Temperature elevation and Vibrio cyclitrophicus infection reduce the diversity of haemolymph microbiome of the mussel Mytilus coruscus

Abstract

Haemolymph microbiome was considered to be unique to healthy invertebrates and beneficial to the host against external pathogens, including disease resistance and maintenance of homeostasis. Here, we investigated the effects of elevated water temperature on infection of haemolymph microbiome of the hard-shelled mussel (Mytilus coruscus). Exposure to Vibrio. cyclitrophicus resulted in high mortality of mussels on day nine at 27 °C. The haemolymph was collected to determine the microbiota by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. Exposure to waterborne V. cyclitrophicus increased the mortality of mussels that was associated with a reduction in the diversity of their microbial community. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed that temperature was an essential factor in shaping microbial communities in mussel haemolymph. Vibrio exposure promoted the proliferation of opportunistic pathogens (e.g., Arcobacter and Francisella) at a lower temperature. A high abundance of Vibrio present in live and dead mussels, at 27 °C might contribute greatly to mortality, as indicated by linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe). These data suggested that the dynamics of microbial community have unique biomarker species in mussel haemolymph that could be used as health indicators. An elevated temperature may reduce the ability of bacterial elimination function against infection in mussel haemolymph.