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Severe losses in aquacultured and wild hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) stocks have been previously reported in the northeastern United States due to a protistan parasite called QPX (Quahog Parasite Unknown). Previous work demonstrated that clam resistance to QPX is under genetic control. This study identifies single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with clam survivorship from two geographically segregated populations, both deployed in an enzootic site. The analysis contrasted samples collected before and after undergoing QPX-related mortalities and relied on a robust draft clam genome assembly. ~200 genes displayed significant variant enrichment at each sampling point in both populations, including 18 genes shared between both populations. Markers from both populations were identified in genes related to apoptosis pathways, protein-protein interaction, receptors, and signaling. This research begins to identify genetic markers associated with clam resistance to QPX disease, leading the way for the development of resistant clam stocks through marker-assisted selection.

The alveolate Perkinsus marinus is the most devastating parasite of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica. The parasite is readily phagocytosed by oyster hemocytes, but instead of intracellular killing and digestion, P. marinus can survive phagocytosis and divide in host cells. This intracellular parasitism is accompanied by a regulation of host cell apoptosis. This study was designed to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis regulation in oyster hemocytes following exposure to P. marinus. Regulation of apoptosis-related genes in C. virginica, and apoptosis-regulatory genes in P. marinus, were investigated via qPCR to assess the possible pathways involved during these interactions. In vitro experiments were also carried out to evaluate the effect of chemical inhibitors of P. marinus antioxidant processes on hemocyte apoptosis. Results indicate the involvement of the mitochondrial pathway (Bcl-2, anamorsin) of apoptosis in C. virginica exposed to P. marinus. In parallel, the antioxidants peroxiredoxin and superoxide dismutase were regulated in P. marinus exposed to C. virginica hemocytes suggesting that apoptosis regulation in infected oysters may be mediated by anti-oxidative processes. Chemical inhibition of P. marinus superoxide dismutase resulted in a marked increase of reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis in infected hemocytes. The implication of oxygen-dependent apoptosis during P. marinus infection and disease development in C. virginica is discussed.

In the oyster Crassostrea virginica, the organization of the gill allows bidirectional particle transport where a dorsal gill tract directs particles meant to be ingested while a ventral tract collects particles intended to be rejected as pseudofeces. Previous studies showed that the transport of particles in both tracts is mediated by mucus. Consequently, we hypothesized that the nature and/or the quantity of mucosal proteins present in each tract is likely to be different. Using endoscopy-aided micro-sampling of mucus from each tract followed by multidimensional protein identification technologies, and in situ hybridization, a high spatial resolution mapping of the oyster gill proteome was generated. Results showed the presence in gill mucus of a wide range of molecules involved in non-self recognition and interactions with microbes. Mucus composition was different between the two tracts, with mucus from the ventral tract shown to be rich in mucin-like proteins, providing an explanation of its high viscosity, while mucus from the dorsal tract was found to be enriched in mannose-binding proteins, known to be involved in food particle binding and selection. Overall, this study generated high-resolution proteomes for C. virginica gill mucus and demonstrated that the contrasting functions of the two pathways present on oyster gills are associated with significant differences in their protein makeup.

Lectins are a large and diverse group of sugar-binding proteins involved in nonself recognition and cell-to-cell interactions. Suspension-feeding bivalves, such as the oyster Crassostrea virginica, are capable of using these molecules to bind cell surface carbohydrates of food particles, allowing particle capture and selection. The aim of this project was to assess whether the expression of mucosal lectins in C. virginica is constant or changes with the season, and to determine whether lectin expression is linked to environmental parameters and/or internal biological factors (gametogenesis). A total of 130 oysters were placed in submerged cages at a tidal estuary and monitored for changes in lectin gene expression over a 1-year period. In parallel, environmental parameters prevailing at the field site, including seawater physicochemical characteristics (temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen), particulate organic matter and chlorophyll contents, were also monitored. Throughout the study, oysters were dissected and the gills were collected and used for the assessment of the expression of three different lectin genes (CvML, CvML3914 and CvML3912). Remaining tissues were processed for histology and the classification of the gonad development stage. Results showed that when food is abundant, such as during the spring bloom, lectin gene expressions are low, and inversely lectin levels increase with lower food levels. These findings suggest that oysters increase lectin expression to enhance the capture and ingestion of scarce food, while during spring, enough food is already being ingested and lectins are not needed. Furthermore, results showed that as the energy demands of oysters increase (gonad maturation), lectin gene expressions also increase to enhance selective ingestion of nutritious food particles. This study, therefore, demonstrates the seasonality of lectin gene expression in C. virginica, and suggests that lectin regulation is related to the reproduction process and abundance of high-quality food.

Hemocytes associated with the mucus lining of pallial (mantle, gill) surfaces of the oyster Crassostrea virginica have been recently suggested to facilitate infection by the Alveolate parasite Perkinsus marinus by mediating the uptake and dispersion of parasite cells. These "pallial hemocytes", which are directly exposed to microbes present in surrounding seawater, are able to migrate bi-directionally between mucosal surfaces and the circulatory system, potentially playing a sentinel role. Interestingly, P. marinus was shown to increase trans-epithelial migration of hemocytes suggesting it may regulate cell motility to favor infection establishment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of P. marinus on hemocyte motility and identify specific molecular mechanisms potentially used by the parasite to regulate hemocyte migration. In a first series of experiments, various components of P. marinus (live P. marinus cells, extracellular products, fragments of P. marinus cell membrane, membrane-modified live P. marinus cells, heat-killed P. marinus) along with components of the opportunistic bacterial pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus (bacterial cells and extracellular products) were investigated for their effects on hemocyte motility. In a second series of experiments, inhibitors of specific molecular pathways involved in motility regulation (Y-27632: inhibitor of Rho-associated protein kinase, RGDS: integrin inhibitor, CK-666: Arp2/3 inhibitor) were used in conjunction with qPCR gene expression experiments to identify pathways regulated by P. marinus exposure. Results showed a specific increase in hemocyte motility following exposure to live P. marinus cells. The increase in motility induced by P. marinus was suppressed by RGDS and CK-666 implicating the involvement of integrins and Arp2/3 in cell activation. Gene expression data suggest that Arp2/3 is possibly regulated directly by an effector produced by P. marinus. The implications of increased hemocyte motility prompted by P. marinus during the early stage of the infection process are discussed.

The hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) is among the most economically-important marine species along the east coast of the United States, representing the first marine resource in several Northeastern states. The species is rather resilient to infections and the only important disease of hard clams results from an infection caused by Quahog Parasite Unknown (QPX), a protistan parasite that can lead to significant mortality events in wild and aquacultured clam stocks. Though the presence of QPX disease has been documented since the 1960s, little information is available on cellular and molecular interactions between the parasite and the host. This study examined the interactions between the clam immune system and QPX cells. First, the effect of clam plasma on the binding of hemocytes to parasite cells was evaluated. Second, clam plasma proteins that bind QPX cells were identified through proteomic (LC-MS/MS) analyses. Finally, the effect of prior clam exposure to QPX on the abundance of QPX-reactive proteins in the plasma was evaluated. Results showed that plasma factors enhance the attachment of hemocytes to QPX. Among the proteins that specifically bind to QPX cells, several lectins were identified, as well as complement component proteins and proteolytic enzymes. Furthermore, results showed that some of these lectins and complement-related proteins are inducible as their abundance significantly increased following QPX challenge. These results shed light on plasma proteins involved in the recognition and binding of parasite cells and provide molecular targets for future investigations of factors involved in clam resistance to the disease, and ultimately for the selection of resistant clam stocks.

Quahog parasite unknown (QPX) is a protistan parasite capable of causing deadly infections in the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria, one of the most valuable shellfish species in the USA. QPX is an extracellular parasite found mostly in the connective tissue of clam mantle and, in more severe cases of infection, other clam organs. Histopathologic examinations revealed that QPX cells within clam tissues are typically surrounded by hollow areas that have been hypothesized to be, at least in part, a result of extracellular digestion of clam proteins by the parasite. We investigated peptidase activity in QPX extracellular secretions using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels containing gelatin as a co-polymerized substrate. Multiple peptidase activity bands of molecular weights ranging from 20 to 100 kDa were detected in QPX secretions derived from a variety of culture media. One major band of approximately 35 kDa was composed of subtilisin-like peptidases that were released by QPX cells in all studied media, suggesting that these are the most common peptidases used by QPX for nutrient acquisition. PCR quantification of mRNA encoding QPX subtilisins revealed that their expression changes with the protein substrate used in the culture media. A fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) was used to fractionate QPX extracellular secretions. An FPLC-fraction containing a subtilisin-type serine peptidase was able to digest clam plasma proteins, suggesting that this peptidase might be involved in the disease process, and making it a good candidate for further investigation as a possible virulence factor of the parasite.

Ocean acidification alters seawater carbonate chemistry, which can have detrimental impacts for calcifying organisms such as bivalves. This study investigated the physiological cost of resilience to acidification in Mercenaria mercenaria, with a focus on overall immune performance following exposure to Vibrio spp. Larval and juvenile clams reared in seawater with high pCO2 (~1200 ppm) displayed an enhanced susceptibility to bacterial pathogens. Higher susceptibility to infection in clams grown under acidified conditions was derived from a lower immunity to infection more so than an increase in growth of bacteria under high pCO2. A reciprocal transplant of juvenile clams demonstrated the highest mortality amongst animals transplanted from low pCO2/high pH to high pCO2/low pH conditions and then exposed to bacterial pathogens. Collectively, these results suggest that increased pCO2 will result in immunocompromised larvae and juveniles, which could have complex and pernicious effects on hard clam populations.

The hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, is one of the most valuable commercial mollusk species along the eastern coast of the United States. Throughout the past 2 decades, the hard clam industry in the Northeast was significantly impacted by disease outbreaks caused by a lethal protistan parasite known as Quahog Parasite Unknown (QPX). QPX is an opportunistic pathogen and the infection has been shown to be a cold water disease, where warmer conditions (above 21 °C) lead to disease reduction and clam healing. In vitro studies also showed a sharp reduction in parasite growth and survivorship at temperatures exceeding 27 °C. In this study, we evaluated the effect of short-term exposures to high temperatures on QPX disease dynamic and clam recovery. Infected clams were collected from an enzootic site and subsequently submitted to one of ten “heat shock” treatments involving a gradient of temperatures and exposure times. QPX prevalence was compared before and 10 weeks after heat shock to assess the effect of each treatment on disease progress. Expression of several stress-related genes was measured 1 and 7 days after heat shock using qPCR to evaluate the effect of each treatment on clam physiology. Anti-QPX activity in clam plasma was also measured in an attempt to link changes in defense factors to thermal stress and disease progress. Our results suggest that brief exposures to moderate high temperatures promote the greatest remission while imposing the mildest stress to clams. These results are discussed with the aim of providing the industry with possible strategies to mitigate QPX disease.

The soft body surface of marine invertebrates is covered by a layer of mucus, a slippery gel secreted by mucocytes lining epithelia. The functions of this gel are diverse including locomotion, cleansing, food particles processing and defense against physicochemical injuries and infectious agents. In oysters, mucus covering pallial organs has been demonstrated to have a major importance in the processing of food particles and in the interactions with waterborne pathogens. Given the limited information available on mucus in bivalves and the apparent wide spectra of activity of bioactive molecules present in this matrix, the characterization of these mucosal secretions has become a research priority. In this study, mucus was separately collected from the mantle, gills and labial palps of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and analyzed by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Results showed the presence of a wide variety of molecules involved in host-microbe interactions, including putative adhesion molecules (e.g. c-type lectins) confirming that transcripts previously identified in epithelial cells are translated into proteins secreted in mucus. Mucus composition was different among samples collected from different organs. These results generate a reference map for C. virginica pallial mucus to better characterize the various physiological functions of mucosal secretions.

Historically, particle capture efficiency (CE) in suspension-feeding bivalve molluscs has been shown to be strongly dependent on particle size, increasing asymptotically to a maximum of about 100% for particles ca. ≥ 4 μm in diameter. Recent advances in the analysis of the particulate matter of seston have allowed for more precise studies of bivalve feeding under natural conditions. Some studies have reported that the mechanisms associated with particle capture exhibit physiological plasticity, and under certain conditions smaller cells and particles are captured in preference to larger ones. For bivalves, however, there is no mechanistic explanation that would account for such fine-scale control of CE based on size. The current study experimentally assessed the seasonal control of CE by the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis , employing a flow-through system to examine particle capture of natural seston. The natural particle field was analyzed using two different types of particle analyzers, the LISST-100X and the Coulter Multisizer IIe. Mussels were simultaneously delivered synthetic microspheres of defined diameter (2–45 μm) to control for the effects of seasonal differences in the size and shape of natural particles. The capture of microspheres was quantified by means of flow cytometry (FCM), and results cross-checked with the Multisizer. Additionally, gene expression of a mucosal lectin (MeML) associated with the feeding organs of mussels was examined as a biomarker for physiological response to seasonal changes in the particle-food supply. Results demonstrated that for microspheres ≥ 4 μm CE of mussels was always near 100%, and did not change seasonally. In contrast, there was an apparent seasonal shift in CE of natural particles, with particles 17-to-35 μm in equivalent spherical diameter (ESD) occasionally being captured at lower efficiencies than particles 4-to-15 μm in ESD (e.g., during September and December). No relationship between MeML expression and seasonal CE was found. These findings call into question the physiological plasticity of CE in mussels and alternative hypotheses are presented. We suggest that the purported changes in CE are not a consequence of behavioral or physiological responses of mussels, but rather a result of one or more of the following confounding factors; 1) instrument artifacts that can arise as a result of the way in which laser and electronic particle counters calculate ESD to estimate particle size; 2) disaggregation of flocculent material collected from control chambers; 3) post-capture escape of highly motile phytoplankton cells from the infrabranchial camber; 4) qualitative factors of the particles that could affect capture; or 5) mathematical happenstance of calculating CE on particle-size classes that contain widely different numbers of particles.

Bivalves, from raw oysters to steamed clams, are popular choices among seafood lovers and once limited to the coastal areas. The rapid growth of the aquaculture industry and improvement in the preservation and transport of seafood have enabled them to be readily available anywhere in the world. Over the years, oysters, mussels, scallops, and clams have been the focus of research for improving the production, managing resources, and investigating basic biological and ecological questions. During this decade, an impressive amount of information using high-throughput genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic technologies has been produced in various classes of the Mollusca group, and it is anticipated that basic and applied research will significantly benefit from this resource. One aspect that is also taking momentum is the use of bivalves as a model system for human health. In this review, we highlight some of the aspects of the biology of bivalves that have direct implications in human health including the shell formation, stem cells and cell differentiation, the ability to fight opportunistic and specific pathogens in the absence of adaptive immunity, as source of alternative drugs, mucosal immunity and, microbiome turnover, toxicology, and cancer research. There is still a long way to go; however, the next time you order a dozen oysters at your favorite raw bar, think about a tasty model organism that will not only please your palate but also help unlock multiple aspects of molluscan biology and improve human health.

Atlantic surfclam populations have significantly declined in state and federal waters from the south shore of Long Island, New York to the Delmarva Peninsula since the early 2000s. Previous studies have demonstrated that surfclams in this geographic range show signs of physiological stress, suggested to be a result of increasing ocean temperatures. In this study, we examined the effect of 2 temperature regimes (19 °C and 23 °C) on surfclam physiology. These temperatures were chosen because they represent maximal (23 °C) and minimal (19 °C) temperatures prevailing in New York clamming areas during summer. Results demonstrated enhanced energy metabolism and significant reductions in filtration rate, scope for growth, and immune functions in clams exposed to the warmer temperature treatment. Although net energy gains remained positive in both treatments under our experimental conditions, the findings suggest that temperature stress is involved in the recent observations of surfclams in poor condition. The impact of elevated temperatures on phytoplankton quantity/quality and other environmental variables in combination with the direct impact on surfclam filtration and metabolic rates could lead to a negative energy balance. While some uncertainties remain about population-scale impacts of overall warming trends, we fear that future increases in temperature may lead to the collapse of the Atlantic surfclam between New York and Virginia, especially within inshore regions.

Prey selection governs species interactions and regulates physiological energetics of individuals and populations. Suspension-feeding bivalves represent key species in coastal and estuarine systems for their ecological and economic value. These animals are able to sort and selectively ingest nutritious microalgae from dilute and composite mixtures of particulate matter. This aptitude was suggested to be mediated by interactions between carbohydrates associated with the surface of microalgae and C-type lectins present in mucus covering the feeding organs, although a direct, unequivocal, role of lectins in food sorting in bivalves remains elusive. This study was designed to identify and characterize mucosal C-type lectins from oysters and manipulate the expression of these proteins in order to obtain decisive information regarding their involvement in food choice. Thus, two mucosal C-type lectins (CvML3912 and CvML3914) were identified based on transcriptomic and proteomic information. Transcripts of these lectins were detected in the feeding organs and their expression was upregulated following starvation. Recombinant lectin (rCvML3912) competitively inhibited the binding of commercial mannose/glucose-specific lectins to microalgae. Short Dicer-substrate small interfering RNA (DsiRNA) targeting these two lectins were designed and used to evaluate the effect of gene silencing on food particle sorting. As a result, the abundance of the two cognate transcripts significantly decreased and food sorting ability was significantly reduced among silenced oysters as compared with control animals. Overall, these findings propose a novel concept establishing the role of carbohydrate-protein interactions to provide efficient food particle sorting, and establish a new dimension for the role of evolutionarily conserved mannose/glucose-binding proteins in metazoans.

American lobster, Homarus americanus, continues to be an ecologically and socioeconomically important species despite a severe decline in catches from Southern New England and Long Island Sound (USA) and a high prevalence of epizootic shell disease in these populations. A better understanding of lobster immune defenses remains necessary. Cuticle material collected from Long Island Sound lobsters was found to be active against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including Gram-negative and -positive species. The antimicrobial activity was characterized by boiling, muffling, and size fractioning. Boiling did not significantly reduce activity, while muffling did have a significant effect, suggesting that the active component is organic and heat stable. Size fractioning with 3 and 10 kDa filters did not significantly affect activity. Fast protein liquid chromatography fractions were also tested for antimicrobial activity, and fractions exhibiting protein peaks remained active. MALDI mass spectrometry revealed peptide peaks at 1.6, 2.8, 4.6, and 5.6 kDa. The data presented suggest that one or several antimicrobial peptides contribute to antimicrobial activity present in the American lobster cuticle.

We have recently described the presence of hemocytes associated with mucus covering the pallial organs (mantle, gills, and body wall) 3 of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica. These hemocytes, hereby designated "pallial hemocytes" share common general characteristics with circulating hemocytes but also display significant differences particularly in their cell surface epitopes. The specific location of pallial hemocytes as peripheral cells exposed directly to the marine environment confers them a putative sentinel role. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the source of these pallial hemocytes by evaluating possible exchanges between circulatory and pallial hemocyte populations and whether these exchanges are regulated by pathogen exposure. Bi-directional transepithelial migrations of hemocytes between pallial surfaces and the circulatory system were monitored using standard cell tracking approaches after staining with the vital fluorescent dye carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) in conjunction with fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry. Results showed bi-directional migration of hemocytes between both compartments and suggest that hemocyte migration from the pallial mucus layer to the circulatory system may occur at a greater rate compared to migration from the circulatory system to the pallial mucus layer, further supporting the role of pallial hemocytes as sentinel cells. Subsequently, the effect of the obligate parasite Perkinsus marinus and the opportunistic pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus on transepithelial migration of oyster hemocytes was investigated. Results showed an increase in hemocyte migration in response to P. marinus exposure. Furthermore, P. marinus cells were acquired by pallial hemocytes before being visible in underlying tissues and the circulatory system suggesting that this parasite could use pallial hemocytes as a vehicle facilitating its access to oyster tissues. These results are discussed in light of new evidence highlighting the role of oyster pallial organs as a portal for the initiation of P. marinus infections in oysters.

article i nfo Article history: The mechanisms by which bivalve molluscs differentiate among particles are not clearly understood. Recent evidence suggests that particle selection by bivalves can be mediated by interactions between carbohydrates attached to a particle's surface and lectins present in the mucus covering the feeding organs. The physico- chemical surface properties of particles have also been proposed as factors contributing to particle selection. In this study, we examined the effects of surface charge and wettability of 10-μm spheres on particle selection by two species of suspension-feeding bivalves: eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). Microspheres were delivered to bivalves in particle-selection assays, and the proportions of spheres rejected as pseudofeces and egested as feces were determined using flow cytometry. Results sug- gest that when given a choice, both mussels and oysters rejected some types of microspheres (e.g., aluminum oxide) and ingested other types (e.g., polystyrene). In some assays, microspheres with very different surface charges or wettabilities were handled similarly, indicating that neither property alone was a qualifier for selection. The differences in surface properties between pairs of microspheres were also considered and used as variables in discriminant analyses. For oysters and mussels, the generated models explained ca. 25% and 72% of the variation in the data, respectively. In both models, wettability was more important than charge in classifying data into their correct group (rejected, preferentially ingested, or not selected). Results from this study support the idea that non-specific physicochemical interactions can play a role in mediating selection in suspension-feeding bivalves.

Perkinsus marinus is an important protistan parasite of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica. Recent findings showed that oyster pallial organs (mantle, gills) are a major portal of entry for the parasite. Therefore, mucus covering these organs represents the first host effectors encountered by P. marinus. This study consisted of several experiments designed to investigate the effect of oyster pallial mucus on the growth, protease production and infectivity of P. marinus. In each experiment, P. marinus performance in cultures supplemented with pallial mucus (mantle, gill, or both) was compared to that of parasite cells grown in unsupplemented media or in cultures supplemented with oyster plasma or digestive extracts. P. marinus grown in media supplemented with C. virginica mantle mucus showed a significantly higher growth rate than cultures enriched with the other supplemental extracts, while cultures grown in gill mucus promoted higher protease production. Conversely, P. marinus grown in cultures supplemented with pallial mucus of the non-compatible host Crassostrea gigas (Pacific oyster) were dramatically inhibited. Challenge experiments showed a significant increase in P. marinus virulence in cultures supplemented with C. virginica pallial mucus as compared to unsupplemented cultures or to those supplemented with digestive extract or plasma. These results suggest that C. virginica mucus plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of P. marinus by enhancing the proliferation and the infectivity of this devastating parasite. The contrasting results obtained with both oyster species indicate that P. marinus host specificity may begin in the mucus.

Parasites have developed myriad strategies to reach and infect their specific hosts. One of the most common mechanisms for non-vector transmitted parasites to reach the internal host environment is by ingestion during feeding. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of oyster host colonization by the alveolate Perkinsus marinus and focused on how oysters process infective waterborne P. marinus cells during feeding in order to determine the portal(s) of entry of this parasite to its host. We also compared the infectivity of freely-suspended cells of P. marinus with that of cells incorporated into marine aggregates to link changes in particle processing by the feeding organs with infection success and route. Finally, we evaluated the effect of oyster secretions (mucus) covering the feeding organs on P. marinus physiology because these host factors are involved in the processing of waterborne particles. The ensemble of results shows a unique mechanism for infection by which the parasite is mostly acquired during the feeding process, but not via ingestion. Rather, infection commonly occurs during the rejection of material as pseudofeces before reaching the mouth. The pseudofeces discharge area, a specialized area of the mantle where unwanted particles are accumulated for rejection as pseudofeces, showed significantly higher parasite loads than other host tissues including other parts of the mantle. Aggregated P. marinus cells caused significantly higher disease prevalence and infection intensities when compared to freely-suspended parasite cells. Mucus covering the mantle caused a quick and significant increase in parasite replication rates suggesting rapid impact on P. marinus physiology. A new model for P. marinus acquisition in oysters is proposed.

The blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, is able to use biochemical cues to sort food particles. Recently, a mucosal lectin (MeML) identified in pallial organs of M. edulis was suggested to play a role in the capture and sorting of food particles. The current study presents data obtained in 2010 showing that sorting efficiencies and MeML gene expression in M. edulis increased when mussels were either fed poor quality food or starved. In addition, results suggest that particle capture and degree of selection increased during the spawning period, although the quality of food delivered to mussels before the experiments seemed to have a stronger impact on particle-sorting efficiency. Overall, the impact of both endogenous (physiological status) and exogenous (food quality) factors were shown to affect the expression of MeML in mussel feeding organs, and the food sorting abilities.

Quahog parasite unknown (QPX) is a thraustochytrid protist that infects the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, causing significant economic losses along the northeastern coast of North America. Previous investigations noted differences in growth dynamics and virulence in QPX cells from different geographic locations. In order to probe the molecular determinants for these variations, we investigated the transcriptomic profiles of five geographically distinct QPX isolates using custom 15k 60-mer oligonucleotide arrays. A total of 1,263 transcripts were differentially expressed (DE) among the five QPX isolates. The hierarchical clustering of gene expression profiles showed that the QPX isolates from Raritan Bay (RB, NY) and from Provincetown Harbor (MA) were more similar to each other and diverged from QPX isolates from Peconic Bay (PB, NY) and Old Plantation Creek (VA), which had more similar gene expression profiles. The most prominent difference was based on 78 transcripts coding for heat shock proteins DE between the five QPX isolates. The study generated contrasting transcriptomic profiles for QPX isolated from northern (MA) and deeper (RB, NY) locations as compared to southern (VA) and shallower (PB, NY) areas, suggesting the adaptation of the parasite to local environmental, in particular temperature, conditions.

Background The hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria is an important seafood species widely exploited along the eastern coasts of the United States and play a crucial role in coastal ecology and economy. Severe hard clam mortalities have been associated with the protistan parasite QPX (Quahog Parasite Unknown). QPX infection establishes in pallial organs with the lesions typically characterized as nodules, which represent inflammatory masses formed by hemocyte infiltration and encapsulation of parasites. QPX infection is known to induce host changes on both the whole-organism level and at specific lesion areas, which imply systemic and focal defense responses, respectively. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying these alterations. Results RNA-seq was performed using Illumina Hiseq 2000 (641 Million 100 bp reads) to characterize M. mercenaria focal and systemic immune responses to QPX. Transcripts were assembled and the expression levels were compared between nodule and healthy tissues from infected clams, and between these and tissues from healthy clams. De novo assembly reconstructed a consensus transcriptome of 62,980 sequences that was functionally-annotated. A total of 3,131 transcripts were identified as differentially expressed in different tissues. Results allowed the identification of host immune factors implicated in the systemic and focal responses against QPX and unraveled the pathways involved in parasite neutralization. Among transcripts significantly modulated upon host-pathogen interactions, those involved in non-self recognition, signal transduction and defense response were over-represented. Alterations in pathways regulating hemocyte focal adhesion, migration and apoptosis were also demonstrated. Conclusions Our study is the first attempt to thoroughly characterize M. mercenaria transcriptome and identify molecular features associated with QPX infection. It is also one of the first studies contrasting focal and systemic responses to infections in invertebrates using high-throughput sequencing. Results identified the molecular signatures of clam systemic and focal defense responses, to collectively mediate immune processes such as hemocyte recruitment and local inflammation. These investigations improve our understanding of bivalve immunity and provide molecular targets for probing the biological bases of clam resistance towards QPX. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2493-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Suspension-feeding bivalves are able to sort and select food particles from a complex mixture. Recent reports have indicated that this selection is mediated by interactions between lectins present in mucus covering the feeding organs and carbohydrates associated with the surface of microalgae. In this study, several statistical methods were evaluated to predict the likelihood for a given microalga to be ingested or rejected based upon its cell surface carbohydrate signature. First, the carbohydrate signatures of 16 microalgae were characterized using 10 different lectins. In June 2014, a subset of microalgae (12 species) was then used in feeding experiments where different pairs of microalgae were presented to oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and mussels (Mytilus edulis) to evaluate selection. Results show that cell surface carbohydrates are good predictors for particle fate. Specifically, microalgae rich in glucose/mannose residues were preferentially selected by both oysters and mussels. Several statistical methods for predicting the likelihood of a given alga being ingested or rejected were evaluated, and a decision tree that accurately models selection in the two bivalves is proposed even though the model warrants further validation with different species or in various seasons. Overall, these findings provide a promising predictive tool that could be used to assess bivalve performance and benthic–pelagic coupling under ecological or aquaculture contexts.

Lectins are well known to actively participate in the defense functions of vertebrates and invertebrates where they play an important role in the recognition of foreign particles. They have also been reported to be involved in other processes requiring carbohydrate–lectin interactions such as symbiosis or fertilization. In this study, we report a novel putative C-type lectin (CvML) from the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica and we investigated its involvement in oyster physiology. The cDNA of this lectin is 610 bp long encoding for a 161-residue protein. CvML presents a signal peptide and a single carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) which contains a YPD motif and two putative conserved sites, WID and DCM, for calcium binding. CvML transcripts were expressed in mucocytes lining the epithelium of the digestive gland and the pallial organs (mantle, gills, and labial palps) but were not detected in other tissues including hemocytes. Its expression was significantly up-regulated following starvation or bacterial bath exposure but not after injection of bacteria into oyster's adductor muscle. These results highlight the potential role of CvML in the interactions between oyster and waterborne microorganisms at the pallial interfaces with possible involvement in physiological functions such as particle capture or mucosal immunity.

Quahog Parasite Unknown (QPX) is a protistan parasite affecting hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria along the Northeastern coast of the United States. The geographic distribution and occurrence of disease epizootics suggests a primary role of temperature in disease development. This study was designed to investigate the effect of temperature on constitutive and QPX-induced defense factors in M. mercenaria. Control and QPX-challenged (both experimentally and naturally) clams were maintained at 13, 21 and 27°C for 4 months. Control and experimentally-infected clams originated from a southern broodstock (Florida, no prior reports of disease outbreak) while naturally-infected clams originated from a northern broodstock (Massachusetts, enzootic area). Standard and QPX-specific cellular and humoral defense parameters were assessed after 2 and 4 months. Measured parameters included total and differential hemocyte counts, reactive oxygen species production, phagocytic activity of hemocytes, lysozyme concentration in plasma, anti-QPX activity in plasma and resistance of hemocytes to cytotoxic QPX extracellular products. Results demonstrated a strong influence of temperature on constitutive clam defense factors with significant modulation of cellular and humoral parameters of control clams maintained at 13°C compared to 21 and 27°C. Similarly, clam response to QPX challenge was also affected by temperature. Challenged clams exhibited no difference from controls at 27°C whereas different responses were observed at 21°C and 13°C compared to controls. Despite differences in infection mode (experimentally or naturally infected) and clam origin (northern and southern broodstocks), similarities were observed at 13°C and 21°C between QPX infected clams from Florida and Massachusetts. Clam response to temperature and to QPX exhibited interesting relationship with QPX disease development highlighting major influence of temperature on disease development.

This study provides evidence that the suspen- sion-feeding blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, uses biochemical cues to recognize its food. We identified lectins in mucus from the gills and labial palps, two pallial organs involved in the feeding process. These compounds were able to agglutinate rabbit and horse erythrocytes (RBC) and several species of marine microalgae representing different fami- lies. Additionally, the agglutination of RBC and microalgae was inhibited by several carbohydrates (fetuin, lipopolysac- charide (LPS), and mannose-related residues), suggesting that a suite of lectins may be present in mucus from the gills and labial palps. Results from feeding experiments, using microspheres with tailored surfaces, demonstrated that mus- sels preferentially ingested microspheres coated with the neoglycoproteins glucosamide-BSA and mannopyranosyl- phenyl-BSA but rejected in pseudofeces microspheres coated with BSA alone. The positive selection for neogly- coprotein-coated microspheres was inhibited when mussels were pre-incubated in seawater containing a solution of the same neoglycoprotein. Two surface properties of the micro- spheres, charge and wettability, had little effect on the observed selection process. Our results, along with our previous findings for oysters, suggest a new concept for the mechanism of particle selection in bivalves and perhaps other suspension-feeding organisms. Specifically, the selec- tion of particles involves interactions between epiparticulate carbohydrates and lectins in the mucus produced by feeding organs.

Despite advances in the study of particle selection in suspension-feeding bivalves, the mechanisms upon which bivalves rely to discriminate among particles have not been elucidated. We hypothesized that particle sorting in suspension-feeding bivalves could be based, in part, on a biochemical recognition mechanism mediated by lectins within the mucus that covers the feeding organs. Using Crassostrea virginica, the Eastern oyster, our investigations demonstrated that lectins from oyster mucus can specifically bind several microalgal species as well as different types of red blood cells (RBC), triggering their agglutination. Agglutination of microalgal species and RBC varied with the source of mucus (gills vs. labial palps). Hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition assays emphasized that mucus contains several lectins. In feeding experiments, Nitzschia closterium and Tetraselmis maculata were separately incubated with mucus before being fed to oysters. Results showed that pre-treating these microalgae with mucus significantly alters the ability of oysters to sort particles. In another experiment, oysters were fed a mixture of microspheres coated with either bovine serum albumin (BSA) or glucosamide-BSA. Results show that oysters preferentially ingest microspheres with bound carbohydrates, highlighting probable interactions between lectins and carbohydrates in the mechanisms of microalgae recognition. This study confirms the presence of lectins in mucus that covers the feeding organs of oysters and suggests a new concept with regard to particle processing by suspension-feeding bivalves: specific interactions between carbohydrates on the surface of particles and lectins within the mucus mediate the selection and rejection processes.

We studied particle selection in the ribbed mussel Geukensia demissa, an important suspension-feeding inhabitant of estuaries and intertidal zones of salt marshes along the Atlantic coast of North America. Adult mussels were fed on several mixtures of microalgal cultures (1) in exponential or (2) in stationary phase of growth, and the proportional occurrence of algal species in pseudofeces was examined by flow cytometry. The Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, was chosen as a reference. Results showed that both mussels and oysters were able to selectively ingest or reject our experimental microalgae. Moreover, the pre-ingestive particle selection was affected by microalgal growth phase, particularly in mussels. For instance, the sorting efficiency index increased significantly in mussels fed with a blend made of Nitzschia closterium, Isochrysis sp. and Tetraselmis suesica harvested in stationary growth phase, as compared to the same blend made with microalgae in exponential growth phase. Isochrysis sp. and T. suesica were preferentially ingested by both bivalves whereas N. closterium, was preferentially rejected in pseudofeces. These results demonstrate particle selection in ribbed mussel and underline the effect of algae growth phase on the sorting mechanisms.

The involvement of algal chemical cues in the pre-ingestive selection of food particles in Crassostrea gigas was studied using a new approach. Live cells of two microalgal species, Nitzschia closterium and Tetraselmis suesica, were separately entrapped in small alginate microcapsules using an emulsification/internal gelation method. Microcapsule size was adjusted to be within the range of particles ingested by oysters. Using this technique, about 80% of microcapsules had a diameter ranging from 21 to 100 μm. The monitoring of entrapped algae showed that phytoplankton cells remained alive and maintained an active growth for at least 24 days. In particle selection bioassays, adult C. gigas were fed a mixture of microcapsules containing the above algae species as well as control empty alginate microcapsules. The comparison of the proportions of each microcapsule type in the diet and in pseudofeces revealed that those containing T. suesica were significantly ingested while those containing N. closterium were preferentially rejected. Since microcapsule material (alginate matrix) prevented physical contacts between algae cells and oyster feeding organs, this study clearly demonstrate that extracellular metabolites produced by microalgae play a crucial role in the pre-ingestive selection of particles in suspension-feeding bivalves.

Quahog Parasite Unknown (QPX) is a fatal protistan parasite that causes severe losses in the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) fisheries along the northeastern coast of the US. Field and laboratory studies of QPX disease have demonstrated a major role for water temperature and M. mercenaria genetic origin in disease development. Infections are more likely to occur at cold temperatures, with clam stocks originating from southern states being more susceptible than clams from northern origin where disease is enzootic. Even though the influence of temperature on QPX infection have been examined in susceptible and resistant M. mercenaria at physiological and cellular scales, the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with host-pathogen interactions remain largely unknown. This study was carried out to explore the molecular changes in M. mercenaria in response to temperature and QPX infection on the transcriptomic level, and also to compare molecular responses between susceptible and resistant clam stocks. A M. mercenaria oligoarray (15 K Agilent) platform was produced based on our previously generated transcriptomic data and was used to compare gene expression profiles in naive and QPX-infected susceptible (Florida stock) and resistant (Massachusetts) clams maintained at temperatures favoring disease development (13 °C) or clam healing (21 °C). In addition, transcriptomic changes reflecting focal (the site of infection, mantle) and systemic (circulating hemocytes) responses were also assessed using the oligoarray platform. Results revealed significant regulation of multiple biological pathways by temperature and QPX infection, mainly associated with immune recognition, microbial killing, protein synthesis, oxidative protection and metabolism. Alterations were widely systemic with most changes in gene expression revealed in hemocytes, highlighting the role of circulating hemocytes as the first line of defense against pathogenic stress. A large number of complement-related recognition molecules with fibrinogen or C1q domains were shown to be specially induced following QPX challenge, and the expression of these molecules was significantly higher in resistant clams as compared to susceptible ones. These highly variable immune proteins may be potent candidate molecular markers for future study of M. mercenaria resistance against QPX. Beyond the specific case of clam response to QPX, this study also provides insights into the primitive complement-like system in the hard clam.

Hobbyist and researchers often use commercially available phytoplankton concentrates to maintain filter feeding organisms held in their ornamental or experimental tanks. This study investigated the nutritional value of 10 products available commercially for juvenile hard clams, Mercenaria mercenaria. Growth and mortality rates in clams fed these products were compared with those found in clams fed fresh cultures of the microalgae Isochrysis galbana, which is considered an industry standard for supporting growth of juvenile bivalves. Our results show a clear difference in feed nutritional value between non-living and living commercial diets, and among commercial diets advertised as containing live algae. Overall, results showed that juvenile hard clams fed fresh cultures of I. galbana displayed the best growth and lowest mortality rates, followed by those fed the commercial diet DT's Live Marine Phytoplankton. Growth and mortality rates in unfed controls were similar to those found in clams fed commercial non-living algae mixes or diets advertised as containing live algae (Phyto-Feast Live product). Results also showed that the nutritional value of fresh algae (I. galbana) cultures is lost rapidly when cultures are maintained at 4°C, suggesting that algae present in some commercial diets may lose their nutritional value during processing or refrigerated storage. The commercial blend, DT's Live Marine Phytoplankton, seems to represent a good substitute to lab grown algae for clams held in ornamental or experimental aquariums. Zoo Biol 0:1–13, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Intensive shellfish rearing in the polders of Bourgneuf Bay on the French Atlantic coast (46–47°N, 1–2°W) relies on the diatom Skeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve produced in nutrient-rich saline ground water. An episodic reduction in biomass production caused by an unidentified protozoon stressed the need to find new microalgal species as substitutes for S. costatum and diversify the microalgae used by the bivalve industry. Three species met the requirements for year-round availability in Bourgneuf Bay coastal waters and growth potential in saline ground water: Nitzschia acicularis (Kutzing), Nitzschia closterium (Ehrenberg) Wm Smith and Nitzschia gandersheimiensis Krasske= Nitzschia tubicola Grunow. These microalgae were tested as food sources for adult Pacific oysters ( Crassostrea gigas ) by comparing short-term bivalve physiological responses with those obtained with S. costatum as reference. Suspended particulate matter concentrations in experimental diets ranged from 9.3 to 18.6 mg l −1 and particulate organic matter concentrations from 3.3 to 5.7 mg l −1 . Significant differences were observed, with clearance rates ranging from 4.0 l h −1 g −1 for N. acicularis to 7.3 l h −1 g −1 for N. gandersheimiensis . The filtration rate for organic matter was significantly higher for N. gandersheimiensis than the other species, but this algae was also significantly more rejected in pseudofaeces. No differences were found among the four mean faeces production rates. Net energy balance differed significantly among the four microalgae tested, ranging from 282 J h −1 g −1 for S. costatum to 27 J h −1 g −1 for N. closterium . However, no differences were found between S. costatum , N. acicularis and N. gandersheimiensis . These results suggest that N. acicularis and N. gandersheimiensis could be tested on a larger scale involving the production of microalgae in 50-m 3 outdoor tanks in association with Pacific oyster growth experiments.

Secreted and cell surface-associated molecules play a major role in disease development processes and host-pathogen interactions, and usually determine the virulence of invading organisms. In this study, we investigated proteins secreted by quahog parasite unknown, a thraustochytrid protist that infects the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria. In silico analysis of quahog parasite unknown transcripts predicted over 1200 proteins to possess an amino-terminal signal peptide which directs proteins into the classical eukaryotic secretory pathway. Proteomic analysis using LC/MS technology identified 56 proteins present in the extracellular secretion of quahog parasite unknown cells grown in vitro, including six mucin-like molecules, four glycosyl hydrolases and eight peptidases. Transcription levels of 19 quahog parasite unknown extracellular proteins were investigated in clam tissue lesions (in vivo) using quantitative PCR. The overexpression of six of these extracellular proteins in clam tissues compared with in vitro cultures suggests that they are involved in interaction with the clam host.

International audience; Background: The hard clam or northern quahog, Mercenaria mercenaria, is one of the most valuable seafood products in the United States representing the first marine resource in some Northeastern states. Severe episodes of hard clam mortality have been consistently associated with infections caused by a thraustochytrid parasite called Quahog Parasite Unknown (QPX). QPX is considered as a cold/temperate water organism since the disease occurs only in the coastal waters of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from Maritime Canada to Virginia. High disease development at cold temperatures was also confirmed in laboratory studies and is thought to be caused predominantly by immunosuppression of the clam host even though the effect of temperature on QPX virulence has not been fully investigated. In this study, the QPX transcriptome was sequenced using Roche 454 technology to better characterize this microbe and initiate research on the molecular basis of QPX virulence towards hard clams. Results: Close to 18,000 transcriptomic sequences were generated and functionally annotated. Results revealed a wide array of QPX putative virulence factors including a variety of peptidases, antioxidant enzymes, and proteins involved in extracellular mucus production and other secretory proteins potentially involved in interactions with the clam host. Furthermore, a 15 K oligonucleotide array was constructed and used to investigate the effect of temperature on QPX fitness and virulence factors. Results identified a set of QPX molecular chaperones that could explain its adaptation to cold temperatures. Finally, several virulence-related factors were up-regulated at low temperature providing molecular targets for further investigations of increased QPX pathogenicity in cold water conditions. Conclusions: This is one of the first studies to characterize the transcriptome of a parasitic labyrinthulid, offering new insights into the molecular bases of the pathogenicity of members of this group. Results from the oligoarray study demonstrated the ability of QPX to cope with a wide range of environmental temperatures, including those considered to be suboptimal for clam immunity (low temperature) providing a mechanistic scenario for disease distribution in the field and for high disease prevalence and intensity at low temperature. These results will serve as basis for studies aimed at a better characterization of specific putative virulence factors.

Perkinsus marinus is a pathogen responsible for severe mortalities of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States. When cultivated, the pathogenicity of this microorganism decreases significantly, hampering the study of its virulence factors. Recent investigations have shown a significant increase of the in vivo virulence of P. marinus exposed to oyster pallial mucus. In the current study, we investigated the effect of pallial mucus on P. marinus gene expression compared with cultures supplemented with oyster digestive extracts or with un-supplemented cultures. In parallel, parasite cells cultured under these three conditions were used to challenge oysters and to assess virulence in vivo. Perkinsus marinus mRNA sequencing was performed on an Illumina GAIIX sequencer and data were analysed using the Tuxedo RNAseq suite for mapping against the draft P. marinus genome and for differential expression analysis. Results showed that exposure of P. marinus to mucus induces significant regulation of nearly 3,600 transcripts, many of which are considered as putative virulence factors. Pallial mucus is suspected to mimic internal host conditions, thereby preparing the pathogen to overcome defense factors before invasion. This hypothesis is supported by significant regulation in several antioxidant proteins, heat shock proteins, protease inhibitors and proteasome subunits. In addition, mucus exposure induced the modulation of several genes known to affect immunity and apoptosis in vertebrates and invertebrates. Several proteases (proteolysis) and merozoite surface proteins (cell recognition) were also modulated. Overall, these results provide a baseline for targeted, in depth analysis of candidate virulence factors in P. marinus.

International audience; Loripes lacteus inhabits reduced sediments in shallow waters and harbors chemotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in its gills. In this study, a combination of molecular (16S rRNA analysis, real time PCR and fluorescence in-situ hybridization) and microscopy approaches (confocal and transmission electron microscopy) was used to characterize this symbiotic association and evaluate factors potentially involved in endosymbiont acquisition and regulation. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed the presence of two phylotypes of endobacteria specifically associated with clam gills. The more abundant phylotype is a close relative to thiotrophic symbionts found in several symbiotic Lucinidae, while the second phylotype clustered with bacteria not known to be involved in symbiotic association. Endobacteria were not detected in other organs including gonads strongly suggesting a horizontal mode of transmission of symbionts to aposymbiotic juveniles. Clams were exposed to 3 weeks of starvation, which caused a significant decrease in the relative abundance of both phylotypes as compared to fresh animals suggesting a lytic degradation of endobacteria within clam gills. In addition, endosymbiont-depleted clams were not able to re-acquire their symbionts once moved back to ``optimal'' conditions. These results highlight the need for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that mediate acquisition, regulation and control of endosymbiotic bacteria by L lacteus. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The body surface of marine invertebrates is often covered by a layer of mucus, a slippery gel secreted by mucocytes (or goblet cells) lining epithelia. The functions of this gel are diverse and include locomotion, cleansing, food particles processing and defense against physicochemical injuries and infectious agents. In oysters, mucus covering pallial organs (mantle, gills and labial palps) has been demonstrated to have a major importance in particles (microalgae, pathogens) processing. Given the limited information available on pallial mucus in bivalves and the apparent wide spectra of activity of bioactive molecules present in this gel, the characterization of these mucosal secretions has become a research priority. In this study, mucus was collected from the pallial organs of eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and analyzed by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Additionally, in order to investigate glycoconjugate molecules, preliminary glycosyl composition was also performed on mucus using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) methods. Results showed the presence in pallial mucus of a wide range of molecules involved in non-self recognition, defense mechanisms and interactions with microbes. Mucus composition was different among samples collected from different organs. These results generate a reference map for C. virginica pallial mucus to better characterize the various physiological functions of the mucus. Research is ongoing to assess changes in mucosal immune proteins in response to pathological or environmental alterations.

QPX (Quahog Parasite Unknown) is a protistan parasite affecting hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) along the Northeast coast of the United States. The fact that QPX disease epizootics are usually observed in field sites with high salinities led to the general assumption that salinity represents an important factor for disease distribution. This study was designed to investigate the effect of salinity on QPX disease development as well as constitutive and QPX-induced defense factors in M. mercenaria. Naive and QPX-infected (both experimentally and naturally) clams were submitted to 17 and 30 psu for 4 months. Standard and QPX-specific cellular and humoral defense parameters were assessed after 2 and 4 months. These included total and differential hemocyte counts, reactive oxygen species production, phagocytic activity of hemocytes, lysozyme concentration in plasma, anti-QPX activity in plasma and resistance of hemocytes to cytotoxic QPX extracellular products. Results demonstrated higher QPX-associated mortality in naturally infected clams maintained at high salinity compared to those held at 17 psu. Our findings also showed an increase in mortality following experimental challenge with QPX in clams submitted to 30 psu but not in those held at 17 psu. Constitutive clam defense factors and the response to QPX challenge were also affected by salinity. QPX challenge caused significant but transitory changes in hemolymph parameters that were obvious at 2 months but disappeared at 4 months. Overall, our results show that salinity modulates clam immunity and the progress of QPX disease although its impact appears secondary as compared to findings we reported earlier for temperature.

Molecular recognition of food particles has been suspected to play an important role in particle selection in suspension feeding bivalves. Lectins are a group of sugar-binding proteins that are widely involved in biological recognition. They have been reported in mucus covering bivalves feeding organs and were recently shown to mediate particle sorting in these animals. In this study, we report a novel putative C-type lectin from the blue mussel Mytilus edulis. The cDNA of this lectin (hereby designated MeML for M. edulis mucocyte lectin) is 459bp long encoding a 152-residue protein. MeML presents a signal peptide and a single carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) which contains a QPS (Gln, Pro, and Ser) motif and two putative conserved sites, WND and ENC, for calcium binding. MeML was expressed in mucocytes lining the epithelium of pallial organs (gills, labial palps and mantle) and intestine, and its expression was significantly up-regulated following starvation. MeML transcript was not detected in other tissues including hemocytes. MeML is suspected to play a role in the capture of food particle which further support the involvement of this lectin in particle selection mechanism.

Cell surface carbohydrates play important roles in cell recognition mechanisms. Recently, we provided ev- idence that particle selection by suspension-feeding bi- valves can be mediated by interactions between carbohy- drates associated with the particle surface and lectins present in mucus covering bivalve feeding organs. In this study, we used lectins tagged with fluorescein isothiocya- nate (FITC) to characterize carbohydrate moieties on the surface of microalgal species and evaluate the effect of oyster mucus on lectin binding. These analyses revealed that concanavalin A (Con A), one of six lectins tested, bound to Isochrysis sp., while Nitzschia closterium reacted with Pi- sum sativum agglutinin (PNA) and peanut agglutinin (PEA). The cell surface of Rhodomonas salina bound with PNA and Con A, and Tetraselmis maculata cell surface was characterized by binding with PNA, PEA, and Con A. Pre-incubation of microalgae with oyster pallial mucus sig- nificantly decreased the binding of FITC-labeled lectins, revealing that lectins present in mucus competitively blocked binding sites. This decrease was reversed by wash- ing mucus-coated microalgae with specific carbohydrates. These results were used to design a feeding experiment to evaluate the effect of lectins on sorting of microalgae by oysters. Crassostrea virginica fed with an equal ratio of Con A-labeled Isochrysis sp. and unlabeled Isochrysis sp. pro- duced pseudofeces that were significantly enriched in Con A-labeled Isochrysis sp. and depleted in unlabeled microal- gae. Selection occurred even though two physical-chemical surface characteristics of the cells in each treatment did not differ significantly. This work confirms the involvement of carbohydrate-lectin interaction in the particle sorting mech- anism in oysters, and provides insights into the carbohy- drate specificity of lectins implicated in the selection of microalgal species.