Transcriptomic and microbiome analyses of copepod Apocyclops royi in response to an AHPND-causing strain of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

• Published in: Developmental and comparative immunology Vol. 162; p. 105277
• Main Authors: Prayoonmaneerat, Natkanokporn, Charoensapsri, Walaiporn, Amparyup, Piti, Imjongjirak, Chanprapa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2025
• Subjects: Copepod; Immune system; Microbiome; Transcriptome; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Vibrio parahaemolyticus; Copepod; Transcriptome; Microbiome; Immune system
• ISSN: 0145-305X; 1879-0089; 1879-0089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2024.105277

Copepods are small crustaceans that live in microorganism-rich aquatic environments and provide a key supply of live food for fish and shellfish larviculture. To better understand the host-pathogen interaction between the copepod and Vibrio parahaemolyticus causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (VPAHPND), the comparative transcriptome and microbiome analyses were conducted in copepod Apocyclops royi-TH following VPAHPND infection. Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 836 differentially expressed genes, with 275 upregulated and 561 downregulated genes. Subsequent analysis showed that a total of 37 differentially expressed genes were associated with the innate immune system, including 16 upregulated genes related to Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, antimicrobial peptides, and stress response genes, and 21 downregulated genes associated with immunological modulators, signaling molecules, and apoptosis-related proteins. Analysis of the copepod microbiome following VPAHPND infection showed that the microbes changed significantly after bacterial infection, with a reduced alpha diversity accompanied by the increased level of Proteobacteria and decreased levels of Bdellovibrionota, Bacteroidota, and Verrucomicrobiota. The population of Vibrio genera were increased significantly, while several other genera, including Denitromonas, Nitrosomonas, Blastopirellula, Fusibacter, Alteromonas, KI89A_clade, and Ruegeria, were decreased significantly after infection. These findings suggest that VPAHPND infection has a significant impact on the immune defense and the composition of the copepod microbiota. •V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND) infection affects the transcriptome and microbiome of the copepod Apocyclops royi.•VPAHPND infection upregulated genes involved in Toll pathway, antimicrobial peptides and stress response of copepod A. royi.•VPAHPND infection leads to altered microbiome structure of copepod A. royi.