ABSTRACT
Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a suite of highly conserved proteins whose expressions are generally induced by elevated temperature. However, many Hsps play important roles in both innate and adaptive immunity. On the basis of our previous work on Hsp40 and Hsp70 gene families in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), the objective of this study was to characterize Hsp90, Hsp60, Hsp10, and small Hsp genes, and to investigate their expression profiles after bacterial infections. A total of 20 Hsp genes were identified and annotated in the channel catfish genome, including five Hsp90 genes, one Hsp60 gene, one Hsp10 gene, and 13 sHsp genes. Six Hsp genes were differentially expressed after Edwardsiella ictaluri infection, and 12 were differentially expressed after Flavobacterium columnare infection. Although expression of these genes exhibited both temporal and spatial regulation, the induction of Hsp genes was observed soon after bacterial infection, while the suppression of Hsp genes was observed at later time-points, suggesting their distinct roles in immune responses and disease defenses. A pathogen-specific expression pattern of Hsp90 was observed. After F. columnare infection, all Hsp90 genes were found up-regulated except Hsp90ab1, which was not significantly regulated. However, after E. ictaluri infection, only one Hsp90 gene was found significantly down-regulated. Both pathogen-specific and tissue-specific pattern of expression were observed with small Hsps after E. ictaluri and F. columnare bacterial infections. These results suggested that most of Hsp genes may play important roles in immune response and/or disease defense in channel catfish.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Infections/veterinary , Fish Diseases/metabolism , Fish Diseases/microbiology , Gene Expression Regulation/immunology , Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics , Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism , Ictaluridae/genetics , Animals , Bacterial Infections/metabolism , Base Sequence , Bayes Theorem , Chaperonin 60/genetics , Chaperonin 60/metabolism , Computational Biology , Genomics/methods , HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics , HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism , Heat-Shock Proteins, Small/genetics , Heat-Shock Proteins, Small/metabolism , Likelihood Functions , Models, Genetic , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
The natural coral reef resources degrade rapidly because of climate change, environmental pollution and exploitation of aquarium species. Artificial propagation is an effective way to facilitate the reduction of wild harvesting, reef restoration, preservation of biodiversity. This paper reviewed the technique and research progresses focused on coral artificial propagation. We compared the advantages and disadvantages of sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction as well as in situ and ex situ propagation. Moreover, we summarized the important roles of irradiation, flow rate, nutrients, feed and other factors in coral propagation within recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Irradiation is the key to successful ex situ coral culture and different species show different needs of radiation intensity and light spectrum. Therefore, artificial lighting in RAS, as well as. power and maintenance costs, are very important for ex situ coral aquaculture. In addition, corals are very sensitive to NH4+, NO3-, NO2- as well as phosphate in RAS, and many physical, chemical and biological methods are acquired to maintain low nutrients condition. Although RAS has progressed a lot in terms of irradiation, flow rate and nutrient control, future studies also should focus on sexual reproduction, genetic modification and disease control.
