Changes in the gut microbiome of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in response to White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection

Abstract

Intestinal microorganisms play important roles in maintaining host health, but their functions in aquatic animal hosts have yet to be fully elucidated. The Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, is one such example. We attempted to identify the shift of gut microbiota that occurred in response to infection of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), an emerging viral pathogen in the crab aquaculture industry. The microbiota may exert some control over aspects of the viral pathogenesis. We investigated the changes in composition and structure of the crab gut microbiome during various WSSV infection stages of 6 h post-infection (hpi) and 48 hpi, using a 16S rRNA approach on the MiSeq Illumina sequencing platform. Four phyla (Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Tenericutes and Bacteroidetes) were most dominant in the gut of E. sinensis regardless of the WSSV infection stages. However, further analysis revealed that over 12 bacterial phyla, 44 orders and 68 families were significantly different in abundance at various states of WSSV infection. Several intriguing aspects of E. sinensis gut bacteria that had not been previously reported were also uncovered, such as class Mollicutes was dominant here, but absent in crabs from Yangtze River estuary and Chongming Islands. Overall, this study provided the first evidence that changes in gut microbiome were closely associated with the severity of WSSV infection and that indicator taxa could be used to evaluate the crab health status.

Exploring the Impact of the Biofloc Rearing System and an Oral WSSV Challenge on the Intestinal Bacteriome of Litopenaeus vannamei

“…In our study, the bacterial composition of L. vannamei midgut was affected by the presence of a viral pathogen, similarly to that observed in previous studies using WSSV [ 68 ] and Vibrio [ 19 , 44 , 59 ]. Proteobacteria remained the most predominant phylum in the L. vannamei midgut even after the viral challenge ( Figure 4 ).…”

“…The most impacting results of our study were to characterize the bacterial communities shift in the shrimp midgut challenged by WSSV. To the best of our knowledge, there is only one study on the shift of gut microbiota in response to the WSSV infection evaluated in the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis [ 68 ]. This is the first study investigating the effect of a viral pathogen on the intestinal microbiota of a penaeid species reared in the BFT system.…”

Common specific indigenous bacteria reside in the intestinal tract of Chinese mitten crab ( Eriocheir sinensis )

“…We first analysed the intestinal bacterial community of CMCs in Chongming Island, 130 kilometre northeast to Lake Tai, based on the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the qPCR assay. Both results indicate that, like our (Chen et al, ) and others' (Arango, Iii, & Raffa, ; Ding et al, ; Zhang et al, ) investigation, the bacterial phylum of Tenericutes and Bacteroidetes is dominant in the Chongming Island CMCs as well, including the phylotypes of Bacteroides , Meniscus , Marinifilum , Mollicutes group 1 and Mollicutes group 2. However, the Marinifilum phylotype is far less abundant in comparison to the other four phylotypes (Figures and ).…”

Dysbiosis as a determinant factor of systemic and oral pathology: Importance of micorbiome

“…They parasite all types of cells, including bacteria (bacteriophages), inducing the formation and dissemination of their genetic information by different mechanisms and have been doing so since life began on this planet (perhaps with a leading role in the evolutionary process). 54 Certain diseases, such as the autoimmune disease, may be due to dysbiotic processes in which particles such as viruses act by modifying some proteins. Their action could justify integumentary reactive patterns, such as lichenoid or pemphigoid manifestations, or aphthous ulcerative systemic disorders, Table 2 Recommended measures to reduce dysbiotic processes.…”