Characterizing host-pathogen interactions between Zostera marina and Labyrinthula zosterae

Thumbnail Image

Files

6779145.zip (2.85 MB)
fmars-10-1152647.pdf (1.47 MB)

Links to Files

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1152647/full

Permanent Link

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1152647
 http://hdl.handle.net/11603/29313

Collections

UMBC Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences
UMBC Faculty Collection
UMBC Student Collection

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9793-9801

Date

2023-08-08

Type of Work

journal articles
Text

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Venkataraman YR, Shore A, Dayal S, Lee JS, Alidoost Salimi M, Crandall G, Loeher MM, Stoops M, Swanger M, Eisenlord ME, Van Alstyne KL, Fast MD, Burge CA and Groner ML (2023). Characterizing host-pathogen interactions between Zostera marina and Labyrinthula zosterae. Front. Mar. Sci. 10:1152647. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2023.1152647

Rights

This item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Subjects

Abstract

Introduction: Seagrass meadows serve as an integral component of coastal ecosystems but are declining rapidly due to numerous anthropogenic stressors including climate change. Eelgrass wasting disease, caused by opportunistic Labyrinthula spp., is an increasing concern with rising seawater temperature. To better understand the host-pathogen interaction, we paired whole organism physiological assays with dual transcriptomic analysis of the infected host and parasite. Methods: Eelgrass (Zostera marina) shoots were placed in one of two temperature treatments, 11° C or 18° C, acclimated for 10 days, and exposed to a waterborne inoculation containing infectious Labyrinthula zosterae (Lz) or sterile seawater. At two- and five-days post-exposure, pathogen load, visible disease signs, whole leaf phenolic content, and both host- and pathogen- transcriptomes were characterized. Results: Two days after exposure, more than 90% of plants had visible lesions and Lz DNA was detectable in 100% percent of sampled plants in the Lz exposed treatment. Concentrations of total phenolic compounds were lower after 5 days of combined exposure to warmer temperatures and Lz, but were unaffected in other treatments. Concentrations of condensed tannins were not affected by Lz or temperature, and did not change over time. Analysis of the eelgrass transcriptome revealed 540 differentially expressed genes in response to Lz exposure, but not temperature. Lz-exposed plants had gene expression patterns consistent with increased defense responses through altered regulation of phytohormone biosynthesis, stress response, and immune function pathways. Analysis of the pathogen transcriptome revealed up-regulation of genes potentially involved in breakdown of host defense, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and metabolism. Discussion: The lack of a significant temperature signal was unexpected but suggests a more pronounced physiological response to Lz infection as compared to temperature. Pre-acclimation of eelgrass plants to the temperature treatments may have contributed to the limited physiological responses to temperature. Collectively, these data characterize a widespread physiological response to pathogen attack and demonstrate the value of paired transcriptomics to understand infections in a host-pathogen system.