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Developing specific molecular biomarkers for thermal stress in salmonids
Arash Akbarzadeh1,2, Oliver P Günther3, Aimee Lee Houde4
1Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Biological Station, 3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6N7, Canada. akbarzadeh@ut.ac.ir.
BMC Genomics
|October 18, 2018
Summary
Pacific salmon are key indicators of climate warming. This study identifies robust gene biomarkers in gill tissue to detect chronic thermal stress in salmon using non-lethal sampling.
Area of Science:
- Environmental toxicology
- Molecular biology
- Fish physiology
Background:
- Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) are sensitive indicators of climate warming due to their dual marine and freshwater life cycles.
- Their anadromous nature exposes them to diverse environmental challenges, making them ideal models for studying climate change impacts on fish.
- Identifying molecular signatures of thermal stress is crucial for monitoring ecosystem health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify reliable, thermally-responsive biomarkers in non-lethally sampled gill tissue of Pacific salmon.
- To establish molecular physiological signatures indicative of chronic thermal stress.
- To aid in monitoring the effects of climate warming on fish populations.
Main Methods:
- Utilized meta-analysis of existing salmon microarray datasets and deep literature mining to identify candidate genes.
- Developed quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assays for 32 unique genes.
- Validated candidate biomarkers in sockeye (O. nerka) and Chinook (O. tshawytscha) salmon exposed to controlled temperature changes (13-19°C) over 5-7 days.
Main Results:
- Identified 82 microarray features (39 unique gene IDs) as candidate chronic thermal stress biomarkers.
- Eight genes, including SERPINH1, HSP90AA1, FKBP10, MAP3K14, SFRS2, and EEF2, demonstrated robust and consistent responses to thermal stress.
- These validated genes showed strong differential activation in gill tissue under elevated temperatures.
Conclusions:
- A panel of genes involved in protein chaperoning, oxidative stress, and protein biosynthesis are differentially activated in salmon gills under thermal stress.
- This biomarker panel, when analyzed collectively, offers a reliable method for specifically detecting thermal stress in field-caught salmon.
- The findings provide a valuable tool for non-lethal monitoring of climate change impacts on fish populations.
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