Article
Fisheries
Zhenguo Hu, Weiwei Zhang, Weikang Liang, Zhen Zhang, Ming Guo, Chenghua Li
Summary: A bacterium identified as Bacillus cereus LS2 isolated from healthy sea cucumbers showed strong antagonistic activity against Vibrio splendidus, potentially through the production of a lipopeptide. The antagonistic substance had a molecular weight less than 3 kDa, was sensitive to trypsin but stable at high temperatures, and could be precipitated by acid and dissolved in anhydrous methanol.
Article
Fisheries
Ya Li, Huirong Yang, Jinxia Zhang, Weibo Shi, Weisheng Li, Weiwei Zhang
Summary: This study focused on Vibrio splendidus, a marine pathogen that infects various aquaculture animals. The researchers cloned the catalytic domain of the vspC gene and successfully purified the recombinant catalytic domain rVspC. They found that rVspC can degrade collagen from the body wall and coelomocytes of Apostichopus japonicus. Transcriptomics analysis revealed gene expression changes in A. japonicus injected with rVspC, including upregulation of MMP-14 and downregulation of laminin. Immune-related pathways were affected, with downregulation of apoptosis, lysosome, phagosome, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, and antigen processing and presentation, and upregulation of endocytosis. The study also identified a regulatory pathway of Hfq-SmcR-VspC at high cell density of V. splendidus, indicating the positive regulation of SmcR by Hfq and its role in the expression of the vspC gene. Furthermore, the comparative analysis of VspC's catalytic domain sequences suggests the widespread presence of collagenase homologs in bacteria, potentially playing important roles in colonization, environmental adaptation, and virulence.
Article
Fisheries
Fangyuan Zhou, Lianlian Sun, Yina Shao, Xiumei Zhang, Chenghua Li
Summary: Glutaminolysis plays an important role in the immune response in Apostichopus japonicus. Decreased levels of glutaminolysis metabolic substrates and products were observed, accompanied by an increase in glutathione. The key genes in glutaminolysis were upregulated in response to pathogen infection. AMPK beta can regulate glutaminolysis by influencing the uptake of glutamine. Silencing AjAMPK beta leads to increased levels of glutamine and glutamate, decreased production of glutathione, and a reduction in redox homeostasis indexes.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Kaiyu Chen, Yina Shao, Chenghua Li
Summary: The sea cucumber AjULK was found to be significantly upregulated after pathogen challenge and involved in autophagy regulation along with other autophagy-related genes. Knockdown of AjULK markedly inhibited the autophagy signal and affected protein levels inside cells, ultimately restricting bacterial invasion.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhen Zhang, Mingshan Song, Zhimeng Lv, Ming Guo, Chenghua Li
Summary: This study explores the relationship between gut microbiota, lipid metabolites, and the development of skin ulceration syndrome (SUS) in sea cucumbers infected with Vibrio splendidus. The results indicate that V. splendidus infection alters gut microbiota and lipid metabolites, affecting the inflammatory mechanisms related to SUS, providing valuable insights for disease prediction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Yingfen Dai, Zhimeng Lv, Meixiang You, Lianlian Sun, Chenghua Li
Summary: Organisms trigger pro-inflammatory responses to resist foreign pathogens, but excessive or chronic inflammation can cause diseases. This study found that the PPAR alpha gene in sea cucumbers was significantly induced at the late stage of infection and negatively correlated with AjIL-17 and AjNLRP3 expression. The results supported that AjPPAR alpha exerted anti-inflammatory effects through inhibiting AjRel.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Wenyang Ma, Ya Li, Weibo Shi, Weiwei Zhang, Qingxi Han
Summary: This study investigated the role of Ajpacifastin-like in regulating the immune response in the sea cucumber. It was found that Ajpacifastin-like can inhibit bacterial growth and regulate multiple immune pathways. Transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed genes, providing further insights into the function of Ajpacifastin-like.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yushi Yu, Peng Ding, Xiyuan Huang, Xiajing Wang, Zihe Zhao, Huiyan Wang, Jun Ding, Yaqing Chang, Chong Zhao
Summary: The treatment with probiotic Bacillus licheniformis effectively reduces the number of sea cucumbers infected with skin ulceration syndrome (SUS) caused by Vibrio harveyi and improves their symptoms and survival rate. Furthermore, the treatment controls the residual pathogenicity of SUS in the culture water. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of Bacillus licheniformis treatment as an environmentally friendly approach in sea cucumber aquaculture.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Yue Shi, Changyu Liao, Fa Dai, Yiwei Zhang, Chenghua Li, Weikang Liang
Summary: Vibrio splendidus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes significant losses to the Apostichopus japonicus breeding industry. By investigating the role of the Vsfur gene in biofilm, swarming motility, and virulence, it was found that Vsfur contributes to the pathogenesis of V. splendidus.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Xuemei Duan, Yina Shao, Zhongjie Che, Xuelin Zhao, Ming Guo, Chenghua Li, Weikang Liang
Summary: This study highlights the importance of m6A circRNAs in sea cucumbers, especially in pathogen infections, and suggests their potential as novel molecular biomarkers for disease diagnostics in A. japonicus.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Yina Shao, Xuemei Duan, Xuelin Zhao, Zhimeng Lv, Chenghua Li
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive characterization of dynamic m(6)A methylation modification in different stages of disease in sea cucumber. The results show that m(6)A modification is significantly increased after Vibrio splendidus infection in sea cucumber, and it plays a positive regulatory role in gene expression. The highly methylated m(6)A might serve as a conformational marker and contribute to the initiation of related anti-disease gene transcription.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Weikang Liang, Weiwei Zhang, Chenghua Li
Summary: In this study, the pathogenesis of Vibrio splendidus was investigated using mutant strains with an hppDV.s. deletion. The results showed that hppDV.s. plays a crucial role in amino acid metabolism, protein binding, glutamate metabolism, ATP production, flagellum assembly, swarming motility, biofilm formation, and colonization abilities of V. splendidus.
Article
Biology
Jiqing Liu, Yina Shao, Dongdong Li, Chenghua Li
Summary: This study reveals that N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification regulates autophagy in Apostichopus japonicus during Vibrio splendidus infection. The AjULK-AjYTHDF/AjEEF-1 alpha signaling pathway is involved in m6A-mediated resistance against V. splendidus infection. These findings provide a theoretical basis for disease prevention and therapy in A. japonicus.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Cheng Li, Xuan Xing, Hongqing Qi, Ying Liu, Fanjie Jian, Jihui Wang
Summary: Screening significant differential metabolites during infection of Apostichopus japonicus (A. japonicus) by pathogens can improve immune ability and guide healthy culture. The arachidonic acid (ARA) metabolism pathway was found to play an important role in the immune stress of A. japonicus. Exogenous ARA consumption significantly increased immune-related enzyme activity and survival rate in A. japonicus.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Tanjun Zhao, Liyuan Ren, Chengda Li, Li Liu, Yang Zou, Hanyu Yan, Yaoyao Zhan, Yaqing Chang
Summary: This study reveals the regulatory role of miR-7 in the pathogen-induced immune response in A. japonicus by targeting PAK1, highlighting its importance in immune regulation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Zhimeng Lv, Guanghui Han, Chenghua Li
Summary: The TIMP1 gene plays a crucial role in inflammatory diseases in vertebrates, responding to bacterial challenge and LPS exposure. AjTIMP1 is expressed in all tissues, with the highest levels in the body wall. Imbalance in AjMMP1/AjTIMP1 ratio was observed in skin ulceration syndrome patients, leading to an inflammatory response with ROS formation and collagen degradation.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Zhimeng Lv, Ming Guo, Xuelin Zhao, Yina Shao, Weiwei Zhang, Chenghua Li
Summary: This study provides functional evidence that IL-17 is a conserved cytokine in invertebrates, specifically in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. The expression of A. japonicus IL-17 (AjIL-17) was positively correlated with the development of inflammation, and the administration of purified recombinant AjIL-17 protein directly promoted inflammation. A novel IL-17R counterpart was identified in the sea cucumber genome and shown to bind AjIL-17. AjIL-17/AjIL-17R regulated inflammatory responses by promoting TRAF6 ubiquitination, p65 nuclear translocation, and coelomocyte proliferation and migration.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Siyuan Zhang, Yina Shao, Dongdong Li, Chenghua Li
Summary: m6A modified lncRNAs in sea cucumbers may serve as potential regulators associated with skin ulceration syndrome (SUS) and provide a promising avenue for disease therapy through targeting METTL3.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Fangyuan Zhou, Lianlian Sun, Yina Shao, Xiumei Zhang, Chenghua Li
Summary: Glutaminolysis plays an important role in the immune response in Apostichopus japonicus. Decreased levels of glutaminolysis metabolic substrates and products were observed, accompanied by an increase in glutathione. The key genes in glutaminolysis were upregulated in response to pathogen infection. AMPK beta can regulate glutaminolysis by influencing the uptake of glutamine. Silencing AjAMPK beta leads to increased levels of glutamine and glutamate, decreased production of glutathione, and a reduction in redox homeostasis indexes.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Junjie Wan, Xuelin Zhao, Jiqing Liu, Kaiyu Chen, Chenghua Li
Summary: In this study, a novel SFK homologue (AjSrc) was identified in Apostichopus japonicus, which mediated Vibrio splendidus-induced coelomocytes' phagocytosis via interacting with focal adhesion kinase (AjFAK) and co-phosphorylation. This study enriched the mechanism of phagocytosis in echinoderm and provided a new theoretical foundation for disease control of sea cucumber.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Chuili Zeng, Ming Guo, Yangxi Xiang, Mingshan Song, Ke Xiao, Chenghua Li
Summary: This study provides evidence that AjFGF4-AjFGFR2-ERK-cell cycle axis mediated cell proliferation is the driving force for mesentery-derived intestine regeneration in echinoderms.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Yuanlan Wu, Xuelin Zhao, Yangxi Xiang, Ming Guo, Chenghua Li
Summary: In this study, the echinoderm MAPK family was identified and analyzed, revealing insights into its evolutionary history and immune function.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Kangrong Yu, Xuelin Zhao, Yangxi Xiang, Chenghua Li
Summary: The hemocytes of invertebrates have different cell subsets with different morphologies and structures, which have different immune functions. In this study, two coelomocyte subpopulations of Apostichopus japonicus were identified and found to have functional differences. Spherical cells showed higher phagocytic capacity and lysosomal activity, suggesting they play a more critical role in immune responses. Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed significantly different gene expression patterns between the two cell subsets, with spherical cells participating in immune defense and lymphocyte-like cells participating in energy metabolism.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Xianmu Fu, Ming Guo, Jiqing Liu, Chenghua Li
Summary: Circ432, a circRNA identified from sea cucumber with skin ulcer syndrome, has been found to be induced by Vibrio splendidus challenge and LPS exposure. It acts as a sponge for miR-2008 and regulates coelomocytes phagocytosis through the miR-2008-AjELMO1 axis.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yanan Li, Weikang Liang, Chenghua Li
Summary: Vibrio splendidus is an opportunistic pathogen causing aquaculture disease infections globally. The formation of bacterial persister cells contributes to antibiotic treatment difficulties and exogenous adenosine or guanosine can restore susceptibility to tetracycline and effectively kill these persisting cells. Mechanistically, these nucleosides improve intracellular ATP levels, reduce protein aggresomes, and disrupt membrane stability. Furthermore, cells with a small nucleocytoplasmic ratio have higher chances of survival when exposed to tetracycline. Overall, exogenous adenosine or guanosine could be an effective strategy for treating antibiotic-persisting infections.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Fa Dai, Ming Guo, Yina Shao, Chenghua Li
Summary: The study identified a novel T3SS effector protein, STPKLRR, in Vibrio splendidus AJ01. It was found that STPKLRR could phosphorylate AjTmod and promote cytoskeleton rearrangement, leading to self-internalization of the bacteria.
Article
Fisheries
Dongdong Li, Ming Guo, Weikang Liang, Chunhua Jin, Chenghua Li
Summary: This study revealed the functional role of CHOP in sea cucumbers and the mechanism by which it regulates apoptosis. It was found that in sea cucumbers, CHOP mediates apoptosis induced by V. splendidus through the activation of the p38-MAPK pathway rather than the JNK/ERK-MAPK pathway.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Chuili Zeng, Wenjun Tao, Xianmu Fu, Chenghua Li, Ming Guo
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in regulating coelomocyte apoptosis in Apostichopus japonicus. They found that a specific circRNA, circ254, could sponge miR-375 and regulate the expression of AjBAG2, which is involved in coelomocyte apoptosis. Knockdown of circ254 promoted coelomocyte apoptosis, while circ254 silencing down-regulated AjBAG2 expression. These findings suggest that circ254 functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to regulate coelomocyte apoptosis in A. japonicus.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Meixiang You, Lianlian Sun, Chenghua Li, Si Zhu
Summary: Cholesterol metabolism in Apostichopus japonicus is dynamically altered in response to LPS stimulation, with lipophagy playing a crucial role in balancing cholesterol-induced inflammation. This metabolic response is important for regulating various functions including skeletal, muscular, and immune systems.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Sikou Shen, Yina Shao, Chenghua Li
Summary: Cell death is the irreversible cessation of life and a fundamental physiological process in all organisms, involved in embryonic development, organ maintenance, and autoimmunity. Advances in understanding the mechanisms of cell death have identified different types of programmed cell death and key genes involved. However, little research has focused on the conversion between different cell death modes and their application in diseases. Despite significant discoveries, there are still many unknowns in this field.
CELL DEATH DISCOVERY
(2023)