Integrative Study of Physiological Changes Associated with Bacterial Infection in Pacific Oyster Larvae

Type Article
Date 2013-05
Language English
Author(s) Genard Bertrand1, Miner Philippe2, Nicolas Jean-Louis2, Moraga Dario3, Boudry PierreORCID2, Pernet FabriceORCID2, Tremblay Rejean1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Quebec, Inst Sci Mer, Rimouski, PQ G5L 3A1, Canada.
2 : Inst Francais Rech Exploitat Mer IFREMER, Lab Sci Environm Marin LEMAR, Unite Rech Physiol Fonct Organismes Marins, Plouzane, France.
3 : Univ Bretagne Occidentale, Inst Univ Europeen Mer, Lab Sci Environm Marin LEMAR, Plouzane, France.
Source Plos One (1932-6203) (Public Library Science), 2013-05 , Vol. 8 , N. 5 , P. -
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0064534
WOS© Times Cited 69
Abstract Background:
Bacterial infections are common in bivalve larvae and can lead to significant mortality, notably in hatcheries. Numerous studies have identified the pathogenic bacteria involved in such mortalities, but physiological changes associated with pathogen exposure at larval stage are still poorly understood. In the present study, we used an integrative approach including physiological, enzymatic, biochemical, and molecular analyses to investigate changes in energy metabolism, lipid remodelling, cellular stress, and immune status of Crassostrea gigas larvae subjected to experimental infection with the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio coralliilyticus.
Findings:
Our results showed that V. coralliilyticus exposure induced (1) limited but significant increase of larvae mortality compared with controls, (2) declined feeding activity, which resulted in energy status changes (i.e. reserve consumption, beta-oxidation, decline of metabolic rate), (3) fatty acid remodeling of polar lipids (changes in phosphatidylinositol and lysophosphatidylcholine composition,non-methylene-interrupted fatty acids accumulation, lower content of major C-20 polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as activation of desaturases, phospholipase and lipoxygenase), (4) activation of antioxidant defenses (catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxiredoxin) and cytoprotective processes (heat shock protein 70, pernin), and (5) activation of the immune response (non-self recognition, NF-(kappa kappa) signaling pathway, haematopoiesis, eiconosoids and lysophosphatidyl acid synthesis, inhibitor of metalloproteinase and antimicrobial peptides).
Conclusion:
Overall, our results allowed us to propose an integrative view of changes induced by a bacterial infection in Pacific oyster larvae, opening new perspectives on the response of marine bivalve larvae to infections.
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