AUTHOR=Yang Zhengkuan , Wang Yihang , Jiang Puyuan , Xia Feiyu , Xu Ying , Tian Xiaofei , Zhang Xiumei 

TITLE=Physiological and transcriptomic analyses reveal critical immune responses to hypoxia and sulfide in the haemolymph of clam Tegillarca granosa

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1139973

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2023.1139973

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=<p>Hypoxia and sulfide are inducing potential damage to aquatic organisms. However, the effects of hypoxia and sulfide on their immune systems and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In the present study, the clam <italic>Tegillarca granosa</italic> was exposed to hypoxia alone or in combination with sulfide (0.1, 0.5 mM) to investigate the physiological and transcriptomic responses in haemolymph. The <italic>IBR</italic> analysis revealed that moderate sulfide stimulated immune responses <italic>via</italic> increasing the total hemocyte counts, phagocytic activity, antibacterial activity, and antioxidant activity. The transcriptomic analysis revealed many critical signaling pathways (Toll and Imd, FoxO, NLR) and biological processes (antimicrobial/antibacterial peptide, interferon, interleukin, leukocyte, lymphocyte, mitophagy) involved in the immunostimulation. Our results would offer insights into the sulfide-tolerant molecular mechanisms in this species and provide a useful tool for assessing the integrated biological impacts of hypoxia and sulfide on shellfish.</p>