Identification of a cathepsin D potentially involved in H2A cleavage from scallop Chlamys farreri

Mytilus galloprovincialis releases immunologically functional haemocytes to the intervalvar space in response to tissue injury and infection

Haemocytes of Mytilus galloprovincialis represent the main component of the internal self-defence system. Although haemocytes from haemolymph are usually studied to analyse these animals' immune response, the presence of haemocytes in the intervalvar liquid, which is essentially sea water, led us to characterize them. Several functional (ROS production, phagocytosis, gene expression, travel velocity and distance) and morphological (area, size and granularity) assays were performed by applying different stimuli to the mussels (waterborne infection, shell injury and their combination). Our results revealed that intervalvar liquid haemocytes share common characteristics with haemolymph haemocytes (for instance, the cell morphology and the cell population structure divided in three main groups) but also show significant differences in size (usually smaller in the intervalvar liquid), mobility (commonly faster in the intervalvar liquid), ROS production (higher in non-stimulated intervalvar liquid cells) and gene expression (IL17, Myd88 and CathL are over expressed in liquid intervalvar cells compared to haemolymph cells). Moreover, differences were observed when mussels were subjected to the mentioned treatments. These free intervalvar haemocytes could constitute the first line of defence as external sentinels extending the immunological alert system outside of the mussel body.

The transcriptomic response of Hyphantria cunea (Drury) to the infection of Serratia marcescens Bizio based on full-length SMRT transcriptome sequencing

Hyphantria cunea (Drury) is a globally important forest pest. We found that the Serratia marcescens Bizio strain SM1 had insecticidal activity against H. cunea, but the transcriptomic response of H. cunea to SM1 were not clear. Therefore, we performed full-length sequencing of the transcriptomes of H. cunea larvae infected with SM1 and the control group. A total of 1,183 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by comparing the group infected with SM1 and the control group, including 554 downregulated genes and 629 upregulated genes. We found many downregulated genes in metabolic pathways. Furthermore, some of these downregulated genes were involved in cellular immunity, melanization, and detoxification enzymes, which showed that SM1 weakened H. cunea immunity. In addition, genes in the juvenile hormone synthesis pathway were upregulated, which was detrimental to the survival of H. cunea. This research analyzed the transcriptomic response of H. cunea to SM1 by high-throughput full-length transcriptome sequencing. The results provide useful information to explore the relationship between S. marcescens and H. cunea, and theoretical support for the application of S. marcescens and the control of H. cunea in the future.

Genomic and transcriptomic identification of the cathepsin superfamily in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Cathepsins are lysosomal enzymes that participate in important physiological processes, such as development, tissue remodelling, senescence and innate and adaptive immunity. The description of these proteins in molluscs is fragmented and incomplete. In the present work, we identified most of the cathepsin family members in the bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis by screening published genomic and transcriptomic information. In this specie, the cathepsin family is composed of 41 proteins showing a high diversification of cathepsins D, L and F, not previously observed in other taxonomic groups. Specific set of cathepsins are constitutively expressed in the different mussel tissues. Transcriptomic analyses suggested coordinated activity of the different cathepsins and their sequential activation during larval development. Cathepsins also play an important role in the immune response of bivalves, and different immune pathways seem to be activated in response to Vibrio splendidus infection.

Effects of benzo(a)pyrene on differentially expressed genes and haemocyte parameters of the clam Venerupis philippinarum

In this study a suppression subtractive hybridisation method was employed to identify differentially expressed genes of the clam Venerupis philippinarum exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). Nineteen known transcripts and seven predicted proteins were found from the subtractive cDNA library of the clam, which could provide more sequence information for further study. Seven of the differentially expressed genes were selected for mRNA expression analysis. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that the expression level of the selected cDNAs of clams was up-regulated to varying degrees by different concentration of BaP. They are suggested as potential molecular biomarkers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution monitoring in aquatic ecosystems. In addition, haemocyte parameters were also measured, and a decrease of total haemocyte counts and suppression of antibacterial and bacteriolytic activities were detected in BaP-stressed clams. We suggest that the modulation of the expression of the selected genes caused by PAHs probably leads to the disturbance of the immune defense of the clam. Meanwhile, the adverse effects of PAHs on haemocyte parameters caused the suppression of the immune defense and susceptibility to infectious diseases. Therefore, it is inferred that PAHs pollutants could interact with components of the immune system and interferes with defense functions of the clam V. philippinarum.