Differential gene expression in response to fungal pathogen exposure in the aquatic invertebrate, 'Daphnia dentifera'
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Published version
Date
2023-08
Authors
Terrill Sondag, Emily E.
Stewart Merrill, Tara E.
Drnevich, Jenny
Holmes, Jessica R.
Fischer, Eva K.
Cáceres, Carla E.
Strickland, Lynette R.
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Published version
OA Version
Citation
E.E. Terrill Sondag, T.E. Stewart Merrill, J. Drnevich, J.R. Holmes, E.K. Fischer, C.E. Cáceres, L.R. Strickland. 2023. "Differential gene expression in response to fungal pathogen exposure in the aquatic invertebrate, 'Daphnia dentifera' " Ecology and Evolution, Volume 13, Issue 8. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10354
Abstract
While vertebrate immune systems are appreciated for their complexity and adaptability, invertebrate immunity is often considered to be less complex. However, immune responses in many invertebrates likely involve sophisticated processes. Interactions between the crustacean host Daphnia dentifera and its fungal pathogen Metschnikowia bicuspidata provide an excellent model for exploring the mechanisms underlying crustacean immunity. To explore the genomic basis of immunity in Daphnia, we used RNA‐sequencing technology to quantify differential gene expression between individuals of a single host genotype exposed or unexposed to M. bicuspidata over 24 h. Transcriptomic analyses showed that the number of differentially expressed genes between the control (unexposed) and experimental (exposed) groups increased over time. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were enriched for immune‐related molecules and processes, such as cuticle development, prostaglandin, and defense response processes. Our findings provide a suite of immunologically relevant genes and suggest the presence of a rapidly upregulated immune response involving the cuticle in Daphnia. Studies involving gene expression responses to pathogen exposure shine a light on the processes occurring during the course of infection. By leveraging knowledge on the genetic basis for immunity, immune mechanisms can be more thoroughly understood to refine our understanding of disease spread within invertebrate populations.
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This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2023 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.