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PubMed2026

Construction of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks in the intestine of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) following Vibrio anguillarum infection.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play pivotal roles in post-transcriptional regulation by acting as molecular sponges for microRNAs (miRNAs) within the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. However, the regulatory mechanisms in teleost immune responses remain poorly understood. In this study, circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks were investigated in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) following Vibrio anguillarum infection to elucidate host-pathogen interactions. Through high-throughput sequencing of intestinal tissues, a total of 50 differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRNAs) (18 at 2 hpi, 16 at 12 hpi, 16 at 48 hpi), 212 DE-miRNAs (11 at 2 hpi, 70 at 12 hpi, 15 at 48 hpi), and 1774 DE-mRNAs were identified. Functional enrichment analyses (GO/KEGG) revealed significant associations with immune pathways, including the MAPK signaling pathway and gap junction. An integrated circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed, highlighting key interactions including novel_circ_0002573/DE-miR-27a-3p/FGB and novel_circ_0002423/novel_347/GNE, which may regulate inflammatory and antibacterial responses. The expression patterns of selected circRNAs, miRNAs and mRNAs were validated using qRT-PCR, confirming the reliability of the sequencing results. Importantly, fibrinogen beta chain (FGB) and CXCR4/CXCL12 signaling were identified as critical immune modulators. These findings provide insights of the ceRNA regulatory networks involved in teleost intestinal immunity and provide potential molecular targets for selective breeding of disease resistance in this species.

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PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of CSP and OBP genes in Stictocephala bisonia reveals candidate genes potentially associated with insecticide response.

Stictocephala bisonia is an important invasive agricultural pest. Due to the frequent application of insecticides in its habitat, this species is under intense selection pressure. Chemosensory proteins (CSPs) and odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) are known to play key roles in insecticide resistance, but their specific functions in S. bisonia remain unclear. In this study, we identified a total of 22 SbisCSPs and 16 SbisOBPs based on the S. bisonia genome. To screen for candidate genes potentially linked to insecticide resistance, we adopted a multi-criteria screening strategy that integrated phylogenetic analysis, molecular docking with three insecticides, and tissue-specific expression profiling. Phylogenetic analysis identified several SbisCSPs and SbisOBPs clustering with genes known to be involved in insecticide resistance, serving as an initial evolutionary filter. Molecular docking results indicated that λ-Cyhalothrin exhibited the strong predicted binding affinity with most of SbisCSPs and SbisOBPs. Subsequent qPCR validation of seven prioritized candidates revealed distinct expression patterns: SbisCSP22 was highly expressed in adults and demonstrated strong binding affinity to all three insecticides tested, suggesting a potential role in mediating multi-insecticide response. Conversely, SbisCSP17 was significantly upregulated in larvae, clustered with genes known to mediate imidacloprid resistance, and exhibited strong binding affinity to imidacloprid. Given its larval-specific expression and the soil-dwelling behavior of larvae, we hypothesize that SbisCSP17 is a key candidate gene for larvae coping with soil-treated insecticides.

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PubMed2026

A multi-model genome-wide association study identifies genetic variants underlying resistance to Largemouth Bass Ranavirus (LMBV) in Micropterus salmoides.

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is an economically important freshwater aquaculture species, yet recurrent outbreaks of Largemouth Bass Ranavirus (LMBV) continue to impair production and cause substantial losses. The genetic basis of host variation in LMBV resistance remains insufficiently characterized. Here, we applied a multi-model genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify loci associated with resistance following a controlled challenge with the LMBV-23PY strain. Whole-genome resequencing was performed for 146 phenotyped fish, including 72 susceptible and 74 resistant individuals. After stringent quality control, 877,262 high-quality variants were retained and tested using six GWAS models. Across binary survival status and survival time phenotypes, 32 shared suggestive variants were consistently detected across models, representing suggestive loci for LMBV-23PY resistance. Genes within ±50 kb of these loci were annotated, and functional enrichment highlighted immune- and redox-related biological processes. Three prioritized candidates-GSTT3L (glutathione S-transferase theta-3-like), CGRP2 (calcitonin gene-related peptide 2), and NPPC (natriuretic peptide C)-were associated with pathways involved in oxidative stress responses and immune regulation. Collectively, these results provide insight into the genetic architecture of LMBV-23PY resistance in largemouth bass and identify suggestive variants and associated candidate genes for downstream validation, functional interrogation, and the development of marker-assisted and genome-enabled breeding strategies.

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PubMed2026

The gonadal matrisome and its correlation with sex change in the ricefield eel Monopterus albus.

The matrisome is a comprehensive list of genes in the genome of an organism, which encodes proteins constituting or interacting with the extracellular matrix (ECM). The gonadal ECM is important for folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis. This study characterized the composition of the matrisome and the expression of matrisome genes in the gonad of ricefield eel, a protogynous sex-changing teleost, during sex change. A total of 838 matrisome genes were identified in the genome of ricefield eel through an in-silico orthology-based approach, of which 482, 443, 429, and 570 matrisome genes were shown to be expressed in the gonads of female (F), early intersexual (EI), mid-intersexual (MI), and late intersexual (LI) fish, respectively. Differentially expressed matrisome genes (DEMGs) were observed across all the sexual stages as well as in each category of ECM components. Analysis of DEMGs in the comparison between EI and F revealed dramatic upregulation of adam8a, mmp9, and s100a11 while downregulation of col4a5, col15a1b, clec3ba, f13a1, and ccl44, which were further confirmed by qPCR analysis. Together, these findings revealed significant changes in the expression of many matrisome genes, particularly three regulator genes, adam8a, mmp9 and f13a1, as female ricefield eels initiate sex change, suggesting that gonadal tissues undergo dramatic remodeling involving the regression of ovarian tissues and the development of testicular tissues to facilitate this process. These data provide valuable resources for further unraveling the roles of matrisome genes in gonadal development of ricefield eel and other vertebrates.

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PubMed2026

Comparative analyses of olfactory receptor repertoires in Schizothorax fish based on the chromosome-level genomes: Implications for regulatory roles of dietary differentiation and ploidy variation.

The olfactory receptor (OR) genes constitute the molecular basis of fish olfaction, mediating survival behaviors and environmental adaptation while coevolving with habitat-driven evolution. Schizothorax, a cyprinid genus endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, exhibits remarkable dietary divergence and ploidy variation in response to plateau environmental changes, which presumably facilitates the adaptive evolution of OR genes. However, the evolutionary patterns of OR genes associated with trophic divergence and ploidy variation in this genus remain unclear. In this study, three species were selected: the herbivorous diploid S. macropogon, the carnivorous diploid S. lantsangensis, and the herbivorous tetraploid S. curvilabiatus. S. macropogon possessed 142 OR genes (92.25% functional), primarily located on chromosomes 14 and 24, with the fewest sequence clusters. Such compact gene repertoire and highly overlapping chromosomal clusters indicated specialization for a herbivorous olfactory niche. S. lantsangensis contained 127 OR genes (93.70% functional), concentrated on chromosomes 4 and 5, with fewer sequence clusters and a scattered distribution, reflecting evolution of OR genes under carnivorous feeding habits. The herbivorous tetraploid S. curvilabiatus exhibited striking features: 316 OR genes (94.30% functional), the most subfamilies, unique ε and κ OR subfamilies, and species-specific motifs. These characteristics revealed that ploidy, rather than herbivory, dominated OR gene evolution. In conclusion, dietary differentiation and ploidy variation together drove olfactory adaptive evolution in Schizothorax, providing new insights into vertebrate OR gene ecological adaptation.

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PubMed2026

Genome-wide characterization of heat shock protein genes reveals thermal stress-responsive candidates in Litopenaeus vannamei.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are conserved molecular chaperones involved in protein folding, refolding, aggregation prevention, and degradation of damaged proteins. However, the genomic organization and thermal responsiveness of HSP genes in the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) remain incompletely understood. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the HSP gene family and examined its phylogenetic relationships, structural features, duplication patterns, sequence variation, interaction networks, and transcriptional responses to acute heat stress. A total of 34 HSP genes were identified and classified into the HSP90, HSP70, HSP40/DNAJ, HSP60, and small HSP families. Phylogenetic, motif, gene structure, synteny, and subcellular localization analyses revealed evolutionary conservation and structural diversification among family members. Three duplicated gene pairs were identified, comprising two segmental duplications and one tandem duplication. All pairs exhibited Ka/Ks ratios below 1, consistent with purifying selection of varying strength. Sequence analysis identified 295 nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms, of which 12 were consistently predicted to be deleterious by multiple algorithms. Protein-protein interaction analysis indicated enrichment of protein-folding and cellular stress-response functions. RT-qPCR analysis showed significant induction of HSPA4, HSP90AA1, TRAP1, BiP, and DNAJA1 after 6, 12, and 24 h of exposure to 34 °C, whereas DNAJC3 was significantly induced only at 12 h. All six genes reached their highest transcript abundance at 12 h. These findings may provide a genomic framework for HSP genes in L. vannamei and identify candidate genes and variants associated with thermal stress responses.

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PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of HSD3B and SDR42E1 genes in the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas): potential associations with gonadal development.

Sex steroids are lipid-soluble signaling molecules that regulate sex differentiation, reproductive development and physiological homeostasis in animals. 3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5-Δ4 isomerase (3β-HSD) is a key steroidogenic enzyme, whereas SDR42E1, an extended short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase, has been implicated in sterol- and steroid-related metabolism. However, the composition, evolutionary relationships and expression patterns of the HSD3B- and SDR42E1-related genes in bivalve gonadal development remain poorly characterized. In this study, five PF01073-containing genes, comprising three CgHsd3b and two CgSdr42e1 genes, were identified in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Phylogenetic analysis separated the proteins into HSD3B-related and SDR42E1-related groups, and gene-structure and motif analyses indicated subfamily-level divergence. All five proteins retained the SDR domain but differed in exon-intron structure and motif composition. Each contained the extended-SDR TGxxGxxG motif, whereas exact classical [ST]GxxxGxG and NNAG motifs were absent. Tyr- and Lys-equivalent residues were conserved, while the HSD3B1 Ser-equivalent position contained Thr in two C. gigas proteins and Ser in one. These features support their classification as extended-SDR proteins but do not establish enzymatic activity or substrate specificity. The three CgHsd3b genes were dispersed on one chromosome, whereas CgSdr42e1-1 and CgSdr42e1-2 were adjacent on another chromosome, suggesting a possible local duplication event for the CgSdr42e1 pair. Public RNA-seq data showed distinct tissue- and gonadal-stage expression patterns, with several genes displaying gonad-biased or female-stage-associated expression. Independent RT-qPCR profiling of the representative genes CgHsd3b-3 and CgSdr42e1-1 detected stage-dependent expression, although tissue rankings differed from those in the public RNA-seq datasets. These differences may reflect the use of independent biological samples, tissue composition, normalization procedures, and platform-specific measurements. Because enzymatic assays, metabolite measurements, cellular localization, and functional perturbation were not performed, the results identify candidate genes whose expression is associated with gonadal development rather than demonstrating regulatory roles. This study provides a comparative framework for future functional investigation of sterol- and steroid-related metabolism in bivalves.

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PubMed2026

Comprehensive identification and evolutionary analysis of the Wnt gene family in bivalves: Insights into the larval development of the noble scallop Chlamys nobilis.

The Wnt gene family regulates fundamental developmental processes in metazoans, but its evolutionary composition and developmental deployment in bivalves remain largely unresolved. Here, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of Wnt genes in 19 bivalve species and examined developmental expression profiles in the noble scallop Chlamys nobilis, with Crassostrea gigas and Chlamys farreri used for cross-species comparison. A total of 235 Wnt genes were identified and assigned to 12 subfamilies. No reliable Wnt3 ortholog was detected in any analyzed bivalve, supporting the view that Wnt3 loss occurred early during lophotrochozoan evolution rather than representing a lineage-specific absence. Most Wnt proteins retained the conserved WNT domain, indicating strong structural conservation, whereas lineage-specific copy-number variation and gene loss were observed among species. C. farreri and C. gigas each retained 12 Wnt genes and lacked Wnt3, whereas C. nobilis lacked Wnt3, Wnt7, and Wnt16. Developmental transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR revealed clear stage-specific expression patterns. In C. gigas, Wnt2/10/A were highly expressed during earlydevelopment and peaked around the D-shaped larval stage, while Wnt8 and Wnt11 showed distinct stage-specific peaks. By contrast, Wnt1/5/6/9 were more active during later larval development or juvenile formation. These results provide a comparative framework for bivalve Wnt evolution and identify candidate Wnt genes potentially involved in larval development and aquaculture-relevant developmental transitions.

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PubMed2026

Post-weaning social isolation increases reward-seeking behavior in mice.

Social isolation is a growing public health concern. Although isolation at any age is harmful, previous studies have shown that isolation during adolescence, correlating with critical periods of brain development, can impair cognitive function and increase the risk for psychiatric illness later in life. In this study, we utilized a mouse model of social isolation (SI) during adolescence (postnatal day 21-35) and compared performance of isolated and group-housed mice on a touchscreen-based continuous performance test (rCPT) and fixed ratio/progressive ratio (FR/PR) tasks in adulthood. SI improved performance in the rCPT and the improvement in performance was consistent across time bins within the 45-minute testing session. There were no effects of SI on reaction times or reward retrieval latencies. A possible confound for performance in the rCPT would be SI-induced changes in reward-seeking or motivation for the strawberry milk reward. We next compared the SI mice to their group-housed littermate controls on both PR and FR schedules of reinforcement and found that SI mice had higher breakpoints on a PR4 schedule and earned significantly more reinforcers on an FR1 schedule of reinforcement compared to their group-housed littermates, suggesting that high performance in the CPT may be due to increased motivation for food rewards. These data indicate that SI during adolescence has significant effects on reward-seeking behavior in adult mice and may provide a useful behavioral model for studying the link between SI and risk for neuropsychiatric disorders.

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PubMed2026

Fasting-refeeding regimes induce compensatory growth and muscle transcriptomic remodeling in juvenile Qihe gibel carp (Carassius gibelio var. Qihe).

Compensatory growth, an important adaptive response in fish, holds considerable potential for improving feeding efficiency in aquaculture. To identify an optimal fasting-refeeding strategy for juvenile Qihe gibel carp (Carassius gibelio var. Qihe) and to clarify the mechanisms underlying the compensatory growth, we divided two-month-old fish into four groups, namely S0 group (continuous feeding for 28 days), S2 group (4 cycles of 2-day fasting followed by 5-day refeeding), S4 group (fasting for 4 days followed by refeeding for 24 days), and S8 group (fasting for 8 days followed by refeeding for 20 days), then growth performance, muscle tissue morphology, biochemical responses, and muscle transcriptomic profiles under different feeding regimes were investigated. After a 28-day aquaculture experiment, fish in the S4 group exhibited significantly greater body length and weight than those in the S0, S2, and S8 groups, indicating over-compensatory growth. Histological analysis further showed that muscle growth in the S4 group was mainly associated with myofiber hyperplasia. Different feeding regimes also induced distinct changes in hepatic antioxidant and metabolic enzyme activities, as well as intestinal digestive enzyme activities. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the forkhead box O (FoxO) signaling pathway was significantly enriched during compensatory growth. Key genes, including serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (sgk1) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (irs1), were predicted to play important roles in this process. Overall, these results indicate that fasting for 4 days followed by refeeding for 24 days (the S4 regime) is the optimal strategy for inducing compensatory growth in juvenile Qihe gibel carp. This study provides new insights into the morphological, physiological, and molecular basis of compensatory growth and offers a scientific foundation for developing efficient and sustainable feeding strategies for this species.

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PubMed2026

ChIP-seq profiling identifies diapause-regulated H3K27me3 targets in the fat body of Culex pipiens.

Culex pipiens, a principal vector of significant arboviruses, survives winter through diapause, a hormonally controlled inactive phase that enhances endurance under severe cold circumstances. Recent data suggests that epigenetic processes, namely histone post-translational modifications (hPTMs), play a crucial role in regulating seasonal dormancy. Prior studies from our laboratory indicated a decrease in the methylation of Histone 3 (H3K27me3) in diapausing fat body tissue, associated with elevated expression of the histone demethylase UTX. Nonetheless, the precise genomic areas impacted by these chromatin alterations remained unidentified. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) to delineate the genome-wide distribution of H3K27me3 across fat body chromatin in diapausing (D) and non-diapausing (ND) female Cx. pipiens. Notably, the higher signal at transcription start sites (TSSs) reflects localized redistribution rather than a global decrease, as diapausing fat bodies retain less H3K27me3 overall but concentrate it at promoters. To investigate the functional significance of these chromatin alterations, we confirmed a number of target loci via ChIP-qPCR and assessed gene expression with qRT-PCR. We identified many critical genes that were markedly increased in diapausing mosquitoes, exhibiting an inverse relation to H3K27me3 enrichment. Our data demonstrates different H3K27me3 chromatin landscapes between diapausing and non-diapausing Cx. pipiens, corroborating a hypothesis of selective, locus-specific repression in the non-diapause state and its targeted removal during diapause to permit activation of dormancy-associated genes. These results suggest that chromatin remodeling is a core driver of the diapause switch.

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PubMed2026

Long-term heat exposure reshapes muscle molecular regulation and enhances thermal tolerance in Clarias fuscus.

Rapid fluctuations in water temperature driven by global warming have become a major abiotic stressor affecting muscle function in teleost fish. This study examined the effects of long-term thermal conditions on heat tolerance in Clarias fuscus. Fish were maintained for 90 days at either a normal temperature group (NT, 26 °C) or a high-temperature group (HT, 34 °C). Subsequently, muscle histology, and transcriptomic profiles were observed following acute high-temperature exposure (34 °C) and after temperature recovery (26 °C). Histological analysis showed that fish from the NT under acute high-temperature stress exhibited severe muscle damage (atrophy, myofilament disruption, and myolysis), whereas fish from the HT displayed markedly reduced lesions. RNA-seq profiling revealed 5769 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the NT and 3292 DEGs in the HT following acute temperature challenges. Functional enrichment indicated that, in the HT, modulation of key cell cycle regulators (e.g., ccna, ccnb, cdk1, cdk2) contributed to alleviating muscle damage caused by temperature fluctuations. In the NT, genes associated with ribosome biogenesis (e.g., nop56, riok2, riok1) were up-regulated and then down-regulated during temperature fluctuation, whereas p53 in the cell cycle pathway showed the opposite expression pattern. These findings demonstrate long-term heat exposure reshapes molecular expression and regulatory mechanisms in the muscle of C. fuscus, thereby enhancing thermal tolerance and adaptability, and providing a theoretical basis for breeding heat-resistant, high-quality aquaculture strains.

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PubMed2026

Muscular fiber properties and multi-omics investigation of larval and adult locomotor muscle in Microhyla fissipes.

During metamorphosis, Microhyla fissipes undergoes a critical transition from an aquatic to a terrestrial lifestyle, accompanied by significant remodeling of skeletal muscle. Notably, larval tail muscle degenerates, while adult hindlimb muscle develops. However, the molecular mechanisms that orchestrate these muscle type-specific adaptations to the changing environment remain unclear. In this study, histological observation, transcriptomics, and metabolomics were integrated to compare locomotor muscles from two stages: larval muscle from tail versus adult muscle from hindlimb. Our results revealed that adult muscle fibers exhibited reduced diameter and shorter sarcomere length compared to those of tadpoles. Transcriptomic analysis identified 4103 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 2182 up-regulated and 1921 down-regulated genes. Up-regulated genes were mainly involved in energy metabolism and cellular homeostasis pathways, including PPAR signaling and oxidative phosphorylation, whereas down-regulated genes were associated with carbohydrate metabolism and cell proliferation pathways, such as glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and PI3K-Akt signaling. Metabolic profiling indicated a metabolic shift from anaerobic to aerobic energy production, with 57 differential metabolites identified, mainly involved in protein metabolism and insulin-related pathways. Integrated multi-omics analysis further highlighted the AMPK and FoxO signaling pathways play key roles in this process. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the metabolic and structural differences between larval and adult skeletal muscles are mediated by AMPK- and FoxO-dependent signaling pathways, providing novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptive development and locomotor transition in anuran amphibians.

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PubMed2026

Gene expression patterns in the intestines of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius) under prolonged high-salinity stress.

The effective development of high-salinity aquaculture for the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius depends on understanding its molecular mechanisms. Therefore, we conducted a 60-day experiment to investigate the effects of prolonged high-salinity stress on the survival, growth, amino acid levels, antioxidant enzyme activity, and gene expression of S. intermedius. The experiment involved the preparation of two groups: one with a salinity of 32 (group S32) and another with 36 (group S36). The results showed that the survival rate of S. intermedius in group S36 was 80% ± 6.7%, while the weight gain rate was only 61.58% ± 1.92%. Both parameters were significantly lower than those in group S32 (P < 0.05). In addition, the GSH, Cys, and Glu expression in S. intermedius was significantly higher than that observed in group S32 (P < 0.05). The transcriptomic results showed that, when comparing groups S32 and S36, 179 differentially expressed genes were identified. These genes were predominantly enriched in pathways related to metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis. We highlight the genes CGL, EAAT3, AMY, and NADH, which are associated with the energy metabolism, cysteine transport, and amino acid biosynthesis of S. intermedius. We speculated that S. intermedius exposed to high salinity enhances energy metabolism, as well as Cys synthesis and transport, to mitigate oxidative stress. This study provides a theoretical reference for the healthy aquaculture of S. intermedius in high-salinity environments.

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PubMed2026

Transcriptomic and RNAi analyses reveal chloride channel 3-associated osmoregulation in Litopenaeus vannamei under low-salinity stress.

Chloride channels and transporters are important for cellular volume regulation and salinity adaptation in euryhaline crustaceans, yet the intestinal transcriptional relationship between plasma-membrane and intracellular chloride pathways remains unclear in Litopenaeus vannamei. In this study, RNA interference of anoctamin 1 (ANO1) was combined with intestinal transcriptome sequencing under the production-relevant low-salinity condition of salinity 3. ANO1 silencing produced a focused transcriptional response, with 16 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified (11 upregulated and 5 downregulated). Functional enrichment indicated that these genes were associated with transporter activity, cytoskeletal organization, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, membrane lipid metabolism, and vesicular processes. Notably, a transcript encoding chloride channel protein 3 (CLC-3) was significantly upregulated following ANO1 knockdown, suggesting a potential transcriptional relationship between ANO1 and CLC-3 in chloride homeostasis. Based on this finding, CLC-3 was selected for full-length cDNA cloning, sequence characterization, salinity-gradient expression analysis, and RNAi-based functional assessment. The cloned CLC-3 cDNA was 2883 bp in length and encoded an 850 amino acid protein containing a conserved voltage-gated chloride channel (Voltage-CLC) domain and two cystathionine β-synthase domains. Phylogenetic analysis placed LvCLC-3 within the intracellular CLC-c clade, and tissue distribution analysis showed the highest CLC-3 expression in the intestine. Intestinal CLC-3 expression responded nonlinearly to salinity variation, peaking at salinity 20. Under salinity 3, CLC-3 knockdown reduced ANO1, Na+/K+-ATPase alpha subunit, and Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter transcript levels, whereas glutamate-gated chloride channel expression increased. Mild hepatopancreatic structural alterations were also observed after CLC-3 knockdown. These findings suggest that CLC-3 is a salinity-responsive intracellular chloride-transporter candidate associated with intestinal ion-transport-related transcriptional responses after ANO1 suppression in L. vannamei, although the underlying physiological mechanism requires further validation.

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PubMed2026

Genome-wide identification, structural characterization, and evolutionary analysis of growth-related gene families in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus).

The somatotropic axis encompassing growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), myostatin (MSTN), and prolactin (PRL) signalling cascades is the master regulator of somatic growth, metabolism, and development in vertebrates. African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), a commercially pivotal aquaculture species, now possesses a chromosome-level reference genome (CGAR_prim_01v2); however, a systematic, genome-wide characterization spanning all five interconnected growth-related gene families has not previously been undertaken in this species. Here, we identified and characterized 15 growth-related genes spanning gh1, ghra, ghrb, Igf1, Igf2a, Igf2b, igf1ra, Igf1rb, Igf2r, Mstna, Mstnb, prl, prlra, prlrb, and smtlb distributed across 13 chromosomes. Complete one-to-one orthology with zebrafish confirmed strong dosage-balance conservation across >120 million years of teleost divergence. Physicochemical analysis resolved a clear biochemical dichotomy between compact, basic secreted ligands (19.88-45.81 kDa; pI up to 10.02) and large, acidic, heavily glycosylated membrane receptors (56.82-270.80 kDa; pI 4.85-5.97). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed 3R whole-genome duplication origins for all paralog pairs, while synteny analysis revealed a disruption of the ancestral gh1-prl chromosomal block in C. gariepinus, a finding that warrants further comparative and functional investigation. This genomic atlas provides the sequence and structural information including exon-intron boundaries, domain architecture, and chromosomal coordinates needed as a prerequisite for future marker-assisted selection and CRISPR-based myostatin-editing efforts in African catfish aquaculture, though translation into applied breeding outcomes will require subsequent functional and expression studies.

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PubMed2026

Sex- and development-specific transcriptomic profiling of venom and silk genes in the wolf spider Pardosa astrigera provides insights into ecological adaptation and predatory strategies.

Spider venom and silk glands are two major secretory systems that contribute to prey capture, defense, and reproduction, but their sex- and development-specific molecular regulation in wandering wolf spiders remains poorly understood. Here, the transcriptome of Pardosa astrigera, an important agricultural natural enemy in China, revealed significant sex- and development-associated molecular differentiation among adult females, adult males, and spiderlings. A total of 100,025 unigenes were obtained, of which 23,852 were functionally annotated, providing a comprehensive transcriptomic resource for this species. Differential expression patterns showed marked variation among groups, with 531, 1792, and 832 DEGs detected in PAF vs PAS, PAM vs PAS, and PAF vs PAM, respectively. These genes were mainly associated with metabolic, oxidation-reduction, cuticle development, MAPK signaling, and lysosome pathways. Fifteen co-expression modules revealed distinct expression patterns. The turquoise, pink, yellow, and red modules were development-related, whereas the blue module was male-biased. Venom- and spidroin-related genes were distributed across multiple modules, suggesting coordinated regulation. Overall, 42 venom peptides, 21 venom proteins, and 11 spidroins were identified. Representative genes showed strongly biased expression, including spiderling-biased U3_Pp1a and U5_Pp1e, female-biased U4_Pp1a, and male-biased SMase D_108750 and PaTuSp_108466. These findings reveal sex- and development-biased expression patterns of venom- and silk-related candidate genes in P. astrigera and may provide molecular insights into ecological adaptation and predatory strategies in wandering wolf spiders.

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PubMed2026

Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing and ceRNA network analyses provide novel insights into the antibacterial immune response of Hippocampus abdominalis against Vibrio harveyi.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) stand as newly-arisen molecular types that exert regulatory effects, able to operate as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) to engage microRNAs (miRNAs) in interaction, resulting in the recovery of target mRNA expression and activity. Increasing evidences indicate that the ceRNA network affects various biological processes in mammals, including development, cellular differentiation, metabolism, immune response, and disease pathogenesis. In teleost fish, the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks have been reported occasionally. However, up to now, the roles of lncRNAs in the big-belly seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) remains unclear. In this study, we reported for the first time, via whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing, the lncRNA mediated ceRNA regulatory network in Vibrio harveyi-infected H. abdominalis. A total of 4197 differentially expressed mRNAs (DE-mRNAs), 1317 DE-lncRNAs, and 183 DE-miRNAs were identified. Furthermore, the crosstalk between miRNAs and lncRNAs as well as between miRNAs and mRNAs was inferred based on the negative correlations between miRNAs and their target lncRNAs/mRNAs. A core immune associated lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA putative regulatory network was thus constructed, comprising 211 lncRNA-miRNA and 224 mRNA-miRNA pairs. In conclusion, our findings provide an integrative overview of the ceRNA regulatory networks on the underlying immune responses to V. harveyi infection in the big-belly seahorse, and offer a solid theoretical foundation for the comparative immunological research of teleost fish.

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