1
|
Yang H, Grouzdev D, Wang Z, Yee JC, Zeng Y, Sturmer L, Allam B. Genome-wide association mapping for heat shock tolerance in Mercenaria mercenaria through SNP microarray analysis. BMC Genomics 2025; 26:547. [PMID: 40448064 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-025-11689-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2025] [Accepted: 05/09/2025] [Indexed: 06/02/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The northern quahog Mercenaria mercenaria is a major aquaculture species on the US East Coast, and heat resistance is the most sought trait for aquaculture. This study aimed to establish a genome-wide association for heat tolerance using a 66K SNP array for M. mercenaria. Quahogs from three farms were combined for a heat challenge at 1 °C per day from 24 °C to 35 °C and stay for two days (Phase I), decreasing to 27 °C in 24 h, to 24 °C in another 24 h, and maintaining at 24 °C (Phase II) until no one dead within 48 h at 24 °C (Phase III). Dead and live quahogs were sampled for genotyping using the SNP array. RESULTS During the heat challenge, different mortalities among the quahogs from the three farms were identified at 38, 46, and 55% at Phase I, and 36, 30, and 29% at Phase II. For the survivors (Phase III), no changes were found in body weight before and after the heat shock challenges (p < 0.265). The PCA analyses of SNP frequencies indicated significant genetic differences associated with quahog survival under heat stress across the different farms. The heritability of the heat tolerance was 0.680 ± 0.063. GWAS analysis indicated that one SNP exhibited a significant association with the time-to-death trait on chromosome 7 (p = 1.98 × 10- 5). More significant SNPs (p < 10- 3.5) were inside genes that have been reported to function in heat tolerance such as serine/threonine-protein kinase 31 and carbohydrate sulfotransferase 11, and some genes found within 50 K bp far from SNP sites have a relationship with heat tolerance such as toll-like receptors 4 and 6 (TLRs 4 and TLRs 6), uracil-DNA glycosylase, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs gon-1 (ADAMTs). CONCLUSION The fastStructure analysis revealed the proportions of different ancestral components within the quahogs from different farming stocks, highlighting that the genetic factors may contribute to their varying survival rates under heat stress. The associated genes have potential roles in immune response, cellular stress, and tissue repair. The findings highlighted the power of high-throughput approaches for the identification of superior quahog genotypes for further breeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huiping Yang
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA.
| | - Denis Grouzdev
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-5000, USA
| | - Zhenwei Wang
- Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Department of Marine & Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, 6959 Miller Avenue, Port Norris, NJ, 08349, USA
| | - Jayme C Yee
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA
| | - Yangqing Zeng
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA
| | - Leslie Sturmer
- Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, Florida, 32625, USA
| | - Bassem Allam
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-5000, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zeng X, Zeng Y, Yee JC, Yang H. Biochemical and molecular responses to long-term salinity challenges in northern quahogs Mercenaria mercenaria. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2024; 154:109888. [PMID: 39250983 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2024.109888] [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: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Salinity is a key environmental factor for aquatic organisms for survival, development, distribution, and physiological performance. Salinity fluctuation occurs often in estuary and coastal zones due to weather, tide, and freshwater inflow and thus heavily affects coastal marine aquaculture. The northern quahog Mercenaria mercenaria is an important aquaculture species along the Atlantic coast in the US, but information on the effects of salinity stress on physiological, immunological, and molecular responses is still scarce. The goal of this study was to investigate cellular and molecular responses through challenges of long-term hypo- and hyper-salinities in northern quahogs. The objectives were to: 1) measure the survival of market-sized quahogs under a three-month salinity challenge at 15 (hyposalinity), 25 (control), and 35 ppt (hypersalinity); 2) determine cellular changes of hemocytes through analysis of immune functions; 3) determine changes of the total free amino acid concentration in gills, and 4) evaluate the molecular responses in gills using RNAseq technology with qPCR verification. After a three-month salinity challenge, no mortality was observed, and increases in body weight were identified with a significantly higher increase in the hypersalinity group. Northern quahogs equilibrated their hemolymph osmolality with the ambient seawater and were verified to be osmoconformers. Significant differences were observed in total hemocyte concentration, lysosomal presence, ROS production, and phagocytic rate, but no differences were found in cell viability. The total free amino acid concentration within gills was positively correlated to water salinity, indicating amino acids were critical organic osmolytes. The transcriptome of gills using RNAseq revealed differential expression genes (DEG) encoding amino acid transporters (SLC6A3, SLC6A6, SLC6A13, SLC25A38), ion channel proteins (T38B1, GluCl, ATP2C1), and water channel protein (AQP8) in hyposalinity or/and hypersalinity groups, indicating these genes play critical roles in intracellular isosmotic regulation. Overall, the findings in this study provided new insights into osmoregulation in northern quahogs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xianyuan Zeng
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA
| | - Yangqing Zeng
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA
| | - Jayme C Yee
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA
| | - Huiping Yang
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32653, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Freire JMS, Farias ND, Hégaret H, da Silva PM. Morphological and functional characterization of the oyster Crassostrea gasar circulating hemocytes: Cell types and phagocytosis activity. FISH AND SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY REPORTS 2023; 4:100089. [PMID: 36941832 PMCID: PMC10023951 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsirep.2023.100089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemocytes are the circulating cells of the hemolymph of oysters and are responsible for numerous physiological functions, including immune defense. The oyster Crassostrea gasar is a native species inhabiting mangrove habitat and is of great commercial interest, cultured throughout the Brazilian coast, mainly in the north and northeast. Despite its commercial importance, little is known about its immunological aspects and defense cells, the hemocytes. This work aimed to morphologically characterize hemocytes of the oyster C. gasar and to study one of the main cellular defense response, phagocytosis, using light microscopy and flow cytometry. The results showed the presence of six hemocyte populations in C. gasar hemolymph. These comprise of large and small granulocytes, large and small hyalinocytes, blast-like cells and a rare type classified as vesicular or serous hemocytes. Hyalinocytes were highly abundant and the most heterogeneous cell population, while small granulocytes, along with vesicular hemocytes were the less abundant population. Hemocytes of C. gasar oysters demonstrated capabilities to phagocytose three different types of particles tested: zymosan A, latex particles and Escherichia coli, indicating a broad defense capacity. The zymosan A were the most engulfed particles, followed by beads, mainly phagocytized by granulocytes, the most phagocytic cells, and finally E. coli, which were the least phagocytized. This study is the first characterization of C. gasar oyster hemocytes and will support future studies that aim to understand the participation of different hemocyte types in defense responses against pathogens and/or environmental changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesarela Merabe Silva Freire
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba – Campus I, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Natanael Dantas Farias
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba – Campus I, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Hélène Hégaret
- Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin LEMAR-UMR6539, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Place Copernic, Technopôle Brest-Iroise, 29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Patricia Mirella da Silva
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba – Campus I, 58051-900, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
- Corresponding author.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dong Y, Gao J, Cen J, Zhang J, Lu S, Cui L. Sublethal effects on the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria after exposure to Aureococcus anophagefferens Chinese strain isolates. HARMFUL ALGAE 2023; 124:102413. [PMID: 37164559 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2023.102413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Brown tides caused by Aureococcus anophagefferens occur frequently worldwide and have contributed to the collapse of Mercenaria mercenaria farming in the United States. This economically valuable hard clam has been used in China for more than 20 years. To date, it has remained unknown whether A. anophagefferens Chinese strain has an impact on hard clam cultivation in the coastal areas of China or other sea areas worldwide if it enters through ship ballast water and other ways. In this study, a Chinese strain of A. anophagefferens isolated from the brown tide waters of Bohai Bay, China, was selected to explore its influence on the feedback of hard clams. After being fed with A. anophagefferens, hard clams showed characteristics similar to starvation. The reduced feeding efficiency of hard clams leads to reduced energy intake. However, the immune response and oxidative stress, result in increased energy consumption. An imbalance in the energy budget may be an important reason for hard clam starvation. This study has described the response characteristics of the A. anophagefferens Chinese strain to M. mercenaria, explored the reasons for the negative impact of A. anophagefferens on hard clams, and provides ideas for reducing shellfish aquaculture caused by brown tides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuelei Dong
- Research Center of Harmful Algae and Marine Biology, and Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
| | - Jian Gao
- Research Center of Harmful Algae and Marine Biology, and Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jingyi Cen
- Research Center of Harmful Algae and Marine Biology, and Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Research Center of Harmful Algae and Marine Biology, and Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Songhui Lu
- Research Center of Harmful Algae and Marine Biology, and Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, China.
| | - Lei Cui
- Research Center of Harmful Algae and Marine Biology, and Key Laboratory of Eutrophication and Red Tide Prevention of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Feng Y, Yang Y, Li S, Wu H, Zhao T. Enrichment and delivery of bioavailable zinc by microalgae polyphosphate nanoparticles. Lebensm Wiss Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2022.113818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
6
|
de la Ballina NR, Maresca F, Cao A, Villalba A. Bivalve Haemocyte Subpopulations: A Review. Front Immunol 2022; 13:826255. [PMID: 35464425 PMCID: PMC9024128 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.826255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bivalve molluscs stand out for their ecological success and their key role in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, while also constituting a very valuable commercial resource. Both ecological success and production of bivalves depend on their effective immune defence function, in which haemocytes play a central role acting as both the undertaker of the cellular immunity and supplier of the humoral immunity. Bivalves have different types of haemocytes, which perform different functions. Hence, identification of cell subpopulations and their functional characterisation in immune responses is essential to fully understand the immune system in bivalves. Nowadays, there is not a unified nomenclature that applies to all bivalves. Characterisation of bivalve haemocyte subpopulations is often combined with 1) other multiple parameter assays to determine differences between cell types in immune-related physiological activities, such as phagocytosis, oxidative stress and apoptosis; and 2) immune response to different stressors such as pathogens, temperature, acidification and pollution. This review summarises the major and most recent findings in classification and functional characterisation of the main haemocyte types of bivalve molluscs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nuria R. de la Ballina
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain
| | - Francesco Maresca
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório de Ciências do Mar, Universidade de Évora, Sines, Portugal
| | - Asunción Cao
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain
| | - Antonio Villalba
- Centro de Investigacións Mariñas (CIMA), Consellería do Mar, Xunta de Galicia, Vilanova de Arousa, Spain
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Plentziako Itsas Estazioa (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plentzia, Spain
- *Correspondence: Antonio Villalba,
| |
Collapse
|