Abstract
BackgroundAs a major threat to the oyster industry, Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) is a polymicrobial disease affecting the main oyster species farmed across the world. POMS affects oyster juveniles and became panzootic this last decade, but POMS resistance in some oyster genotypes has emerged. While we know some genetic loci associated with resistance, the underlying mechanisms remained uncharacterized. So, we developed a comparative transcriptomic approach using basal gene expression profiles between different oyster biparental families with contrasted phenotypes when confronted to POMS (resistant or susceptible).ResultsWe showed that POMS resistant oysters show differential expression of genes involved in stress responses, protein modifications, maintenance of DNA integrity and repair, and immune and antiviral pathways. We found similarities and clear differences among different molecular pathways in the different resistant families. These results suggest that the resistance process is polygenic and partially varies according to the oyster genotype.ConclusionsWe found differences in basal expression levels of genes related to TLR-NFκB, JAK-STAT and STING-RLR pathways. These differences could explain the best antiviral response, as well as the robustness of resistant oysters when confronted to POMS. As some of these genes represent valuable candidates for selective breeding, we propose future studies should further examine their function.
Highlights
As a major threat to the oyster industry, Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) is a polymicrobial disease affecting the main oyster species farmed across the world
Many genomic resources have been developed including a reference genome [13] and SNP arrays [14]. These resources enabled an investigation of the genetic architecture of C. gigas resistance to OsHV-1 infection; juvenile oysters were experimentally challenged with OsHV-1 and genotyped using a high density linkage map constructed for the Pacific oyster [15]
Three additional biparental families were produced from broodstocks originating from a mass selection program for higher survival for POMS [16] (Fig. 1)
Summary
As a major threat to the oyster industry, Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) is a polymicrobial disease affecting the main oyster species farmed across the world. Many genomic resources have been developed including a reference genome [13] and SNP arrays [14] These resources enabled an investigation of the genetic architecture of C. gigas resistance to OsHV-1 infection; juvenile oysters were experimentally challenged with OsHV-1 and genotyped using a high density linkage map constructed for the Pacific oyster [15]. Several SNPs showing an association with survival and/or viral load were located in several genes encoding a RAN Binding Protein 9, a Coronin and an actin motor protein Myo. Several SNPs showing an association with survival and/or viral load were located in several genes encoding a RAN Binding Protein 9, a Coronin and an actin motor protein Myo10 Their involvement in the resistance process remains unknown. The genetic components responsible for this early induction remain unidentified
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