Distinct immune responses of juvenile and adult oysters ( Crassostrea gigas ) to viral and bacterial infections

• Published in: Veterinary Research
• Main Authors: Green, Timothy J., Vergnes, Agnes, Montagnani, Caroline, De Lorgeril, Julien
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Pacific; Crassostrea gigas
• Online Access: https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/99f2e42a-e9a1-4b83-aaa1-158fad0b621d; https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-016-0356-7; https://research-management.mq.edu.au/ws/files/62174169/Publisher%20version%20(open%20access).pdf; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84978646258&partnerID=8YFLogxK

Since 2008, massive mortality events of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) have been reported worldwide and these disease events are often associated with Ostreid herpesvirus type 1 (OsHV-1). Epidemiological field studies have also reported oyster age and other pathogens of the Vibrio genus are contributing factors to this syndrome. We undertook a controlled laboratory experiment to simultaneously investigate survival and immunological response of juvenile and adult C. gigas at different time-points post-infection with OsHV-1, Vibrio tasmaniensis LGP32 and V. aestuarianus. Our data corroborates epidemiological studies that juveniles are more susceptible to OsHV-1, whereas adults are more susceptible to Vibrio. We measured the expression of 102 immune-genes by high-throughput RT-qPCR, which revealed oysters have different transcriptional responses to OsHV-1 and Vibrio. The transcriptional response in the early stages of OsHV-1 infection involved genes related to apoptosis and the interferon-pathway. Transcriptional response to Vibrio infection involved antimicrobial peptides, heat shock proteins and galectins. Interestingly, oysters in the later stages of OsHV-1 infection had a transcriptional response that resembled an antibacterial response, which is suggestive of the oyster's microbiome causing secondary infections (dysbiosis-driven pathology). This study provides molecular evidence that oysters can mount distinct immune response to viral and bacterial pathogens and these responses differ depending on the age of the host.