Understanding pseudo-albinism in sole (Solea senegalensis): a transcriptomics and metagenomics approach

Pinto, Patricia IS; Guerreiro, Claudia; Costa, Rita A.; Martinez-Blanch, Juan F.; Carballo, Carlos; Codoñer, Francisco M.; Manchado, Manuel; Power, Deborah

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/12813

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Authors

Pinto, Patricia IS

Guerreiro, Claudia

Costa, Rita A.

Martinez-Blanch, Juan F.

Carballo, Carlos

Codoñer, Francisco M.

Manchado, Manuel

Power, Deborah

Abstract(s)

Pseudo-albinism is a pigmentation disorder observed in flatfish aquaculture with a complex, multi-factor aetiology. We tested the hypothesis that pigmentation abnormalities are an overt signal of more generalised modifications in tissue structure and function, using as a model the Senegalese sole and two important innate immune barriers, the skin and intestine, and their microbiomes. Stereological analyses in pseudo-albino sole revealed a significantly increased mucous cell number in skin (P < 0.001) and a significantly thicker muscle layer and lamina propria in gut (P < 0.001). RNA-seq transcriptome analysis of the skin and gut identified 573 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs, FDR < 0.05) between pseudo-albino and pigmented soles (one pool/tissue from 4 individuals/phenotype). DETs were mainly linked to pigment production, skin structure and regeneration and smooth muscle contraction. The microbiome (16 S rRNA analysis) was highly diverse in pigmented and pseudo-albino skin but in gut had low complexity and diverged between the two pigmentation phenotypes. Quantitative PCR revealed significantly lower loads of Mycoplasma (P < 0.05) and Vibrio bacteria (P < 0.01) in pseudo-albino compared to the control. The study revealed that pseudo-albinism in addition to pigmentation changes was associated with generalised changes in the skin and gut structure and a modification in the gut microbiome.