Transcriptome Analysis and CFEM Gene Overexpression in <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> Under Hemocyte and Iron Ion Stress
The “milky disease” in Chinese mitten crabs (<i>Eriocheir sinensis</i>), caused by <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i>, poses significant threats to aquaculture, though its pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study employs transcriptomic sequencing to analyze ge...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Bingnan Zuo Xiaodong Li Ji Zhang Bingyu Li Na Sun Fang Liang |
| author_facet | Bingnan Zuo Xiaodong Li Ji Zhang Bingyu Li Na Sun Fang Liang |
| author_sort | Bingnan Zuo |
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| description | The “milky disease” in Chinese mitten crabs (<i>Eriocheir sinensis</i>), caused by <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i>, poses significant threats to aquaculture, though its pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study employs transcriptomic sequencing to analyze gene expression changes in <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> under hemocyte challenge, iron overload (1 mmol/mL), and combined stress, with functional validation through Common in Fungal Extracellular Membrane (CFEMgene) overexpression strains. Key findings reveal that (1) hemocyte challenge activated base excision repair (−log<sub>10</sub>[P] = 7.58) and ribosome biogenesis pathways, indicating fungal adaptation through DNA repair and enhanced protein synthesis to counter host immune attacks (e.g., ROS-mediated damage). (2) Iron overload induced glutathione metabolism and pentose phosphate pathway enrichment, demonstrating mitigation of ferroptosis through NADPH/GSH antioxidant systems and autophagy/proteasome coordination. (3) Under combined stress, ribosome biogenesis (−log<sub>10</sub>[P] = 1.3) and non-homologous end-joining pathways coordinated DNA repair with stress protein synthesis, complemented by vacuolar V-ATPase-mediated iron compartmentalization. (4) CFEM genes showed significant upregulation under hemocyte stress, with overexpression strains exhibiting enhanced biofilm formation (35% increased MTT cytotoxicity) and infectivity (40% higher infection rate), confirming CFEM domains mediate pathogenesis through iron homeostasis and virulence factor production. This work elucidates how <i>M. bicuspidata</i> employs metabolic reprogramming, oxidative stress responses, and CFEM-mediated iron regulation to establish infection, providing critical insights for developing targeted control strategies against milky disease. |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-f2264d459efb4b75ba0cfa57e5f7a6d62025-07-25T13:32:54ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-07-0114769110.3390/pathogens14070691Transcriptome Analysis and CFEM Gene Overexpression in <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> Under Hemocyte and Iron Ion StressBingnan Zuo0Xiaodong Li1Ji Zhang2Bingyu Li3Na Sun4Fang Liang5Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, ChinaKey Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, ChinaKey Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, ChinaCollege of Aquaculture and Life Sciences, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian 116023, ChinaPanjin Guanghe Crab Industry Co., Ltd., Panjin 124000, ChinaPanjin Guanghe Crab Industry Co., Ltd., Panjin 124000, ChinaThe “milky disease” in Chinese mitten crabs (<i>Eriocheir sinensis</i>), caused by <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i>, poses significant threats to aquaculture, though its pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study employs transcriptomic sequencing to analyze gene expression changes in <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> under hemocyte challenge, iron overload (1 mmol/mL), and combined stress, with functional validation through Common in Fungal Extracellular Membrane (CFEMgene) overexpression strains. Key findings reveal that (1) hemocyte challenge activated base excision repair (−log<sub>10</sub>[P] = 7.58) and ribosome biogenesis pathways, indicating fungal adaptation through DNA repair and enhanced protein synthesis to counter host immune attacks (e.g., ROS-mediated damage). (2) Iron overload induced glutathione metabolism and pentose phosphate pathway enrichment, demonstrating mitigation of ferroptosis through NADPH/GSH antioxidant systems and autophagy/proteasome coordination. (3) Under combined stress, ribosome biogenesis (−log<sub>10</sub>[P] = 1.3) and non-homologous end-joining pathways coordinated DNA repair with stress protein synthesis, complemented by vacuolar V-ATPase-mediated iron compartmentalization. (4) CFEM genes showed significant upregulation under hemocyte stress, with overexpression strains exhibiting enhanced biofilm formation (35% increased MTT cytotoxicity) and infectivity (40% higher infection rate), confirming CFEM domains mediate pathogenesis through iron homeostasis and virulence factor production. This work elucidates how <i>M. bicuspidata</i> employs metabolic reprogramming, oxidative stress responses, and CFEM-mediated iron regulation to establish infection, providing critical insights for developing targeted control strategies against milky disease.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/7/691CFEMhemocyte stress<i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i>transcriptome |
| spellingShingle | Bingnan Zuo Xiaodong Li Ji Zhang Bingyu Li Na Sun Fang Liang Transcriptome Analysis and CFEM Gene Overexpression in <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> Under Hemocyte and Iron Ion Stress Pathogens CFEM hemocyte stress <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> transcriptome |
| title | Transcriptome Analysis and CFEM Gene Overexpression in <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> Under Hemocyte and Iron Ion Stress |
| title_full | Transcriptome Analysis and CFEM Gene Overexpression in <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> Under Hemocyte and Iron Ion Stress |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptome Analysis and CFEM Gene Overexpression in <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> Under Hemocyte and Iron Ion Stress |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptome Analysis and CFEM Gene Overexpression in <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> Under Hemocyte and Iron Ion Stress |
| title_short | Transcriptome Analysis and CFEM Gene Overexpression in <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> Under Hemocyte and Iron Ion Stress |
| title_sort | transcriptome analysis and cfem gene overexpression in i metschnikowia bicuspidata i under hemocyte and iron ion stress |
| topic | CFEM hemocyte stress <i>Metschnikowia bicuspidata</i> transcriptome |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/7/691 |
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