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Schwaner C, Farhat S, Boutet I, Tanguy A, Barbosa M, Grouzdev D, Pales Espinosa E, Allam B. Combination of RNAseq and RADseq to Identify Physiological and Adaptive Responses to Acidification in the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica). MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 25:997-1019. [PMID: 37864760 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-023-10255-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Ocean acidification (OA) is a major stressor threatening marine calcifiers, including the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). In this paper, we provide insight into the molecular mechanisms associated with resilience to OA, with the dual intentions of probing both acclimation and adaptation potential in this species. C. virginica were spawned, and larvae were reared in control or acidified conditions immediately after fertilization. RNA samples were collected from larvae and juveniles, and DNA samples were collected from juveniles after undergoing OA-induced mortality and used to contrast gene expression (RNAseq) and SNP (ddRADseq) profiles from animals reared under both conditions. Results showed convergence of evidence from both approaches, particularly in genes involved in biomineralization that displayed significant changes in variant frequencies and gene expression levels among juveniles that survived acidification as compared to controls. Downregulated genes were related to immune processes, supporting previous studies demonstrating a reduction in immunity from exposure to OA. Acclimation to OA via regulation of gene expression might confer short-term resilience to immediate threats; however, the costs may not be sustainable, underscoring the importance of selection of resilient genotypes. Here, we identified SNPs associated with survival under OA conditions, suggesting that this commercially and ecologically important species might have the genetic variation needed for adaptation to future acidification. The identification of genetic features associated with OA resilience is a highly-needed step for the development of marker-assisted selection of oyster stocks for aquaculture and restoration activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Schwaner
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790, USA
| | - Sarah Farhat
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790, USA
- Institut Systématique Evolution Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, Université des Antilles, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Boutet
- Station Biologique de Roscoff, CNRS/Sorbonne Université, Place Georges Teissier 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Arnaud Tanguy
- Station Biologique de Roscoff, CNRS/Sorbonne Université, Place Georges Teissier 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Michelle Barbosa
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790, USA
| | - Denis Grouzdev
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790, USA
| | | | - Bassem Allam
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790, USA.
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Villalba A, Coimbra RM, Pampín M, Iglesias D, Costas D, Mariño C, Blanco A, Vera M, Domínguez M, Cacabelos E, Abella E, Incera M, Otero RF, Martínez P. A common garden experiment supports a genetic component underlying the increased resilience of common cockle ( Cerastoderma edule) to the parasite Marteilia cochillia. Evol Appl 2023; 16:1789-1804. [PMID: 38029062 PMCID: PMC10681494 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The common cockle is a valuable bivalve species inhabiting the Atlantic European coasts. The parasite Marteilia cochillia has devastated cockle beds in the southern Galician (NW Spain) rias since 2012. Previous data suggested that cockles from Ría de Arousa acquired some resilience to this parasite through natural selection after consecutive annual marteiliosis outbreaks and candidate markers associated with marteiliosis resilience were identified using population genomics and transcriptomics approaches. Here, a common garden experiment was performed using a naïve stock (from Ría de Muros-Noia) and an affected stock (from Ría de Arousa) to test this hypothesis. Breeders from both stocks were used to produce seed cohorts at hatchery, which were pre-grown in a raft (outdoor nursery stage) and deployed in two shellfish beds affected by marteiliosis in Ría de Arousa (growing-out stage). In both beds, the naïve stock showed high marteiliosis prevalence and was fully depleted in a short period, while the affected stock barely showed evidence of marteiliosis. A set of 45 SNPs putatively associated with marteiliosis resilience were fitted for MassARRAY genotyping to check their role in the differential resilience detected between both stocks. Though no significant differentiation was found between the naïve and the affected stocks with neutral markers, 28 SNPs showed significant divergence between them, suggesting that these SNPs were involved in directional selection during eight generations (to the most) of marteiliosis pressure (long-term selection). Furthermore, signals of selection were also detected in the naïve stock along the marteiliosis outbreak in the growing-out stage (short-term selection) and six SNPs, all shared with the long-term evaluation, showed consistent signals of differentiation according to the infection severity. Some of these SNPs were located within immune genes pertaining to families such as proteasome, ubiquitin, tumor necrosis factor, and glutathione S-transferase. These resilience-associated markers will be useful to recover cockle production in Galicia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Villalba
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de GaliciaVilanova de ArousaSpain
- Departamento de Ciencias de la VidaUniversidad de AlcaláAlcalá de HenaresSpain
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology (PIE)University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)PlentziaSpain
| | - Raquel M. Coimbra
- Departamento de Pesca e AquiculturaUniversidade Federal Rural de PernambucoRecifeBrazil
- Departamento de Zoología, Genética y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus TerraUniversidade de Santiago de CompostelaLugoSpain
| | - Marina Pampín
- Departamento de Zoología, Genética y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus TerraUniversidade de Santiago de CompostelaLugoSpain
| | - David Iglesias
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de GaliciaVilanova de ArousaSpain
| | - Damián Costas
- Centro de Investigación MariñaUniversidade de Vigo, ECIMATVigoSpain
| | | | - Andrés Blanco
- Departamento de Zoología, Genética y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus TerraUniversidade de Santiago de CompostelaLugoSpain
| | - Manuel Vera
- Departamento de Zoología, Genética y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus TerraUniversidade de Santiago de CompostelaLugoSpain
| | | | - Eva Cacabelos
- Hydrosphere S. L.VigoSpain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasIIM‐CSICVigoSpain
| | - Emilio Abella
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de GaliciaVilanova de ArousaSpain
- Confraría de Pescadores A PastorizaVilanova de ArousaSpain
| | - Mónica Incera
- Centro Tecnolóxico do Mar ‐ Fundación CETMARVigoSpain
| | | | - Paulino Martínez
- Departamento de Zoología, Genética y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus TerraUniversidade de Santiago de CompostelaLugoSpain
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Robinson NA, Robledo D, Sveen L, Daniels RR, Krasnov A, Coates A, Jin YH, Barrett LT, Lillehammer M, Kettunen AH, Phillips BL, Dempster T, Doeschl‐Wilson A, Samsing F, Difford G, Salisbury S, Gjerde B, Haugen J, Burgerhout E, Dagnachew BS, Kurian D, Fast MD, Rye M, Salazar M, Bron JE, Monaghan SJ, Jacq C, Birkett M, Browman HI, Skiftesvik AB, Fields DM, Selander E, Bui S, Sonesson A, Skugor S, Østbye TK, Houston RD. Applying genetic technologies to combat infectious diseases in aquaculture. REVIEWS IN AQUACULTURE 2023; 15:491-535. [PMID: 38504717 PMCID: PMC10946606 DOI: 10.1111/raq.12733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Disease and parasitism cause major welfare, environmental and economic concerns for global aquaculture. In this review, we examine the status and potential of technologies that exploit genetic variation in host resistance to tackle this problem. We argue that there is an urgent need to improve understanding of the genetic mechanisms involved, leading to the development of tools that can be applied to boost host resistance and reduce the disease burden. We draw on two pressing global disease problems as case studies-sea lice infestations in salmonids and white spot syndrome in shrimp. We review how the latest genetic technologies can be capitalised upon to determine the mechanisms underlying inter- and intra-species variation in pathogen/parasite resistance, and how the derived knowledge could be applied to boost disease resistance using selective breeding, gene editing and/or with targeted feed treatments and vaccines. Gene editing brings novel opportunities, but also implementation and dissemination challenges, and necessitates new protocols to integrate the technology into aquaculture breeding programmes. There is also an ongoing need to minimise risks of disease agents evolving to overcome genetic improvements to host resistance, and insights from epidemiological and evolutionary models of pathogen infestation in wild and cultured host populations are explored. Ethical issues around the different approaches for achieving genetic resistance are discussed. Application of genetic technologies and approaches has potential to improve fundamental knowledge of mechanisms affecting genetic resistance and provide effective pathways for implementation that could lead to more resistant aquaculture stocks, transforming global aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A. Robinson
- Nofima ASTromsøNorway
- Sustainable Aquaculture Laboratory—Temperate and Tropical (SALTT)School of BioSciences, The University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Diego Robledo
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | | | - Rose Ruiz Daniels
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | | | - Andrew Coates
- Sustainable Aquaculture Laboratory—Temperate and Tropical (SALTT)School of BioSciences, The University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Ye Hwa Jin
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Luke T. Barrett
- Sustainable Aquaculture Laboratory—Temperate and Tropical (SALTT)School of BioSciences, The University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Institute of Marine Research, Matre Research StationMatredalNorway
| | | | | | - Ben L. Phillips
- Sustainable Aquaculture Laboratory—Temperate and Tropical (SALTT)School of BioSciences, The University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Tim Dempster
- Sustainable Aquaculture Laboratory—Temperate and Tropical (SALTT)School of BioSciences, The University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Andrea Doeschl‐Wilson
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Francisca Samsing
- Sydney School of Veterinary ScienceThe University of SydneyCamdenAustralia
| | | | - Sarah Salisbury
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | | | | | | | | | - Dominic Kurian
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesThe University of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Mark D. Fast
- Atlantic Veterinary CollegeThe University of Prince Edward IslandCharlottetownPrince Edward IslandCanada
| | | | | | - James E. Bron
- Institute of AquacultureUniversity of StirlingStirlingScotlandUK
| | - Sean J. Monaghan
- Institute of AquacultureUniversity of StirlingStirlingScotlandUK
| | - Celeste Jacq
- Blue Analytics, Kong Christian Frederiks Plass 3BergenNorway
| | | | - Howard I. Browman
- Institute of Marine Research, Austevoll Research Station, Ecosystem Acoustics GroupTromsøNorway
| | - Anne Berit Skiftesvik
- Institute of Marine Research, Austevoll Research Station, Ecosystem Acoustics GroupTromsøNorway
| | | | - Erik Selander
- Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSweden
| | - Samantha Bui
- Institute of Marine Research, Matre Research StationMatredalNorway
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Schwaner C, Farhat S, Barbosa M, Boutet I, Tanguy A, Pales Espinosa E, Allam B. Molecular Features Associated with Resilience to Ocean Acidification in the Northern Quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 25:83-99. [PMID: 36417051 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-022-10183-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The increasing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and resulting flux into the oceans will further exacerbate acidification already threatening coastal marine ecosystems. The subsequent alterations in carbonate chemistry can have deleterious impacts on many economically and ecologically important species including the northern quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria). The accelerated pace of these changes requires an understanding of how or if species and populations will be able to acclimate or adapt to such swift environmental alterations. Thus far, studies have primarily focused on the physiological effects of ocean acidification (OA) on M. mercenaria, including reductions in growth and survival. However, the molecular mechanisms of resilience to OA in this species remains unclear. Clam gametes were fertilized under normal pCO2 and reared under acidified (pH ~ 7.5, pCO2 ~ 1200 ppm) or control (pH ~ 7.9, pCO2 ~ 600 ppm) conditions before sampled at 2 days (larvae), 32 days (postsets), 5 and 10 months (juveniles) and submitted to RNA and DNA sequencing to evaluate alterations in gene expression and genetic variations. Results showed significant shift in gene expression profiles among clams reared in acidified conditions as compared to their respective controls. At 10 months of exposure, significant shifts in allele frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. Both approaches highlighted genes coding for proteins related to shell formation, bicarbonate transport, cytoskeleton, immunity/stress, and metabolism, illustrating the role these pathways play in resilience to OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Schwaner
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790, USA
| | - Sarah Farhat
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790, USA
| | - Michelle Barbosa
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790, USA
| | - Isabelle Boutet
- Station Biologique de Roscoff, CNRS/Sorbonne Université, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Arnaud Tanguy
- Station Biologique de Roscoff, CNRS/Sorbonne Université, Place Georges Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | | | - Bassem Allam
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11790, USA.
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Schwaner C, Farhat S, Haley J, Pales Espinosa E, Allam B. Transcriptomic, Proteomic, and Functional Assays Underline the Dual Role of Extrapallial Hemocytes in Immunity and Biomineralization in the Hard Clam Mercenaria mercenaria. Front Immunol 2022; 13:838530. [PMID: 35273613 PMCID: PMC8902148 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.838530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Circulating hemocytes in the hemolymph represent the backbone of innate immunity in bivalves. Hemocytes are also found in the extrapallial fluid (EPF), the space delimited between the shell and the mantle, which is the site of shell biomineralization. This study investigated the transcriptome, proteome, and function of EPF and hemolymph in the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria. Total and differential hemocyte counts were similar between EPF and hemolymph. Overexpressed genes in the EPF were found to have domains previously identified as being part of the "biomineralization toolkit" and involved in bivalve shell formation. Biomineralization related genes included chitin-metabolism genes, carbonic anhydrase, perlucin, and insoluble shell matrix protein genes. Overexpressed genes in the EPF encoded proteins present at higher abundances in the EPF proteome, specifically those related to shell formation such as carbonic anhydrase and insoluble shell matrix proteins. Genes coding for bicarbonate and ion transporters were also overexpressed, suggesting that EPF hemocytes are involved in regulating the availability of ions critical for biomineralization. Functional assays also showed that Ca2+ content of hemocytes in the EPF were significantly higher than those in hemolymph, supporting the idea that hemocytes serve as a source of Ca2+ during biomineralization. Overexpressed genes and proteins also contained domains such as C1q that have dual functions in biomineralization and immune response. The percent of phagocytic granulocytes was not significantly different between EPF and hemolymph. Together, these findings suggest that hemocytes in EPF play a central role in both biomineralization and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Schwaner
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Sarah Farhat
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - John Haley
- Stony Brook University Biological Mass Spectrometry Center, Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | | | - Bassem Allam
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
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Farhat S, Bonnivard E, Pales Espinosa E, Tanguy A, Boutet I, Guiglielmoni N, Flot JF, Allam B. Comparative analysis of the Mercenaria mercenaria genome provides insights into the diversity of transposable elements and immune molecules in bivalve mollusks. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:192. [PMID: 35260071 PMCID: PMC8905726 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08262-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria is a major marine resource along the Atlantic coasts of North America and has been introduced to other continents for resource restoration or aquaculture activities. Significant mortality events have been reported in the species throughout its native range as a result of diseases (microbial infections, leukemia) and acute environmental stress. In this context, the characterization of the hard clam genome can provide highly needed resources to enable basic (e.g., oncogenesis and cancer transmission, adaptation biology) and applied (clam stock enhancement, genomic selection) sciences. RESULTS Using a combination of long and short-read sequencing technologies, a 1.86 Gb chromosome-level assembly of the clam genome was generated. The assembly was scaffolded into 19 chromosomes, with an N50 of 83 Mb. Genome annotation yielded 34,728 predicted protein-coding genes, markedly more than the few other members of the Venerida sequenced so far, with coding regions representing only 2% of the assembly. Indeed, more than half of the genome is composed of repeated elements, including transposable elements. Major chromosome rearrangements were detected between this assembly and another recent assembly derived from a genetically segregated clam stock. Comparative analysis of the clam genome allowed the identification of a marked diversification in immune-related proteins, particularly extensive tandem duplications and expansions in tumor necrosis factors (TNFs) and C1q domain-containing proteins, some of which were previously shown to play a role in clam interactions with infectious microbes. The study also generated a comparative repertoire highlighting the diversity and, in some instances, the specificity of LTR-retrotransposons elements, particularly Steamer elements in bivalves. CONCLUSIONS The diversity of immune molecules in M. mercenaria may allow this species to cope with varying and complex microbial and environmental landscapes. The repertoire of transposable elements identified in this study, particularly Steamer elements, should be a prime target for the investigation of cancer cell development and transmission among bivalve mollusks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Farhat
- Marine Animal Disease Laboratory, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-5000, USA
| | - Eric Bonnivard
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 7144 AD2M, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29688, Roscoff, France
| | - Emmanuelle Pales Espinosa
- Marine Animal Disease Laboratory, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-5000, USA
| | - Arnaud Tanguy
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 7144 AD2M, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29688, Roscoff, France
| | - Isabelle Boutet
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 7144 AD2M, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, 29688, Roscoff, France
| | - Nadège Guiglielmoni
- Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-François Flot
- Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium.,Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels - (IB)2, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bassem Allam
- Marine Animal Disease Laboratory, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-5000, USA.
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Lu L, Bu L, Zhang SM, Buddenborg SK, Loker ES. An Overview of Transcriptional Responses of Schistosome-Susceptible (M line) or -Resistant (BS-90) Biomphalaria glabrata Exposed or Not to Schistosoma mansoni Infection. Front Immunol 2022; 12:805882. [PMID: 35095891 PMCID: PMC8791074 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.805882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We seek to provide a comprehensive overview of transcriptomics responses of immune-related features of the gastropod Biomphalaria glabrata (Bg) following exposure to Schistosoma mansoni (Sm), a trematode causing human schistosomiasis. Responses of schistosome-susceptible (M line, or SUS) and -resistant (BS-90, or RES) Bg strains were characterized following exposure to Sm for 0.5, 2, 8 or 40 days post-exposure (dpe). Methods RNA-Seq and differential expression analysis were undertaken on 56 snails from 14 groups. We considered 7 response categories: 1) constitutive resistance factors; 2) constitutive susceptibility factors; 3) generalized stress responses; 4) induced resistance factors; 5) resistance factors suppressed in SUS snails; 6) suppressed/manipulated factors in SUS snails; and 7) tolerance responses in SUS snails. We also undertook a gene co-expression network analysis. Results from prior studies identifying schistosome resistance/susceptibility factors were examined relative to our findings. Results A total of 792 million paired-end reads representing 91.2% of the estimated 31,985 genes in the Bg genome were detected and results for the 7 categories compiled and highlighted. For both RES and SUS snails, a single most supported network of genes with highly correlated expression was found. Conclusions 1) Several constitutive differences in gene expression between SUS and RES snails were noted, the majority over-represented in RES; 2) There was little indication of a generalized stress response shared by SUS and RES snails at 0.5 or 2 dpe; 3) RES snails mounted a strong, multi-faceted response by 0.5 dpe that carried over to 2 dpe; 4) The most notable SUS responses were at 40 dpe, in snails shedding cercariae, when numerous features were either strongly down-regulated indicative of physiological distress or parasite manipulation, or up-regulated, suggestive of tolerance or survival-promoting effects; 5) Of 55 genes previously identified in genome wide mapping studies, 29 (52.7%) were responsive to Sm, as were many familiar resistance-associated genes (41.0%) identified by other means; 6) Both network analysis and remarkably specific patterns of expression of lectins and G protein-coupled receptors in categories 4, 6 and 7 were indicative of orchestrated responses of different suites of genes in SUS or RES snails following exposure to Sm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Lu
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Lijing Bu
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Si-Ming Zhang
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Sarah K Buddenborg
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, United Kingdom
| | - Eric S Loker
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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