Transcriptomic Analysis of the Rainbow Trout Response to Single and Co-Infections with Myxobolus cerebralis and Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae at Sites of Parasite Entry

Title (eng)
Transcriptomic Analysis of the Rainbow Trout Response to Single and Co-Infections with Myxobolus cerebralis and Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae at Sites of Parasite Entry
Author
Naveed Akram
Division of Fish Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Author
Reinhard Ertl
VetCore Facility for Research, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Author
Reza Ghanei-Motlagh
Division of Fish Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Author
Christopher J. Secombes
Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
Author
Mansour El-Matbouli
Division of Fish Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Author
Astrid S. Holzer
Division of Fish Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Author
Mona Saleh
Division of Fish Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Abstract (eng)
Parasitic infections, such as those caused by the myxozoans Myxobolus cerebralis and Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae, pose major threats to wild and farmed salmonids due to severe tissue damage and impairment of the host immune system. While individual infections have been studied, limited information is available on the host response during co-infection. This study investigated the transcriptomic immune response of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during single and sequential co-infections with M. cerebralis and T. bryosalmonae using RNA-seq. Trout were exposed to single infections (Mc or Tb) followed by co-infections (Mc+ or Tb+). Fish were sampled at 31 days post-single infection (1 day post-co-infection). RNA from gill and caudal fin (portal of parasite entry) was sequenced, followed by differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identification and GO and KEGG enrichment. In the caudal fin, Mc+ (1 day after co-infection with T. bryosalomne) fish showed mild immune activation with C4B upregulation, while Tb+ fish exhibited a stronger response involving IFI44, ISG15, RSAD2, and TLR7 signaling. In gills, Mc+ fish showed moderate cytokine-related gene upregulation, while Tb+ (1 day after co-infection with M. cerebralis) fish displayed increased expression of humoral response genes (C3, immunoglobulin pathways) but suppression of genes involved in B cell development. These results indicate that the order of infection shapes the outcome of the host immune response, offering candidate targets at the host–pathogen interface.
Keywords (eng)
Whirling DiseaseProliferative Kidney DiseaseTranscriptomeGene OntologyBiological Pathways
Type (eng)
journal article
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4989
DOI
10.3390/ijms26178148
Is in series
Title (eng)
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume
26
Issue
17
ISSN
1422-0067
Issued
2025
Number of pages
38
Publication
MDPI
Version type (eng)
version of record (published version)
Date issued
2025
Access rights (eng)
open access
License
CC BY 4.0 International
Rights statement (eng)
© 2025 by the authors