Project description:Here, we investigate the genetic mechanisms that underlie thermal specialization of closely-related vibrios isolated from coastal water at the Beaufort Inlet (Beaufort, NC, USA). This location experiences large seasonal temperature fluctuations (annual range of ~20°C), and a clear seasonal shift in vibrio diversity has been observed (Yung et al. 2015). This previous study suggested that the mechanisms of thermal adaptation apparently differ based on evolutionary timescale: shifts in the temperature of maximal growth occur between deeply branching clades but the shape of the thermal performance curve changes on shorter time scales (Yung et al. 2015). The observed thermal specialization in vibrio populations over relatively short evolutionary time scales indicates that few genes or cellular processes may contribute to the differences in thermal performance between populations. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie adaptation to local thermal regimes in environmental vibrio populations, we employ genomic and transcriptomic approaches to examine transcriptomic changes that occur within strains grown at their thermal optima and under heat and cold stress. Moreover, we compare two closely-related strains with different laboratory thermal preferences to identify in situ evolutionary responses to different thermal environments in genome content and alleles as well as gene expression.
Project description:Thermal stress is a serious and growing challenge facing Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) living in the southern portion of their native range. River alterations have increased the likelihood that juveniles will be exposed to warm water temperatures during their freshwater life stage, which can negatively impact survival, growth, and development and poses a threat to dwindling salmon populations. In order to better understand how acute thermal stress affects the biology of salmon, we performed a transcriptional analysis of gill tissue from unacclimated Chinook juveniles exposed to short periods at water temperatures ranging from ideal to potentially lethal. Reverse transcribed RNA libraries were sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq2000 platform and a de novo reference transcriptome was created. Differentially expressed transcripts were annotated using Blast2GO and relevant gene clusters were identified.
Project description:Thermal history plays a role in the response of corals to subsequent heat stress. Prior heat stress can have a profound impact on later thermal tolerance, but the mechanism for this plasticity is not clear. The understanding of gene expression changes behind physiological acclimatization is critical in forecasts of coral health in impending climate change scenarios. Acropora millepora fragments were preconditioned to sublethal bleaching threshold stress for a period of 10 days; this prestress conferred bleaching resistance in subsequent thermal challenge, in which non-preconditioned coral bleached. Using microarrays, we analyze the transcriptomes of the coral host, comparing the bleaching-resistant preconditioned treatment to non-preconditioned and control treatments.
Project description:Thermal history plays a role in the response of corals to subsequent heat stress. Prior heat stress can have a profound impact on later thermal tolerance, but the mechanism for this plasticity is not clear. The understanding of gene expression changes behind physiological acclimatization is critical in forecasts of coral health in impending climate change scenarios. Acropora millepora fragments were preconditioned to sublethal bleaching threshold stress for a period of 10 days; this prestress conferred bleaching resistance in subsequent thermal challenge, in which non-preconditioned coral bleached. Using microarrays, we analyze the transcriptomes of the coral host, comparing the bleaching-resistant preconditioned treatment to non-preconditioned and control treatments. This experiment compared host gene expression of Acropora millepora across control, non-preconditioned, and preconditioned treatments. Fragments were sampled prior to preconditioning (Day 4), following 10 days of thermal preconditioning (Day 20), and after two (Day 23), four (Day 25), and eight days (Day 29) of 31M-BM-0C thermal challenge. The analysis implements 45 arrays, representing 5 sampling points of three treatments (n=3).
Project description:Thermal stress is a serious and growing challenge facing Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) living in the southern portion of their native range. River alterations have increased the likelihood that juveniles will be exposed to warm water temperatures during their freshwater life stage, which can negatively impact survival, growth, and development and poses a threat to dwindling salmon populations. In order to better understand how acute thermal stress affects the biology of salmon, we performed a transcriptional analysis of gill tissue from unacclimated Chinook juveniles exposed to short periods at water temperatures ranging from ideal to potentially lethal. Reverse transcribed RNA libraries were sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq2000 platform and a de novo reference transcriptome was created. Differentially expressed transcripts were annotated using Blast2GO and relevant gene clusters were identified. Fifty-five fish were randomly assigned to one of five treatment groups and were allowed to acclimate at 12 degrees C in the experimental chambers overnight. Treatments consisted of a three-hour water bath at 15 degrees C, 18 degrees C, 21 degrees C or 25 degrees C degrees, followed by one hour of recovery at 12 degrees C. The experimental chambers were moved to water baths held at a constant temperature, facilitating very rapid change in the temperature experienced by the fish. Controls were handled identically to the other four treatment groups, but remained at 12 degrees C. Three replicates were performed on consecutive days. RNA from the 11 individuals in each treatment group were proportionally pooled and used to create 15 illumina libraries.