Comprehensive Transcriptional Changes in the Liver of Kanglang White Minnow (Anabarilius grahami) in Response to the Infection of Parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis

Abstract

The notorious parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich) has been recorded worldwide in fish species and causes white spot disease, posing major threats and resulting in severe losses to international fish production. Extensively effective strategies for treating Ich are not available yet, and genetic mechanisms of hosts in response to the parasite are still largely unknown. In this study, we selected Kanglang white minnow (KWM, Anabarilius grahami) to examine its liver transcriptional changes after Ich infection, as white spot disease is one bottleneck problem in exploring this economically important species. We divided the experimental fishes into three groups (control, early-infected, and late-infected) to examine differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A total of 831 DEGs were identified and classified into 128 significantly enriched GO (Gene Ontology) terms and 71 significantly enriched KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways. Most of these terms or pathways were functionally enriched in immunity, inflammatory response, and apoptosis, such as nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like (NOD-like) receptor signaling, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling, interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling, and apoptosis pathways. We also identified 178 putative antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and AMP precursors based on our previously reported genome assembly of KWM, and revealed that the expressional patterns varied according to different types. In summary, our work reported the first comprehensive transcriptional changes in KWM in response to the exogenous infection of Ich, which would lay a solid foundation for in-depth studies on disease defense or resistant strains selection in this valuable fish.

Effects of cadmium exposure on intestinal microflora of Cipangopaludina cathayensis

“…The fluorobenzoate degradation pathway was enriched in the L14 treatment, which is consistent with the increasing trends in Pseudomonas abundance observed in the treatment group. The cell apoptosis pathway is usually activated following disease infection ( Qiu et al, 2020 ) or exposure to adverse environmental factors ( Chen et al, 2021 ). Furthermore, lysosomes not only play a central role in cell decomposition but also participate in metabolism, membrane repair, and cell death ( Serrano-Puebla and Boya, 2015 ), and lysosome metabolic pathways are closely related to cell apoptosis ( Guo et al, 2017 ).…”