Brante Alexandra, Bustos Paulina, Schmitt Paulina, Farlora Rodolfo
Laboratorio de Biotecnología Acuática y Genómica Reproductiva (LABYGER), Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
Laboratorio de Microbiología Integrativa e Innovación Biotecnológica (MIIB-Lab), Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
Mar Biotechnol (NY). 2025 May 10;27(3):84. doi: 10.1007/s10126-025-10463-8.
RNA interference (RNAi) is a conserved mechanism for post-transcriptional gene regulation and a critical process of arthropod immunity. This study investigates RNAi-associated genes in Caligus rogercresseyi, an ectoparasitic sea louse that poses significant challenges to salmon aquaculture. In that regard, 16 RNAi-associated genes were identified by in silico analysis, including Cr-AGO1, Cr-CNOT1, Cr-DCR, Cr-SND1, and Cr-XRN1. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated clustering with homologous sequences from other arthropods, particularly the ectoparasitic copepod Lepeophtheirus salmonis. RNA-Seq analyses revealed developmentally regulated expression patterns, with RNAi-associated genes clustered into four distinct expression profiles. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) validation confirmed significant male-biased expression for several key genes, including Cr-AGO1 (109-fold increase), Cr-DCR (22-fold), Cr-XRN1 (22-fold), Cr-SND1 (fourfold), and Cr-CNOT1 (threefold), suggesting potential roles in male reproductive processes such as spermatogenesis. Cr-DDX6, Cr-Drosha, and Cr-XPO5, potentially involved in oocyte development and RNA transport, exhibited female-biased expression. These results provide new insights into RNAi-associated gene expression in C. rogercresseyi, uncovering significant developmental and sex-biased expression patterns. Characterizing these critical genes establishes a foundation for exploring control strategies based on the RNAi process, targeting sex-biased and developmentally essential genes. Such treatments could reduce reproductive success in sea lice while minimizing environmental impact, offering a sustainable alternative for managing caligidosis in aquaculture.
RNA干扰（RNAi）是一种保守的转录后基因调控机制，也是节肢动物免疫的关键过程。本研究调查了罗杰氏海虱（Caligus rogercresseyi）中与RNAi相关的基因，这种体外寄生的海虱给鲑鱼养殖带来了重大挑战。在这方面，通过计算机分析鉴定出16个与RNAi相关的基因，包括Cr-AGO1、Cr-CNOT1、Cr-DCR、Cr-SND1和Cr-XRN1。系统发育分析表明，它们与其他节肢动物的同源序列聚类，特别是体外寄生的桡足类鲑鳟海虱（Lepeophtheirus salmonis）。RNA测序分析揭示了发育调控的表达模式，与RNAi相关的基因聚为四种不同的表达谱。定量PCR（qPCR）验证证实，包括Cr-AGO1（增加109倍）、Cr-DCR（22倍）、Cr-XRN1（22倍）、Cr-SND1（4倍）和Cr-CNOT1（3倍）在内的几个关键基因存在显著的雄性偏向表达，表明它们在精子发生等雄性生殖过程中可能发挥作用。可能参与卵母细胞发育和RNA转运的Cr-DDX6、Cr-Drosha和Cr-XPO5表现出雌性偏向表达。这些结果为罗杰氏海虱中与RNAi相关的基因表达提供了新的见解，揭示了显著的发育和性别偏向表达模式。对这些关键基因进行表征，为探索基于RNAi过程的控制策略奠定了基础，这些策略针对性别偏向和发育必需的基因。这种处理方法可以降低海虱的繁殖成功率，同时将环境影响降至最低，为水产养殖中治疗海虱病提供了一种可持续的替代方法。
