1
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Hu J, Weber JN, Fuess LE, Steinel NC, Bolnick DI, Wang M. A spectral framework to map QTLs affecting joint differential networks of gene co-expression. bioRxiv 2024:2024.03.29.587398. [PMID: 38585912 PMCID: PMC10996691 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.29.587398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Studying the mechanisms underlying the genotype-phenotype association is crucial in genetics. Gene expression studies have deepened our understanding of the genotype → expression → phenotype mechanisms. However, traditional expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) methods often overlook the critical role of gene co-expression networks in translating genotype into phenotype. This gap highlights the need for more powerful statistical methods to analyze genotype → network → phenotype mechanism. Here, we develop a network-based method, called snQTL, to map quantitative trait loci affecting gene co-expression networks. Our approach tests the association between genotypes and joint differential networks of gene co-expression via a tensor-based spectral statistics, thereby overcoming the ubiquitous multiple testing challenges in existing methods. We demonstrate the effectiveness of snQTL in the analysis of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) data. Compared to conventional methods, our method snQTL uncovers chromosomal regions affecting gene co-expression networks, including one strong candidate gene that would have been missed by traditional eQTL analyses. Our framework suggests the limitation of current approaches and offers a powerful network-based tool for functional loci discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Hu
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Jesse N. Weber
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | | | | | - Daniel I. Bolnick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut
| | - Miaoyan Wang
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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2
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Villafranca N, Changsut I, Diaz de Villegas S, Womack H, Fuess LE. Characterization of trade-offs between immunity and reproduction in the coral species Astrangia poculata. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16586. [PMID: 38077420 PMCID: PMC10702360 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Living organisms face ubiquitous pathogenic threats and have consequently evolved immune systems to protect against potential invaders. However, many components of the immune system are physiologically costly to maintain and engage, often drawing resources away from other organismal processes such as growth and reproduction. Evidence from a diversity of systems has demonstrated that organisms use complex resource allocation mechanisms to manage competing needs and optimize fitness. However, understanding of resource allocation patterns is limited across taxa. Cnidarians, which include ecologically important organisms like hard corals, have been historically understudied in the context of resource allocations. Improving understanding of resource allocation-associated trade-offs in cnidarians is critical for understanding future ecological dynamics in the face of rapid environmental change. Methods Here, we characterize trade-offs between constitutive immunity and reproduction in the facultatively symbiotic coral Astrangia poculata. Male colonies underwent ex situ spawning and sperm density was quantified. We then examined the effects of variable symbiont density and energetic budget on physiological traits, including immune activity and reproductive investment. Furthermore, we tested for potential trade-offs between immune activity and reproductive investment. Results We found limited associations between energetic budget and immune metrics; melanin production was significantly positively associated with carbohydrate concentration. However, we failed to document any associations between immunity and reproductive output which would be indicative of trade-offs, possibly due to experimental limitations. Our results provide a preliminary framework for future studies investigating immune trade-offs in cnidarians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Villafranca
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Isabella Changsut
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | | | - Haley Womack
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Lauren E. Fuess
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
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3
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Fuess LE, Bolnick DI. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals Microevolution of the Stickleback Immune System. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad053. [PMID: 37039516 PMCID: PMC10116603 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The risk and severity of pathogen infections in humans, livestock, or wild organisms depend on host immune function, which can vary between closely related host populations or even among individuals. This immune variation can entail between-population differences in immune gene coding sequences, copy number, or expression. In recent years, many studies have focused on population divergence in immunity using whole-tissue transcriptomics. But, whole-tissue transcriptomics cannot distinguish between evolved differences in gene regulation within cells, versus changes in cell composition within the focal tissue. Here, we leverage single-cell transcriptomic approaches to document signatures of microevolution of immune system structure in a natural system, the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). We sampled nine adult fish from three populations with variability in resistance to a cestode parasite, Schistocephalus solidus, to create the first comprehensive immune cell atlas for G. aculeatus. Eight broad immune cell types, corresponding to major vertebrate immune cells, were identified. We were also able to document significant variation in both abundance and expression profiles of the individual immune cell types among the three populations of fish. Furthermore, we demonstrate that identified cell type markers can be used to reinterpret traditional transcriptomic data: we reevaluate previously published whole-tissue transcriptome data from a quantitative genetic experimental infection study to gain better resolution relating infection outcomes to inferred cell type variation. Our combined study demonstrates the power of single-cell sequencing to not only document evolutionary phenomena (i.e., microevolution of immune cells) but also increase the power of traditional transcriptomic data sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Biology, Texas State University
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut
| | - Daniel I Bolnick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut
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4
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Davies SW, Gamache MH, Howe-Kerr LI, Kriefall NG, Baker AC, Banaszak AT, Bay LK, Bellantuono AJ, Bhattacharya D, Chan CX, Claar DC, Coffroth MA, Cunning R, Davy SK, del Campo J, Díaz-Almeyda EM, Frommlet JC, Fuess LE, González-Pech RA, Goulet TL, Hoadley KD, Howells EJ, Hume BCC, Kemp DW, Kenkel CD, Kitchen SA, LaJeunesse TC, Lin S, McIlroy SE, McMinds R, Nitschke MR, Oakley CA, Peixoto RS, Prada C, Putnam HM, Quigley K, Reich HG, Reimer JD, Rodriguez-Lanetty M, Rosales SM, Saad OS, Sampayo EM, Santos SR, Shoguchi E, Smith EG, Stat M, Stephens TG, Strader ME, Suggett DJ, Swain TD, Tran C, Traylor-Knowles N, Voolstra CR, Warner ME, Weis VM, Wright RM, Xiang T, Yamashita H, Ziegler M, Correa AMS, Parkinson JE. Building consensus around the assessment and interpretation of Symbiodiniaceae diversity. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15023. [PMID: 37151292 PMCID: PMC10162043 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Within microeukaryotes, genetic variation and functional variation sometimes accumulate more quickly than morphological differences. To understand the evolutionary history and ecology of such lineages, it is key to examine diversity at multiple levels of organization. In the dinoflagellate family Symbiodiniaceae, which can form endosymbioses with cnidarians (e.g., corals, octocorals, sea anemones, jellyfish), other marine invertebrates (e.g., sponges, molluscs, flatworms), and protists (e.g., foraminifera), molecular data have been used extensively over the past three decades to describe phenotypes and to make evolutionary and ecological inferences. Despite advances in Symbiodiniaceae genomics, a lack of consensus among researchers with respect to interpreting genetic data has slowed progress in the field and acted as a barrier to reconciling observations. Here, we identify key challenges regarding the assessment and interpretation of Symbiodiniaceae genetic diversity across three levels: species, populations, and communities. We summarize areas of agreement and highlight techniques and approaches that are broadly accepted. In areas where debate remains, we identify unresolved issues and discuss technologies and approaches that can help to fill knowledge gaps related to genetic and phenotypic diversity. We also discuss ways to stimulate progress, in particular by fostering a more inclusive and collaborative research community. We hope that this perspective will inspire and accelerate coral reef science by serving as a resource to those designing experiments, publishing research, and applying for funding related to Symbiodiniaceae and their symbiotic partnerships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah W. Davies
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Matthew H. Gamache
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | | | | | - Andrew C. Baker
- Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Anastazia T. Banaszak
- Unidad Académica de Sistemas Arrecifales, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Mexico
| | - Line Kolind Bay
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia
| | - Anthony J. Bellantuono
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Debashish Bhattacharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Cheong Xin Chan
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Danielle C. Claar
- Nearshore Habitat Program, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, WA, USA
| | | | - Ross Cunning
- Daniel P. Haerther Center for Conservation and Research, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Simon K. Davy
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Javier del Campo
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC - Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Jörg C. Frommlet
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Lauren E. Fuess
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Raúl A. González-Pech
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States
| | - Tamar L. Goulet
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, United States
| | - Kenneth D. Hoadley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama—Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
| | - Emily J. Howells
- National Marine Science Centre, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Dustin W. Kemp
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama—Birmingham, Birmingham, Al, United States
| | - Carly D. Kenkel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sheila A. Kitchen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Todd C. LaJeunesse
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Senjie Lin
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, United States
| | - Shelby E. McIlroy
- Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Ryan McMinds
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Disease Research, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | | | - Clinton A. Oakley
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Raquel S. Peixoto
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Carlos Prada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Hollie M. Putnam
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | | | - Hannah G. Reich
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - James Davis Reimer
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan
| | | | - Stephanie M. Rosales
- The Cooperative Institute For Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Osama S. Saad
- Department of Biological Oceanography, Red Sea University, Port-Sudan, Sudan
| | - Eugenia M. Sampayo
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Scott R. Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Eiichi Shoguchi
- Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Edward G. Smith
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Michael Stat
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Timothy G. Stephens
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
| | - Marie E. Strader
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - David J. Suggett
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Timothy D. Swain
- Department of Marine and Environmental Science, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, United States
| | - Cawa Tran
- Department of Biology, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Nikki Traylor-Knowles
- Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | | | - Mark E. Warner
- School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, United States
| | - Virginia M. Weis
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Rachel M. Wright
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Tingting Xiang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Hiroshi Yamashita
- Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen (Germany), Giessen, Germany
| | | | - John Everett Parkinson
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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5
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Changsut I, Womack HR, Shickle A, Sharp KH, Fuess LE. Variation in symbiont density is linked to changes in constitutive immunity in the facultatively symbiotic coral,
Astrangia poculata. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20220273. [PMID: 36382375 PMCID: PMC9667134 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Scleractinian corals are essential ecosystem engineers, forming the basis of coral reef ecosystems. However, these organisms are in decline globally, in part due to rising disease prevalence. Most corals are dependent on symbiotic interactions with single-celled algae from the family Symbiodiniaceae to meet their nutritional needs, however, suppression of host immunity may be essential to this relationship. To explore immunological consequences of algal symbioses in scleractinian corals, we investigated constitutive immune activity in the facultatively symbiotic coral, Astrangia poculata. We compared immune metrics (melanin synthesis, antioxidant production and antibacterial activity) between coral colonies of varying symbiont density. Symbiont density was positively correlated to both antioxidant activity and melanin concentration, likely as a result of the dual roles of these pathways in immunity and symbiosis regulation. Our results confirm the complex nature of relationships between algal symbiosis and host immunity and highlight the need for nuanced approaches when considering these relationships.
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6
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Weber JN, Steinel NC, Peng F, Shim KC, Lohman BK, Fuess LE, Subramanian S, Lisle SPD, Bolnick DI. Evolutionary gain and loss of a pathological immune response to parasitism. Science 2022; 377:1206-1211. [PMID: 36074841 PMCID: PMC9869647 DOI: 10.1126/science.abo3411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Parasites impose fitness costs on their hosts. Biologists often assume that natural selection favors infection-resistant hosts. Yet, when the immune response itself is costly, theory suggests that selection may sometimes favor loss of resistance, which may result in alternative stable states where some populations are resistant and others are tolerant. Intraspecific variation in immune costs is rarely surveyed in a manner that tests evolutionary patterns, and there are few examples of adaptive loss of resistance. Here, we show that when marine threespine stickleback colonized freshwater lakes, they gained resistance to the freshwater-associated cestode Schistocephalus solidus. Extensive peritoneal fibrosis and inflammation are a commonly observed phenotype that contributes to suppression of cestode growth and viability but also imposes a substantial cost on fecundity. Combining genetic mapping and population genomics, we find that opposing selection generates immune system differences between tolerant and resistant populations, consistent with divergent optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse N Weber
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Natalie C Steinel
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Foen Peng
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Kum Chuan Shim
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Brian K Lohman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Swapna Subramanian
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Stephen P De Lisle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Daniel I Bolnick
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
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7
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Hund AK, Fuess LE, Kenney ML, Maciejewski MF, Marini JM, Shim KC, Bolnick DI. Population-level variation in parasite resistance due to differences in immune initiation and rate of response. Evol Lett 2022; 6:162-177. [PMID: 35386836 PMCID: PMC8966477 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Closely related populations often differ in resistance to a given parasite, as measured by infection success or failure. Yet, the immunological mechanisms of these evolved differences are rarely specified. Does resistance evolve via changes to the host's ability to recognize that an infection exists, actuate an effective immune response, or attenuate that response? We tested whether each of these phases of the host response contributed to threespine sticklebacks' recently evolved resistance to their tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus. Although marine stickleback and some susceptible lake fish permit fast-growing tapeworms, other lake populations are resistant and suppress tapeworm growth via a fibrosis response. We subjected lab-raised fish from three populations (susceptible marine "ancestors," a susceptible lake population, and a resistant lake population) to a novel immune challenge using an injection of (1) a saline control, (2) alum, a generalized pro-inflammatory adjuvant that causes fibrosis, (3) a tapeworm protein extract, or (4) a combination of alum and tapeworm protein. With enough time, all three populations generated a robust fibrosis response to the alum treatments. Yet, only the resistant population exhibited a fibrosis response to the tapeworm protein alone. Thus, these populations differed in their ability to respond to the tapeworm protein but shared an intact fibrosis pathway. The resistant population also initiated fibrosis faster in response to alum, and was able to attenuate fibrosis, unlike the susceptible populations' slow but longer lasting response to alum. As fibrosis has pathological side effects that reduce fecundity, the faster recovery by the resistant population may reflect an adaptation to mitigate the costs of immunity. Broadly, our results confirm that parasite detection and immune initiation, activation speed, and immune attenuation simultaneously contribute to the evolution of parasite resistance and adaptations to infection in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda K. Hund
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and BehaviorUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMinnesota55123
| | - Lauren E. Fuess
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticut06269
- Current Address: Department of BiologyTexas State UniversitySan MarcosTexas78666
| | - Mariah L. Kenney
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticut06269
| | - Meghan F. Maciejewski
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticut06269
| | - Joseph M. Marini
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticut06269
| | - Kum Chuan Shim
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and BehaviorUniversity of Texas at AustinAustinTexas78712
| | - Daniel I. Bolnick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticut06269
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8
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Fuess LE, Weber JN, den Haan S, Steinel NC, Shim KC, Bolnick DI. Between-population differences in constitutive and infection-induced gene expression in threespine stickleback. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:6791-6805. [PMID: 34582586 PMCID: PMC8796319 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Vertebrate immunity is a complex system consisting of a mix of constitutive and inducible defences. Furthermore, host immunity is subject to selective pressure from a range of parasites and pathogens which can produce variation in these defences across populations. As populations evolve immune responses to parasites, they may adapt via a combination of (1) constitutive differences, (2) shared inducible responses, or (3) divergent inducible responses. Here, we leverage a powerful natural host‐parasite model system (Gasterosteus aculeatus and Schistochephalus solidus) to tease apart the relative contributions of these three types of adaptations to among‐population divergence in response to parasites. Gene expression analyses revealed limited evidence of significant divergence in constitutive expression of immune defence, and strong signatures of conserved inducible responses to the parasite. Furthermore, our results highlight a handful of immune‐related genes which show divergent inducible responses which may contribute disproportionately to functional differences in infection success or failure. In addition to investigating variation in evolutionary adaptation to parasite selection, we also leverage this unique data set to improve understanding of cellular mechanisms underlying a putative resistance phenotype (fibrosis). Combined, our results provide a case study in evolutionary immunology showing that a very small number of genes may contribute to genotype differences in infection response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
| | - Jesse N Weber
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Stijn den Haan
- International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Natalie C Steinel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kum Chuan Shim
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel I Bolnick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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9
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Fuess LE, Palacio-Castro AM, Butler CC, Baker AC, Mydlarz LD. Increased Algal Symbiont Density Reduces Host Immunity in a Threatened Caribbean Coral Species, Orbicella faveolata. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.572942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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10
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Fuess LE, Butler CC, Brandt ME, Mydlarz LD. Investigating the roles of transforming growth factor-beta in immune response of Orbicella faveolata, a scleractinian coral. Dev Comp Immunol 2020; 107:103639. [PMID: 32027869 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Symbiotic relationships range from parasitic to mutualistic, yet all endosymbionts face similar challenges, including evasion of host immunity. Many symbiotic organisms have evolved similar mechanisms to face these challenges, including manipulation of the host's transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) pathway. Here we investigate the TGFβ pathway in scelaractinian corals which are dependent on symbioses with dinoflagellates from the family Symbiodiniaceae. Using the Caribbean coral, Orbicella faveolata, we explore the effects of enhancement and inhibition of the TGFβ pathway on host gene expression. Following transcriptomic analyses, we demonstrated limited effects of pathway manipulation in absence of immune stimulation. However, manipulation of the TGFβ pathway significantly affects the subsequent ability of host corals to mount an immune response. Enhancement of the TGFβ pathway eliminates transcriptomic signatures of host coral immune response, while inhibition of the pathway maintains the response. This is, to our knowledge, the first evidence of an immunomodulatory role for TGFβ in a scelaractinian coral. These findings suggest variation in TGFβ signaling may have implications in the face of increasing disease prevelance. Our results suggest that the TGFβ pathway can modulate tradeoffs between symbiosis and immunity. Further study of links between symbiosis, TGFβ, and immunity is needed to better understand the ecological implications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States.
| | - Caleb C Butler
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
| | - Marilyn E Brandt
- Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, USVI, United States
| | - Laura D Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, United States
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11
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Fuess LE, Ling F, Steinel NC, Weber J, Bolnick DI. Gut microbial composition and expression of host immune-related genes are tightly linked in the model teleost system, Gasterosteus aculeatus (three-spined stickleback). The Journal of Immunology 2020. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.204.supp.231.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Associations between eukaryotic organisms and microbial symbionts contribute to a diversity of host functions, including growth and immune system development. Despite these broad effects of the microbiome on host function, the mechanisms linking host processes and microbiome composition are still being elucidated. Using a model teleost species, Gasterosteus aculeatus (three-spined stickleback), we investigated patterns of co-variation between gut microbiome composition and host gene expression, focusing specifically on immune-related processes. First, we tested hypotheses of co-variation between microbiome diversity and expression of immune-related genes, and found strong positive associations between microbial alpha diversity and immune gene expression. Next we examined correlations between abundance of specific microbial taxa and gene expression. We identified 15 microbial families that were highly correlated with approximately 1200 host genes. These 15 families fell into three categories: those positively correlated, negatively correlated, and neutrally related to immune processes. Positively immune-correlated families included unclassified Firmicutes, while negatively immune-correlated families included many families within the phylum Proteobacteria. Increased functional understanding of these specific families will help disentangle mechanisms of correlation between microbial families and host immune processes. This is, to our knowledge, the first comprehensive study of co-variation between gut microbiome composition and host gene expression. Our data supports predominate hypotheses of an intimate link between gut microbial composition and host immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fei Ling
- 2Northwest A&F University, China
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12
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Dimos BA, Mahmud SA, Fuess LE, Mydlarz LD, Pellegrino MW. Uncovering a mitochondrial unfolded protein response in corals and its role in adapting to a changing world. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190470. [PMID: 31238849 PMCID: PMC6599992 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Anthropocene will be characterized by increased environmental disturbances, leading to the survival of stress-tolerant organisms, particularly in the oceans, where novel marine diseases and elevated temperatures are re-shaping ecosystems. These environmental changes underscore the importance of identifying mechanisms which promote stress tolerance in ecologically important non-model species such as reef-building corals. Mitochondria are central regulators of cellular stress and have dedicated recovery pathways including the mitochondrial unfolded protein response, which increases the transcription of protective genes promoting protein homeostasis, free radical detoxification and innate immunity. In this investigation, we identify a mitochondrial unfolded protein response in the endangered Caribbean coral Orbicella faveolata, by performing in vivo functional replacement using a transcription factor (Of-ATF5) originating from a coral in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. In addition, we use RNA-seq network analysis and transcription factor-binding predictions to identify a transcriptional network of genes likely to be regulated by Of-ATF5 which is induced during the immune challenge and temperature stress. Overall, our findings uncover a conserved cellular pathway which may promote the ability of reef-building corals to survive increasing levels of environmental stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradford A Dimos
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington , Arlington, TX 76019 , USA
| | - Siraje A Mahmud
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington , Arlington, TX 76019 , USA
| | - Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington , Arlington, TX 76019 , USA
| | - Laura D Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington , Arlington, TX 76019 , USA
| | - Mark W Pellegrino
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington , Arlington, TX 76019 , USA
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13
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Ricci CA, Kamal AHM, Chakrabarty JK, Fuess LE, Mann WT, Jinks LR, Brinkhuis V, Chowdhury SM, Mydlarz LD. Proteomic Investigation of a Diseased Gorgonian Coral Indicates Disruption of Essential Cell Function and Investment in Inflammatory and Other Immune Processes. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 59:830-844. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icz107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
As scleractinian coral cover declines in the face of increased frequency in disease outbreaks, future reefs may become dominated by octocorals. Understanding octocoral disease responses and consequences is therefore necessary if we are to gain insight into the future of ecosystem services provided by coral reefs. In Florida, populations of the octocoral Eunicea calyculata infected with Eunicea black disease (EBD) were observed in the field in the fall of 2011. This disease was recognized by a stark, black pigmentation caused by heavy melanization. Histological preparations of E. calyculata infected with EBD demonstrated granular amoebocyte (GA) mobilization, melanin granules in much of the GA population, and the presence of fungal hyphae penetrating coral tissue. Previous transcriptomic analysis also identified immune trade-offs evidenced by increased immune investment at the expense of growth. Our investigation utilized proteogenomic techniques to reveal decreased investment in general cell signaling while increasing energy production for immune responses. Inflammation was also prominent in diseased E. calyculata and sheds light on factors driving the extreme phenotype observed with EBD. With disease outbreaks continuing to increase in frequency, our results highlight new targets within the cnidarian immune system and provide a framework for understanding transcriptomics in the context of an organismal disease phenotype and its protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Contessa A Ricci
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, 501 S Nedderman Dr., TX 76010, USA
| | - Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, 700 Planetarium Pl, Arlington, TX 76010, USA
| | - Jayanta Kishor Chakrabarty
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, 700 Planetarium Pl, Arlington, TX 76010, USA
| | - Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Whitney T Mann
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, 501 S Nedderman Dr., TX 76010, USA
| | - Lea R Jinks
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, 501 S Nedderman Dr., TX 76010, USA
| | - Vanessa Brinkhuis
- Washington State Department of Ecology—Central Regional Office, 1250 Alder Street, Union Gap, WA 98903, USA
| | - Saiful M Chowdhury
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Arlington, 700 Planetarium Pl, Arlington, TX 76010, USA
| | - Laura D Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, 501 S Nedderman Dr., TX 76010, USA
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14
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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. R Soc Open Sci 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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15
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Williams LM, Fuess LE, Brennan JJ, Mansfield KM, Salas-Rodriguez E, Welsh J, Awtry J, Banic S, Chacko C, Chezian A, Dowers D, Estrada F, Hsieh YH, Kang J, Li W, Malchiodi Z, Malinowski J, Matuszak S, McTigue T, Mueller D, Nguyen B, Nguyen M, Nguyen P, Nguyen S, Njoku N, Patel K, Pellegrini W, Pliakas T, Qadir D, Ryan E, Schiffer A, Thiel A, Yunes SA, Spilios KE, Pinzón C JH, Mydlarz LD, Gilmore TD. A conserved Toll-like receptor-to-NF-κB signaling pathway in the endangered coral Orbicella faveolata. Dev Comp Immunol 2018; 79:128-136. [PMID: 29080785 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2017.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we characterize the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-to-NF-κB innate immune pathway of Orbicella faveolata (Of), which is an ecologically important, disease-susceptible, reef-building coral. As compared to human TLRs, the intracellular TIR domain of Of-TLR is most similar to TLR4, and it can interact in vitro with the human TLR4 adapter MYD88. Treatment of O. faveolata tissue with lipopolysaccharide, a ligand for mammalian TLR4, resulted in gene expression changes consistent with NF-κB pathway mobilization. Biochemical and cell-based assays revealed that Of-NF-κB resembles the mammalian non-canonical NF-κB protein p100 in that C-terminal truncation results in translocation of Of-NF-κB to the nucleus and increases its DNA-binding and transcriptional activation activities. Moreover, human IκB kinase (IKK) and Of-IKK can both phosphorylate conserved residues in Of-NF-κB in vitro and induce C-terminal processing of Of-NF-κB in vivo. These results are the first characterization of TLR-to-NF-κB signaling proteins in an endangered coral, and suggest that these corals have conserved innate immune pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah M Williams
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | | | | | | | - Julianne Welsh
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jake Awtry
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sarah Banic
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Cecilia Chacko
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Aarthia Chezian
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Donovan Dowers
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Felicia Estrada
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yu-Hsuan Hsieh
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jiawen Kang
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Wanwen Li
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Zoe Malchiodi
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - John Malinowski
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sean Matuszak
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Thomas McTigue
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - David Mueller
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Brian Nguyen
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Michelle Nguyen
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Phuong Nguyen
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sinead Nguyen
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ndidi Njoku
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Khusbu Patel
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - William Pellegrini
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Tessa Pliakas
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Deena Qadir
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Emma Ryan
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Alex Schiffer
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Amber Thiel
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sarah A Yunes
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Kathryn E Spilios
- Molecular Biology Laboratory (BB522), Program in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jorge H Pinzón C
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Laura D Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
| | - Thomas D Gilmore
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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16
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Fuess LE, Pinzón C JH, Weil E, Grinshpon RD, Mydlarz LD. Life or death: disease-tolerant coral species activate autophagy following immune challenge. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0771. [PMID: 28592676 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Global climate change has increased the number and severity of stressors affecting species, yet not all species respond equally to these stressors. Organisms may employ cellular mechanisms such as apoptosis and autophagy in responding to stressful events. These two pathways are often mutually exclusive, dictating whether a cell adapts or dies. In order to examine differences in cellular response to stress, we compared the immune response of four coral species with a range of disease susceptibility. Using RNA-seq and novel pathway analysis, we were able to identify differences in response to immune stimulation between these species. Disease-susceptible species Orbicella faveolata activated pathways associated with apoptosis. By contrast, disease-tolerant species Porites porites and Porites astreoides activated autophagic pathways. Moderately susceptible species Pseudodiploria strigosa activated a mixture of these pathways. These findings were corroborated by apoptotic caspase protein assays, which indicated increased caspase activity following immune stimulation in susceptible species. Our results indicate that in response to immune stress, disease-tolerant species activate cellular adaptive mechanisms such as autophagy, while susceptible species turn on cell death pathways. Differences in these cellular maintenance pathways may therefore influence the organismal stress response. Further study of these pathways will increase understanding of differential stress response and species survival in the face of changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Jorge H Pinzón C
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Ernesto Weil
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR, USA
| | - Robert D Grinshpon
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Laura D Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
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Fuess LE, Pinzόn C JH, Weil E, Mydlarz LD. Associations between transcriptional changes and protein phenotypes provide insights into immune regulation in corals. Dev Comp Immunol 2016; 62:17-28. [PMID: 27109903 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Disease outbreaks in marine ecosystems have driven worldwide declines of numerous taxa, including corals. Some corals, such as Orbicella faveolata, are particularly susceptible to disease. To explore the mechanisms contributing to susceptibility, colonies of O. faveolata were exposed to immune challenge with lipopolysaccharides. RNA sequencing and protein activity assays were used to characterize the response of corals to immune challenge. Differential expression analyses identified 17 immune-related transcripts that varied in expression post-immune challenge. Network analyses revealed several groups of transcripts correlated to immune protein activity. Several transcripts, which were annotated as positive regulators of immunity were included in these groups, and some were downregulated following immune challenge. Correlations between expression of these transcripts and protein activity results further supported the role of these transcripts in positive regulation of immunity. The observed pattern of gene expression and protein activity may elucidate the processes contributing to the disease susceptibility of species like O. faveolata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Fuess
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Jorge H Pinzόn C
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA
| | - Ernesto Weil
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR, USA
| | - Laura D Mydlarz
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, TX, USA.
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Fuess LE, Eisenlord ME, Closek CJ, Tracy AM, Mauntz R, Gignoux-Wolfsohn S, Moritsch MM, Yoshioka R, Burge CA, Harvell CD, Friedman CS, Hewson I, Hershberger PK, Roberts SB. Up in Arms: Immune and Nervous System Response to Sea Star Wasting Disease. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0133053. [PMID: 26176852 PMCID: PMC4503460 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Echinoderms, positioned taxonomically at the base of deuterostomes, provide an important system for the study of the evolution of the immune system. However, there is little known about the cellular components and genes associated with echinoderm immunity. The 2013-2014 sea star wasting disease outbreak is an emergent, rapidly spreading disease, which has led to large population declines of asteroids in the North American Pacific. While evidence suggests that the signs of this disease, twisting arms and lesions, may be attributed to a viral infection, the host response to infection is still poorly understood. In order to examine transcriptional responses of the sea star Pycnopodia helianthoides to sea star wasting disease, we injected a viral sized fraction (0.2 μm) homogenate prepared from symptomatic P. helianthoides into apparently healthy stars. Nine days following injection, when all stars were displaying signs of the disease, specimens were sacrificed and coelomocytes were extracted for RNA-seq analyses. A number of immune genes, including those involved in Toll signaling pathways, complement cascade, melanization response, and arachidonic acid metabolism, were differentially expressed. Furthermore, genes involved in nervous system processes and tissue remodeling were also differentially expressed, pointing to transcriptional changes underlying the signs of sea star wasting disease. The genomic resources presented here not only increase understanding of host response to sea star wasting disease, but also provide greater insight into the mechanisms underlying immune function in echinoderms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E. Fuess
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States of America
| | - Morgan E. Eisenlord
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Collin J. Closek
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Allison M. Tracy
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Ruth Mauntz
- Donald P. Shiley Bioscience Center, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn
- Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Monica M. Moritsch
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
| | - Reyn Yoshioka
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Colleen A. Burge
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
- School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - C. Drew Harvell
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Carolyn S. Friedman
- School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Ian Hewson
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Paul K. Hershberger
- U. S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Marrowstone Marine Field Station, Nordland, Washington, United States of America
| | - Steven B. Roberts
- School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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