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Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis strain affects transcriptomic response in liver but not skin in latitudinal populations of the common toad (Bufo bufo)

Chondrelli, Niki ; Kuehn, Emily ; Meurling, Sara ; Cortázar-Chinarro, Maria LU ; Laurila, Anssi and Höglund, Jacob (2024) In Scientific Reports 14.
Abstract

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungal pathogen that has decimated amphibian populations worldwide for several decades. We examined the changes in gene expression in response to Bd infection in two populations of the common toad, Bufo bufo, in a laboratory experiment. We collected B. bufo eggs in southern and northern Sweden, and infected the laboratory-raised metamorphs with two strains of the global panzoonotic lineage Bd-GPL. Differential expression analysis showed significant differences between infected and control individuals in both liver and skin. The skin samples showed no discernible differences in gene expression between the two strains used, while liver samples were differentiated by strain, with one of the strains... (More)

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungal pathogen that has decimated amphibian populations worldwide for several decades. We examined the changes in gene expression in response to Bd infection in two populations of the common toad, Bufo bufo, in a laboratory experiment. We collected B. bufo eggs in southern and northern Sweden, and infected the laboratory-raised metamorphs with two strains of the global panzoonotic lineage Bd-GPL. Differential expression analysis showed significant differences between infected and control individuals in both liver and skin. The skin samples showed no discernible differences in gene expression between the two strains used, while liver samples were differentiated by strain, with one of the strains eliciting no immune response from infected toads. Immune system genes were overexpressed in skin samples from surviving infected individuals, while in liver samples the pattern was more diffuse. Splitting samples by population revealed a stronger immune response in northern individuals. Differences in transcriptional regulation between populations are particularly relevant to study in Swedish amphibians, which may have experienced varying exposure to Bd. Earlier exposure to this pathogen and subsequent adaptation or selection pressure may contribute to the survival of some populations over others, while standing genetic diversity in different populations may also affect the infection outcome.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scientific Reports
volume
14
article number
2495
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:38291226
  • scopus:85183627769
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-024-52975-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b1e8cfd3-ace5-42cc-a6ef-68a69b0bd6a8
date added to LUP
2024-02-19 14:26:53
date last changed
2024-04-19 16:29:41
@article{b1e8cfd3-ace5-42cc-a6ef-68a69b0bd6a8,
  abstract     = {{<p>Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungal pathogen that has decimated amphibian populations worldwide for several decades. We examined the changes in gene expression in response to Bd infection in two populations of the common toad, Bufo bufo, in a laboratory experiment. We collected B. bufo eggs in southern and northern Sweden, and infected the laboratory-raised metamorphs with two strains of the global panzoonotic lineage Bd-GPL. Differential expression analysis showed significant differences between infected and control individuals in both liver and skin. The skin samples showed no discernible differences in gene expression between the two strains used, while liver samples were differentiated by strain, with one of the strains eliciting no immune response from infected toads. Immune system genes were overexpressed in skin samples from surviving infected individuals, while in liver samples the pattern was more diffuse. Splitting samples by population revealed a stronger immune response in northern individuals. Differences in transcriptional regulation between populations are particularly relevant to study in Swedish amphibians, which may have experienced varying exposure to Bd. Earlier exposure to this pathogen and subsequent adaptation or selection pressure may contribute to the survival of some populations over others, while standing genetic diversity in different populations may also affect the infection outcome.</p>}},
  author       = {{Chondrelli, Niki and Kuehn, Emily and Meurling, Sara and Cortázar-Chinarro, Maria and Laurila, Anssi and Höglund, Jacob}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis strain affects transcriptomic response in liver but not skin in latitudinal populations of the common toad (Bufo bufo)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52975-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-024-52975-8}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}