Identification and analysis of virulence factor-related full-length transcripts in Ascosphaera apis mycelium and spores
Author of the article:LONG Qi YU Ke-Jun WU Ying SUN Ming-Hui FENG Rui-Rong ZHAO Xiao HU Ying XU Xi-Jian FU Zhong-Min CHEN Da-Fu GUO Rui
Author's Workplace:College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Apitherapy Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Apicultural Research Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang 330000, China
Key Words:Ascosphaera apis; mycelium; spore; virulence factor; full-length transcript; third-generation sequencing
Abstract:
[Objectives] To identify and analyze virulence
factor-related full-length transcripts of Ascosphaera apis, a lethal
fungal pathogen that exclusively infects honeybee larvae causing chalkbrood
disease, using previously gained high-quality long-read sequencing data,
thereby providing reference information and a foundation for the functional
study of virulence factor-associated isoforms of this pathogen. [Methods] All full-length transcripts of A. apis mycelium (AaM) and spores (AaS) were aligned to the Nr database using BLAST
tool to identify full-length transcripts relative to virulence factors, such as
chitinase, lipase, hydrolase and protease. Sequences of full-length transcripts
in AaM and AaS were aligned to those of known transcripts annotated in the A.
apis reference genome, followed by normalization of the numbers of
full-length transcripts mapped to the reference genome. The expression levels
of each virulence factor-related, full-length transcript were then calculated.
A heatmap showing the spatial pattern of transcript expression was drawn using
the appropriate tool in BMKCloud and the structures of partial virulence
factor-related full-length transcripts were visualized in IGV browser. [Results] 367 genes and 407 full-length transcripts
associated with virulence factors were identified in AaM, of which 12 were
chitinase-related, 48 lipase-related, 289 hydrolase-related and 58
protease-related. 367 genes and 400 full-length transcripts associated with
virulence factors were identified in Aas, of which 14 were chitinase-related,
63 lipase-related, 267 hydrolase-related and 56 protease-related. In addition,
there were 0 and 17 unique virulence factor-related, full-length transcripts(lipase-related and chitinase-related transcripts)in AaM and Aas, respectively, and 60 that were common to mycelia and
spores. Further analysis indicated that part of the virulence factor-related
genes can generate several isoforms via alternative splicing. [Conclusion] A total of 367 genes and 486 full-length
transcripts associated with virulence factors, such as chitinase, lipase,
hydrolase and protease were identified. Most full-length transcripts
corresponding to virulence factor-related genes were relatively abundant and
had more complex structures. Our findings enrich the annotation of genes and
transcripts relevant to Ascosphaera apis virulence factors, provide a
foundation for the functional study of virulence factor-associated isoforms and
offer potential targets for the prevention and control of chalkbrood in
honey-bees.