Common European harmful algal blooms affect the viability and innate immune responses of Mytilus edulis larvae.
Like marine diseases, harmful algal blooms (HABs) are globally increasing in frequency, severity and geographical scale. As a result, bivalves will have to face the combined threat of toxic algae and marine pathogens more frequently in the (near) future. These stressors combined may further affect the recruitment of ecologically and economically important bivalve species as HABs can affect the growth, viability and development of their larvae. To date, little is known on the specific effects of HABs on the innate immune system of bivalve larvae. This study therefore investigates whether two common harmful algae can influence the larval viability, development and immunological resilience of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis. Embryos of this model organism were exposed (48 h) to five densities of Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries or Prorocentrum lima cells. In addition, the effect of six concentrations of their respective toxins: domoic acid (DA) and okadaic acid (OA) were assessed. OA was found to significantly reduce larval protein phosphatase activity (p < 0.001) and larval viability (p < 0.01) at concentrations as low as 37.8 μg l(-1). P. multiseries (1400 cells ml(-1)), P. lima (150 cells ml(-1)) and DA (dosed five times higher than typical environmental conditions i.e. 623.2 μg l(-1)) increased the phenoloxidase (PO) innate immune activity of the mussel larvae. These results suggest that the innate immune response of even the earliest life stages of bivalves is susceptible to the presence of HABs.
Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Applied Ecology and Environmental Biology, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Maarten.derijcke@UGent.be.
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De Rijcke
Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Applied Ecology and Environmental Biology, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Vandegehuchte
Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
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Vanden Bussche
Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Animal Production, Laboratory of Aquaculture and ARC, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Nevejan
Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
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Vanhaecke
Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Applied Ecology and Environmental Biology, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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De Schamphelaere
Ghent University, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Applied Ecology and Environmental Biology, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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Janssen
D000818:Animals; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry; D004141:Dinoflagellida / Q000737:chemistry; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects; D057097:Harmful Algal Bloom; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D019319:Okadaic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D008387:Marine Toxins; D019319:Okadaic Acid; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; C012301:domoic acid; D007608:Kainic Acid
Domoic acid; Larvae; Mytilus edulis; Okadaic acid; Phenoloxidase