ABSTRACT: To investigate a Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) mortality event following a red tide bloom in Southwest Florida, a RNA-Seq experiment was conducted. Cell processes such as immune response, cell proliferation and differentiation and apoptosis were among the most affected by red tide. These were involved in potential diseases such as neoplasms, inflammation, and wounds and injuries, among others. There were both up-regulated and down-regulated genes, but the highest fold changes relative to controls were for genes that were down-regulated. Piccolo presynaptic cytomatrix protein (PCLO) gene, the one most down-regulated (fold change -9.93; p-value 0.0009) is associated with neurotransmitter release, cognitive functioning, neuronal loss, and neuronal synapse function. Another gene that has a similar function, ankyrin 2, neuronal, transcript variant 1 (ANK2) was also down-regulated (fold change -8.66; p-value 0.0023). ANK2 is associated with the stability of neuron synapses. Two immune genes, interleukin 6 (interferon, beta 2) (IL6) and zinc finger protein 804B (ZNF804B), were down-regulated (fold change -9.31; p-value 0.000003 and fold change -8.90; p-value 0.0164, respectively). Interleukin 6 encodes proteins involved in acute phase response, inflammation, and autoimmune response. ZNF804B is associated with neuronal chemokine and cytokine regulation, autoimmune response, and immune activation. The family with sequence similarity 186, member A (FAM186A) gene was down-regulated (fold change -8.79; p-value 0.0143). FAM186A gene mutation is associated with tumor metastasis in colorectal cancer tumors. Among the most up-regulated genes, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) is involved in granulocytic differentiation and also involved with the immune system. Determining the differentially expressed genes associated with red tide enhances our understanding of manatee immune response to red tide toxins and aids in the development of red tide biomarkers. This information will better assist clinicians and researchers in diagnosing and treating future illnesses.
