Host-Pathogen Interactions in Aquatic Systems
Summary
Host-pathogen interactions in aquatic systems encompass the dynamic interplay between microbial invaders and their animal hosts, mediated by a suite of virulence determinants, host immune defences and environmental parameters. Pathogens employ adhesion factors, chemotactic responses, secretion systems and biofilm formation to colonise gills, skin and internal organs of fish and invertebrates. Conversely, the host mounts innate and adaptive immune responses including pattern recognition via Toll-like receptors, complement activation and cellular effectors such as phagocytes. Environmental variables such as temperature, salinity and nutrient availability modulate both pathogen virulence and host susceptibility. Advances in multi-omics approaches have begun to unravel the molecular events underpinning colonisation, immune evasion and disease progression in natural and farmed populations. Understanding these interactions is vital for disease control in aquaculture, conservation of wild stocks and mitigation of emerging aquatic zoonoses.
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Host-Pathogen Interactions in Aquatic Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in host-pathogen interactions in aquatic systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Chemotaxis: The directed movement of cells or organisms towards chemical stimuli.
Biofilm: A structured community of microorganisms attached to a surface and encased in a self-produced matrix.
Dual RNA-seq: A transcriptomic technique that simultaneously profiles gene expression of host and pathogen during infection.
Virulence factor: Molecules produced by pathogens that contribute to their ability to cause disease.
Metabolomics: The study of small-molecule metabolites within cells, tissues or organisms.
References
- Amino Acid-Induced Chemotaxis Plays a Key Role in the Adaptation of Vibrio harveyi from Seawater to the Muscle of the Host Fish. Microorganisms (2024).
- Novel insights into host-pathogen interactions of large yellow croakers (Larimichthys crocea) and pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas plecoglossicida using time-resolved dual RNA-seq of infected spleens. 动物学研究 (2020).
- Transcriptomic and metabolomic insights into the role of the flgK gene in the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas plecoglossicida to orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). 动物学研究 (2022).
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