Dual RNA-Seq of Trunk Kidneys Extracted From Channel Catfish Infected With Yersinia ruckeri Reveals Novel Insights Into Host-Pathogen Interactions

Abstract

Host-pathogen intectarions are complex, involving large dynamic changes in gene expression through the process of infection. These interactions are essential for understanding anti-infective immunity as well as pathogenesis. In this study, the host-pathogen interaction was analyzed using a model of acute infection where channel catfish were infected with Yersinia ruckeri. The infected fish showed signs of body surface hyperemia as well as hyperemia and swelling in the trunk kidney. Double RNA sequencing was performed on trunk kidneys extracted from infected channel catfish and transcriptome data was compared with data from uninfected trunk kidneys. Results revealed that the host-pathogen interaction was dynamically regulated and that the host-pathogen transcriptome fluctuated during infection. More specifically, these data revealed that the expression levels of immune genes involved in Cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, the NF-kappa B signaling pathway, the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling and other immune-related pathways were significantly upregulated. Y. ruckeri mainly promote pathogenesis through the flagellum gene fliC in channel catfish. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) R package was used to reveal that the infection of catfish is closely related to metabolic pathways. This study contributes to the understanding of the host-pathogen interaction between channel catfish and Y. ruckeri, more specifically how catfish respond to infection through a transcriptional perspective and how this infection leads to enteric red mouth disease (ERM) in these fish.

RNA-Seq and 16S rRNA Analysis Revealed the Effect of Deltamethrin on Channel Catfish in the Early Stage of Acute Exposure

“…Large-scale diseases can occur from time to time, resulting in significant economic losses in channel catfish culture ( 39 , 40 ). Del is not only an important pollutant in water but also an insecticide used in aquaculture, becoming an important factor affecting their healthy cultivation.…”

“…We used quantitative reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR to verify the expression level of DEGs identified by RNA-Seq. The primers used are shown in Table 1 ( 39 , 44 – 50 ). Channel catfish EF-1 α was used as the internal parameter to homogenize the expression levels.…”

“…However, diseases have always been the bottleneck restricting the further development of the channel catfish industry. Pathogenic microorganisms that infect channel catfish, including Aeromonas hydrophila , Yersinia ruckeri , Edwardsiella ictalurid , and Streptococcus iniae , have caused great economic losses to the channel catfish breeding industry ( 39 , 40 ). Additionally, the inhibition of the immune system of channel catfish is an important cause of pathogenic microbial infections.…”

Molecular Characterization and Expression Analysis of IL-10 and IL-6 in Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

“…Yersinia ruckeri (GenBank accession number is OL376599) [ 29 ] was reported in our previous study, and Streptococcus iniae was provided by Northwest A & F University. The bacteria were cultured on brain heart infusion (BHI) at 28 °C for 18 h to reach the logarithmic growth phase and were then rinsed with sterile phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and adjusted to a concentration of 1.5 × 10 7 CFU/mL.…”

Isolation, Identification, and Pathogenicity of Aeromonas veronii, the Causal Agent of Hemorrhagic Septicemia in Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) in China

“…These issues seriously limit the channel catfish industry's further development and have resulted in various disease outbreaks that have gradually become dangerous to channel catfish [7]. A previous study reported that infectious diseases cause great harm to channel catfish breeding, including bacterial [8,9], parasitic, viral, and fungal diseases, especially bacterial and viral diseases [10]. The main bacterial pathogens infecting channel catfish are Aeromonas hydrophila, Yersinia ruckeri, Edwardsiella ictaluri, and Streptococcus iniae, which have caused severe harm and economic loss to the aquaculture industry [9,11].…”