitoring efforts. Finally, spectral signatures associated with the poorly understood Caribbean yellow band disease are presented to guide future research on the role of pigments in the etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A. Anderson
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
- * E-mail:
| | - Roy A. Armstrong
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| | - Ernesto Weil
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
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Burge CA, Mouchka ME, Harvell CD, Roberts S. Immune response of the Caribbean sea fan, Gorgonia ventalina, exposed to an Aplanochytrium parasite as revealed by transcriptome sequencing. Front Physiol 2013; 4:180. [PMID: 23898300 PMCID: PMC3722494 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2013.00180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2013] [Accepted: 06/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reef communities are undergoing marked declines due to a variety of stressors including disease. The sea fan coral, Gorgonia ventalina, is a tractable study system to investigate mechanisms of immunity to a naturally occurring pathogen. Functional studies in Gorgonia ventalina immunity indicate that several key pathways and cellular components are involved in response to natural microbial invaders, although to date the functional and regulatory pathways remain largely un-described. This study used short-read sequencing (Illumina GAIIx) to identify genes involved in the response of G. ventalina to a naturally occurring Aplanochytrium spp. parasite. De novo assembly of the G. ventalina transcriptome yielded 90,230 contigs of which 40,142 were annotated. RNA-Seq analysis revealed 210 differentially expressed genes in sea fans exposed to the Aplanochytrium parasite. Differentially expressed genes involved in immunity include pattern recognition molecules, anti-microbial peptides, and genes involved in wound repair and reactive oxygen species formation. Gene enrichment analysis indicated eight biological processes were enriched representing 36 genes, largely involved with protein translation and energy production. This is the first report using high-throughput sequencing to characterize the host response of a coral to a natural pathogen. Furthermore, we have generated the first transcriptome for a soft (octocoral or non-scleractinian) coral species. Expression analysis revealed genes important in invertebrate innate immune pathways, as well as those whose role is previously un-described in cnidarians. This resource will be valuable in characterizing G. ventalina immune response to infection and co-infection of pathogens in the context of environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen A. Burge
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, USA
| | - Morgan E. Mouchka
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, USA
| | - C. Drew Harvell
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, USA
| | - Steven Roberts
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of WashingtonSeattle, WA, USA
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Weiss Y, Forêt S, Hayward DC, Ainsworth T, King R, Ball EE, Miller DJ. The acute transcriptional response of the coral Acropora millepora to immune challenge: expression of GiMAP/IAN genes links the innate immune responses of corals with those of mammals and plants. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:400. [PMID: 23768317 PMCID: PMC3723955 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2012] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background As a step towards understanding coral immunity we present the first whole transcriptome analysis of the acute responses of Acropora millepora to challenge with the bacterial cell wall derivative MDP and the viral mimic poly I:C, defined immunogens provoking distinct but well characterised responses in higher animals. Results These experiments reveal similarities with the responses both of arthropods and mammals, as well as coral-specific effects. The most surprising finding was that MDP specifically induced three members of the GiMAP gene family, which has been implicated in immunity in mammals but is absent from Drosophila and Caenorhabditis. Like their mammalian homologs, GiMAP genes are arranged in a tandem cluster in the coral genome. Conclusions A phylogenomic survey of this gene family implies ancient origins, multiple independent losses and lineage-specific expansions during animal evolution. Whilst functional convergence cannot be ruled out, GiMAP expression in corals may reflect an ancestral role in immunity, perhaps in phagolysosomal processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Weiss
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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