Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
In recent years, a massive mortality event has killed millions of sea stars, of many different species, along the Pacific coast of North America. This disease event, known as ‘sea star wasting disease’ (SSWD), is linked to viral infection. In one affected sea star (Pisaster ochraceus), previous work had identified that the elongation factor 1-α locus (EF1A) harbored an intronic insertion allele that is lethal when homozygous yet appears to be maintained at moderate frequency in populations through increased fitness for heterozygotes. The environmental conditions supporting this increased fitness are unknown, but overdominance is often associated with disease. Here, we evaluate populations of P. ochraceus to identify the relationship between SSWD and EF1A genotype. Our data suggest that there may be significantly decreased occurrence of SSWD in individuals that are heterozygous at this locus. These results suggest further studies are warranted to understand the functional relationship between diversity at EF1A and survival in P. ochraceus.
Highlights
One of the more stunning recent news stories pertaining to ocean health was the massive die-off of sea stars on both coasts of North America via a necrotic syndrome known as sea star wasting disease (SSWD) (Hewson et al, 2014)
Our data show that our hypothesis for a relationship between disease status (SSWD) and an apparent overdominant polymorphism in P. ochraceus is strongly supported—results from each sample are in the predicted direction, and overall there is clear evidence that sick individuals are more likely to be EF1A homozygotes than heterozygotes
With limited sampling, our results suggest an intriguing relationship between SSWD susceptibility and the EF1A polymorphism described
Summary
One of the more stunning recent news stories pertaining to ocean health was the massive die-off of sea stars on both coasts of North America via a necrotic syndrome known as sea star wasting disease (SSWD) (Hewson et al, 2014). Hewson et al (2014) identified a candidate densovirus that is in greater abundance in diseased sea stars, and may be a causal agent; there is much yet to be learned. As sea stars are key predators in marine benthic ecosystems, the impacts of disease on these organisms could dramatically restructure coastal communities (Paine, 1966). How to cite this article Wares and Schiebelhut (2016), What doesn’t kill them makes them stronger: an association between elongation factor 1-α overdominance in the sea star Pisaster ochraceus and ‘‘sea star wasting disease’’.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
