Molecular changes in skin pigmented lesions of the coral trout Plectropomus leopardus

Abstract

A high prevalence of skin pigmented lesions of 15% was recently reported in coral trout Plectropomus leopardus, a commercially important marine fish, inhabiting the Great Barrier Reef. Herein, fish were sampled at two offshore sites, characterised by high and low lesion prevalence. A transcriptomic approach using the suppressive subtractive hybridisation (SSH) method was used to analyse the differentially expressed genes between lesion and normal skin samples. Transcriptional changes of 14 genes were observed in lesion samples relative to normal skin samples. These targeted genes encoded for specific proteins which are involved in general cell function but also in different stages disrupted during the tumourigenesis process of other organisms, such as cell cycling, cell proliferation, skeletal organisation and cell migration. The results highlight transcripts that are associated with the lesion occurrence, contributing to a better understanding of the molecular aetiology of this coral trout skin disease.

Preferences and perceptions of the recreational spearfishery of the Great Barrier Reef

“…coral trout) were to become increasingly sparse[32,74]. This could also be true for the IUCN-listed Vulnerable green humphead parrotfish, Bolbometopon muricatum , as documented for international coral reefs where it is often targeted by spearfishers at night[20,22,75], but there is no immediate threat to this species from fisheries on the GBR[47].…”

“…Regardless of the target species, the fact that many spearfishers perceived changes to their catches over time suggests that the sport is dynamic, and that quantitative data on catch sizes, target species and catch-per-unit-effort are needed. Due to the highly selective nature of spearfishing methods towards larger individuals[15,20,21], we suggest it appropriate to monitor populations of species with a high relative catch and/or susceptible reproductive biology, such as tuskfishes, coral trout, and emperors and snappers. This may become increasingly important if Australia’s fish stocks deteriorate in a changing climate[28].…”

“…derelict gear), catch-and-release effects, the requirement of bait and frequent levels of bycatch[18,19], spearfishing may currently be considered a more sustainable approach[15]. However, spearfishing is highly selective, allowing participants to target specific individuals based on species and size, with limited impacts on non-target species[15,20–22]. In a comparison between line and spear fishers on the GBR the mean size of target fish caught by spearfishers was significantly larger than that caught by line-fishers, despite a similar catch composition and catching fewer fish overall[15].…”

Emergence of serranid pigment abnormality syndrome (SPAS) in wire netting cod (Epinephelus quoyanus) from Heron Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef

“…We began to encounter abnormally pigmented E. quoyanus from 2012 onwards as an incidental finding during unrelated research that required capture and tagging of E. quoyanus and stripey snapper (Lutjanus carponotatus) following on from research conducted in the same area in the mid-1990s (Diggles and Ernst 1997). Our awareness of the historical lack of pigment lesions in E. quoyanus and the recent emergence (since 2010) of superficially similar pigment lesions in another member of the Family Serranidae, namely the coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus), from the same region (Sweet et al 2012;Lerebours et al 2016) prompted us to publish these observations. Due to their presently unknown aetiology, we name these abnormalities serranid pigment abnormality syndrome (SPAS).…”

Chromosome Genome Assembly of the Leopard Coral Grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) With Nanopore and Hi-C Sequencing Data

“…In our view, it is a perfect representative model for studying the genetic mechanism of body colouring in coral reef fishes. Moreover, the leopard coral grouper can be used as a material for better understanding the mechanism of melanoma (Lerebours et al, 2016 ), and for gauging the impact of global warming on coral reef ecosystems (Messmer et al, 2017 ). The decoding of P. leopardus 's genome information could yield insight into its ecological significance and accelerate its genetic breeding applications.…”