Project description:We modeled profiles of ovary gene expression and their relationship to egg quality, evaluated as production of viable mid-blastula stage embryos, in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) using artificial neural networks and supervised machine learning. Collective changes in expression of a limited suite of genes (233) representing only 2% of the queried ovary transcriptome explained >90% of the eventual variance in embryo survival. Egg quality related to minor changes in expression (M-bM-^IM-$0.2-fold), with most gene transcripts making minor contribution (<1%) to the overall prediction of egg quality. Correlation analyses of this suite of candidate genes indicated that collective dysfunction of the ubiquitin-26S proteasome, COP9 signalosome, and subsequent control of the cell cycle engenders embryonic developmental incompetence in striped bass. Our results show that the transcriptomic signature evidencing this dysfunction is of, and therefore likely to influence, egg quality, a biologically complex trait that is crucial to reproductive fitness. Female striped bass were sorted into groups (N=8 each) producing M-bM-^@M-^Xhigh qualityM-bM-^@M-^Y or M-bM-^@M-^Xlow qualityM-bM-^@M-^Y eggs (spawns) based upon the percentage of eggs bearing viable 4 h embryos. Spawns with >50% of eggs producing 4 h embryos were considered to be of high quality and spawns with <30% of eggs producing 4 h embryos were considered to be of low quality.
Project description:To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the rice plant-mediated interaction between brown planthopper (BPH) and striped stem borer (SSB), gene expression changes in rice plant response to infestation by SSB, BPH or both and control were analyzed by RNA-seq.
Project description:Rice, the world’s most important food crop, is attacked by multiple herbivores and pathogens.the rice striped stem borer (SSB) Chilo suppressalis is one of another most important rice insect pests. Here, we use Affymetrix Whole-Genome rice arrays to detect SSB infestation responsive genes.
Project description:White bass (Morone chrysops) are a popular sportfish throughout the southern United States, and one parent of the commercially successful hybrid striped bass (M. chrysops x M. saxatilis). Currently, white bass are cultured using diets formulated for other carnivorous fish, such as largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) or hybrid striped bass and contain a significant percentage of marine fish meal. Since there are no studies regarding the utilization of alternative proteins in this species, we evaluated global gene expression of white bass fed diets in which fish meal was partially or totally replaced by various combinations of soybean meal, poultry by-product meal, canola meal, soy protein concentrate, wheat gluten, or a commercial protein blend (Pro-Cision). Significant differential expressed genes and gene ontology of pairwise comparisons between control diet and each test diet are presented and discussed.
Project description:Streptococcal disease results in major mortality events of both marine and freshwater fishes worldwide. Streptococcus iniae is among the prominent causative bacterial strains as it has been found to cause a higher incidence of mortality and act as a zoonotic pathogen. Here we examine the susceptibility of two important aquaculture species in the United States, striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and white bass (Morone chrysops), to S. iniae. A high incidence of mortality was observed in both species, although striped bass succumbed more rapidly than white bass. Spleen gene expression at three time points following infection was analyzed to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying these observations. The down-regulation of gene transcripts associated with pathogen detection (tlr1, tlr8, tlr9), antigen processing (cd74a), immune cell recruitment and migration (ccl44, ccr6b, ccr7), macrophage function (csf1ra), T-cell signaling and NF-kB activation (card11, fyna, tirap) was detected in both species. These findings potentially indicate impairment in these critical early immune system processes such that both species were ultimately highly susceptible to S. iniae infection despite the detected up-regulation of transcripts typically associated with effective immune response, such as cytokines (il1β, il8, il12b2, il17rc, tnfb) and hepcidins (hamp, hamp2). The presented results collectively identify several candidate genes and associated pathways for further investigation to characterize the vulnerability of striped bass and white bass to S. iniae and that may be considered for selective breeding efforts, biotechnological intervention, and/or exploitation in the development of vaccines and alternative treatments.