Water Biology and Security最新文献

{"title":"A land-based tank aquaculture system coupled with effluent treatment ponds: Effect of stocking density on the growth performance of gibel carp (Carassius gibelio)","authors":"Huacheng Li ,&nbsp;Jieya Liu ,&nbsp;Rui Chen ,&nbsp;Yin Wang ,&nbsp;Wenhan Li ,&nbsp;Qiushi Yang ,&nbsp;Tingting Xu ,&nbsp;Sayed R.S. Zidan ,&nbsp;Chengchen Jiang ,&nbsp;Yutian Yuan ,&nbsp;Xuxu Li ,&nbsp;Liqin Yu ,&nbsp;Rong Tang ,&nbsp;Chunfang Wang ,&nbsp;Li Li ,&nbsp;Xi Zhang ,&nbsp;Dapeng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100388","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs) are recognized for their eco-friendly and efficient approach in aquaculture. This study constructed a novel system: a land-based tank aquaculture system coupled with effluent treatment ponds (LBTAS). The system includes land-based tanks, an oxygen supply system, a water inlet system, a sewage collection system, and an effluent treatment system. We evaluated the impact of different stocking densities on the growth, health, aquaculture yield, and economic benefits of gibel carp (<em>Carassius gibelio</em>) in the LBTAS. The yields of the high stocking density (HSD) group and the low stocking density (LSD) group were similar, which was more than three times that of traditional pond farming. But the LSD group significantly improved final weight (FW), final length (FL), weight gain ratio (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), ingestion rate (IR), and viscerosomatic index (VSI) compared to HSD groups (<em>P</em> ​&lt; ​0.05). While survival rates and the hepatosomatic index (HSI) were similar across groups, the low-density group exhibited better overall health. Serum biochemical indicators such as glucose (GLU), cholesterol (CHO), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were unaffected by density. However, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglycerides (TG), lactate acid (LD), and cortisol were significantly higher in the HSD group (<em>P</em> ​&lt; ​0.05), indicating increased stress. Hepatic antioxidant analysis showed stable levels of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), but higher levels of catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the high-density group <em>(P</em> ​&lt; ​0.05), suggesting increased oxidative stress. Muscle histology analysis revealed significantly higher muscle fiber density in the LSD group (<em>P</em> ​&lt; ​0.05), with no significant effect on muscle fiber diameter. Water quality analysis indicated poorer quality in the HSD group, with lower dissolved oxygen and significantly higher concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and nitrite nitrogen (NO₂⁻-N) compared to the LSD group (<em>P</em> ​&lt; ​0.05). Despite the initial lower cost, the LSD group achieved a higher economic return on investment (ROI) of 16.92%. Our research results demonstrate that the aquaculture yield of gibel carp in the LBTAS is more than three times that of traditional ponds, with a return on investment reaching up to 16.92%. However, the HSD can negatively impact the growth performance, health status, and economic benefit of gibel carp. These results preliminary confirm the feasibility of the LBTAS, highlighting the importance of balanced aquaculture practices for sustainability and profitability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101277,"journal":{"name":"Water Biology and Security","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100388"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Propidium monoazide-quantitative PCR for antibiotic sensitivity testing and minimum inhibitory concentration testing of antibiotic-resistant bacteria","authors":"Hwa-Seong Son,&nbsp;Kun-Woo Yun,&nbsp;Min-Jun Seong,&nbsp;Seung-Min Lee,&nbsp;Mu-Chan Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100406","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100406","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibiotics are widely used in humans, livestock, and aquaculture, but they are not removed fully during wastewater treatment, leading to their accumulation in aquatic environments. This contributes to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), posing public health and ecosystem risks. Although antibiotic use has decreased, the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes via integrons among ARB remains a concern. Traditionally, methods such as antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests have been used to identify ARBs. However, these methods are limited by their variability, the necessity for time-consuming reculture, and the inability to detect viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria. To overcome such limitations, the ability of propidium monoazide quantitative PCR (PMA-qPCR) to selectively detect only viable bacteria, excluding dead cells, was evaluated. This study assessed ARBs in oyster, sea pineapple, and fish farms along Korea's coast using both conventional AST and MIC tests alongside PMA-qPCR. <em>Vibrio</em> spp., frequently detected at all sites, were used as the target species. PMA-qPCR successfully detected VBNC bacteria that were undetectable in MIC tests, highlighting the potential for VBNC bacteria to be regenerated under favorable conditions and contribute to the spread of resistance genes. The discrepancies between MIC and PMA-qPCR results underscore the need for further development of PMA-qPCR methods to better assess antibiotic resistance and to determine optimal antibiotic dosages.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101277,"journal":{"name":"Water Biology and Security","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100406"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Illuminating the conservation darkness: Unveiling the neglected interactions between odontocetes and the light falling-net fishery in the South China Sea","authors":"Shuai Zhang ,&nbsp;Peng Zhang ,&nbsp;Teng Wang ,&nbsp;Jie Li ,&nbsp;Christopher L. Brown ,&nbsp;Min Li","doi":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100424","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100424","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Anthropocene era is characterized by the far-reaching impacts of human activities on the biosphere, making it a critical time for ecological conservation and management. One of the most direct and ongoing anthropogenic threats to marine mammals, particularly small cetaceans, stems from fisheries. This study provides the initial evidence of odontocetes interacting with the light falling-net fishery in the South China Sea based on onboard observations from 2020 to 2022. These observations were collected during four voyages from April to June, covering 107 fishing sites and documenting interactions with four odontocete species. The most frequently sighted species was the pantropical spotted dolphin (<em>Stenella attenuata</em>), followed by the spinner dolphin (<em>S. longirostris</em>), Risso’s dolphin (<em>Grampus griseus</em>), and rough-toothed dolphin (<em>Steno bredanensis</em>). We found a higher abundance of fisheries–dolphin interactions in the southern South China Sea compared to the northern region. Commercial fishing patterns showed a high rate of dolphin interactions, suggesting resource competition. Two species of sea turtles were observed interacting with fishing vessels: hawksbill turtles (<em>Eretmochelys imbricataolive</em>) in Nansha and olive ridley turtles (<em>Lepidochelys olivacea</em>) in Dongsha. The findings of this study shed light on the potential impact of commercial fishing activities on dolphin populations and behaviors, underscoring the urgent need for stakeholders to develop sustainable fishing practices that mitigate detrimental consequences on cetaceans and preserve the health of marine ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101277,"journal":{"name":"Water Biology and Security","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100424"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The dynamic transcriptome profiles in turbot prepubertal testes and the important role of GDNF in maintaining spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal","authors":"Xinyi Tang ,&nbsp;Lei Duan ,&nbsp;Yichao Zhang ,&nbsp;Xueying Wang ,&nbsp;Jun Li ,&nbsp;Qinghua Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100408","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100408","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Germ cell transplantation is an effective technique for producing surrogate offspring in fish by transplanting the donor-derived cells into allogeneic or xenogeneic recipients. Spermatogonia are the most commonly used donor stem cells for transplantation due to their easy large-scale acquisition. Despite significant advancements in germ cell transplantation, a comprehensive understanding of the complex regulation of spermatogonia differentiation and development remains a bottleneck in its application to aquaculture.</div><div>Our study first unveiled the spermatogonia renewal and differentiation trajectory at a single-cell transcriptomic level in prepubertal male turbot (<em>Scophthalmus maximus</em>). Through scRNA-seq, Monocle analysis, and in situ hybridization, we found that both <em>gdnfa</em> and <em>gdnfb</em> were expressed in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and somatic cells, suggesting the involvement of both autocrine and paracrine pathways of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. Notably, <em>gdnfb</em> showed relatively high expression levels predominantly in SSC-1. Additionally, within the SSC-1 and SSC-2 clusters, we identified <em>gfra1b</em>, <em>nanos2</em>, <em>zbtb16a</em>, and <em>lin28a</em>, which are essential for spermatogonial maintenance in mammals. We also identified <em>grb7</em> and <em>dnmt3bb.1</em>, two genes that were highly and exclusively expressed in SSC clusters.</div><div>In the validation experiments, we found that the addition of GDNF to the SSC culture medium significantly promoted SSC self-renewal and inhibited differentiation. Co-injection of GDNF with turbot SSCs also improved the colonization frequency of donor SSCs in <em>Paralichthys olivaceus</em> triploid larvae. These results provide insights into the proliferation and differentiation trajectory of SSCs, highlighting key marker genes and signaling pathways that regulate SSC self-renewal and differentiation in commercial fish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101277,"journal":{"name":"Water Biology and Security","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100408"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Apoptotic and proinflammatory caspases orchestrate necrotic cell death by cleaving three gasdermin orthologs in the highly adaptable killifish","authors":"Xin Tian ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Sun ,&nbsp;Shuai Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100409","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100409","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Atlantic killifish <em>Fundulus heteroclitus</em> represents a remarkable estuarine model for studying physiological adaptation to environmental stress and even industrial pollution. Assessing cell death, including apoptosis and necrosis, is essential to understanding its phenotypic plasticity and adaptability. However, previous studies predominantly focus on apoptosis, while the regulation of necrosis remains largely unexplored. Pyroptosis is a type of regulated necrotic cell death executed by the pore-forming protein, gasdermin. Herein, we revealed the presence of three phylogenetically segregated gasdermin E (GSDME) homologs, designated GSDMEa/b/c, in killifish. All three GSDME orthologs harbor the pore-forming N-terminal domain, which is capable of perforating the cell membrane and inducing pyroptosis. Mechanistically, GSDMEa is activated by the cleavage of proinflammatory caspase-1 and apoptotic caspase-3/7, GSDMEb is proteolytically activated by proinflammatory caspase-1 and apoptotic caspase-3/7/8, while GSDMEc specifically relies on activation by apoptotic caspase-7. Following cleavage, the pyroptosis-inducing NT fragment is liberated from the auto-inhibitory C-terminal domain, and executes pyroptosis with massive release of intracellular contents. Site-directed mutagenesis reveals that GSDMEa and GSDMEb possess evolutionarily conserved functional residues required for pore-forming activity, whereas the functional residues involved in the C-terminal auto-inhibition are highly diverged among these three orthologs. Our findings collectively unveil a sophisticated and intertwined signaling pathway in regulating killifish pyroptosis, improving our understanding of cell death in killifish phenotypic adaptability and plasticity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101277,"journal":{"name":"Water Biology and Security","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100409"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Haemolymph of blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) as a reservoir of bacteria potentially pathogenic to humans: public health implications","authors":"Giuseppe Esposito ,&nbsp;Paolo Pastorino ,&nbsp;Sonia Scala ,&nbsp;Martina Gini ,&nbsp;Giulia Milanese ,&nbsp;Fabio Bondavalli ,&nbsp;Matteo Riccardo Di Nicola ,&nbsp;Edoardo Turolla ,&nbsp;Alice Gabetti ,&nbsp;Camilla Mossotto ,&nbsp;Sebastiano Virgilio ,&nbsp;Pier Luigi Acutis ,&nbsp;Domenico Meloni ,&nbsp;Giovanni Paolino ,&nbsp;Rita Melillo ,&nbsp;Elena Bozzetta ,&nbsp;Marino Prearo ,&nbsp;Silvia Colussi","doi":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100426","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100426","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates bacterial species with potential human health implications isolated from blue crab (<em>Callinectes sapidus</em>) in the Northern Adriatic Sea (Italy). The primary objectives include the preliminary characterization of <em>Vibrio</em>, <em>Shewanella</em>, and other pathogenic bacteria, examining their healthcare-related implications, and providing insights into their epidemiology.</div><div>Morphometric and cluster analyses revealed significant variations in bacterial prevalence across sampling months and crab sizes, with <em>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</em> being the most abundant species, reaching its highest prevalence in the September samples. Logistic regression indicated that crab length and sampling month were significant factors influencing bacterial isolation, whereas weight and sex had minimal effects.</div><div>Antibiotic resistance profiles showed widespread resistance to ampicillin and amoxicillin among several bacterial genera, including <em>Vibrio</em> and <em>Shewanella</em>. <em>Shewanella algae</em>, though less prevalent than <em>Vibrio</em>, demonstrated intrinsic resistance to β-lactams, aligning with its known pathogenic potential in humans. Seasonal variations and environmental changes, such as rising temperatures and salinity, may exacerbate the prevalence and resistance of these pathogens, increasing risks associated with seafood-borne illnesses.</div><div>This study highlights the need for further research to understand the interactions between environmental changes, bacterial ecology, and human health risks. Implementing proper seafood handling, cooking practices, and personal protective measures can mitigate potential hazards. These results provide the basis for future studies on bacterial epidemiology and guide strategies for the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems and seafood safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101277,"journal":{"name":"Water Biology and Security","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100426"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multiple toxicological effects of paralytic shellfish toxins and their producing microalgae on diverse aquatic organisms","authors":"Xiaoqing Xu ,&nbsp;Jiangbing Qiu ,&nbsp;Peiyao Li ,&nbsp;Aifeng Li","doi":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100402","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100402","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Under the impact of global climate change and anthropogenic activities, the global distribution of toxigenic microalgae and phycotoxins is expanding, potentially affecting the growth and development of marine organisms, threatening the development of marine aquaculture and human health. Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are a group of highly potent neurotoxic phycotoxins that are widely distributed worldwide and paid attention to by scientists because of their toxicity. In this paper, the toxicological effects and mechanisms of PSTs-producing microalgae and PSTs on aquatic biota, such as shellfish, fish, and zooplankton were comprehensively reviewed. PSTs-producing microalgae and PSTs can exert multiple toxicological effects on aquatic organisms including affecting locomotion, swimming and feeding behavior, causing cellular structure and DNA damage and apoptosis, disrupting the immune system, decreasing fertilization and hatching rates, affecting embryonic development, and lead to larval developmental abnormalities. In summary, PSTs can cause neurotoxicity, developmental toxicity, cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity to organisms that are intoxicated by them. This review consolidates our understanding of the toxicological effects of PSTs on marine biota, and provides a reference for the safe risk management of toxigenic microalgae and phycotoxins, for more sustainable development of the mariculture industry and the protection of human health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101277,"journal":{"name":"Water Biology and Security","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100402"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 facilitates nervous necrosis virus replication through m6A methylation and suppression of antiviral immune response","authors":"Wanwan Zhang ,&nbsp;Bingyan Xiao ,&nbsp;Bingbing Sun ,&nbsp;Kuntong Jia ,&nbsp;Meisheng Yi","doi":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100412","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100412","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) is a major pathogen in aquaculture, leading to devastating neurological damage and high mortality in fishes; however, its pathogenic mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) is a member of the IGFBP family and acts as a critical modulator in viral infections. Here, we explore the potential role of marine medaka (<em>Oryzias melastigma</em>) IGFBP1 during NNV infection. We found that overexpression of IGFBP1 in marine medaka embryonic stem cells significantly increased NNV capsid protein levels, whereas IGFBP1 knockdown dramatically reduced it, confirming IGFBP1's pro-viral function. Further, we found that m⁶A methylation, particularly mediated by the Wilm's tumor 1-associated protein complex, is crucial for the post-transcriptional enhancement of IGFBP1 expression. Moreover, IGFBP1 overexpression downregulated the expression levels of key components (IRF3, MAVS, TBK1, and TRAF3) in the retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like receptor signaling pathway. This suppression led to reduced activity of the interferon (IFN) 1 promoter and lower expression of IFN and IFN-stimulated genes. Our findings underscore IGFBP1's role in enhancing viral replication and weakening host immune defenses, providing a potential target for therapeutic intervention against NNV infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101277,"journal":{"name":"Water Biology and Security","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100412"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex-specific disease resistance and gut microbiota dynamics in juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio) following viral infection","authors":"Peng Yang ,&nbsp;Chang Cai ,&nbsp;Yong Shi,&nbsp;Guanghui Chen,&nbsp;Qianqian Zhang,&nbsp;Gaofeng Cheng,&nbsp;Gang Zhai,&nbsp;Zhan Yin,&nbsp;Weiguang Kong,&nbsp;Zhen Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100410","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100410","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sex-specific differences in disease resistance are well-documented in vertebrates, with immune responses often influenced by sex hormones and other physiological factors. However, the relationship between gut microbiota and immunity in driving these differences is not fully understood, particularly in non-mammalian vertebrates such as teleost fish. This study explores the role of sexual dimorphism in gut immunity and microbiota dynamics in juvenile common carp (<em>Cyprinus carpio</em>) following infection with the spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV). Using transcriptomic analysis and 16S rRNA sequencing, we assessed gut microbiota and immune responses in male, female, and all-female carps. Females exhibited heightened antiviral and inflammatory responses, which were associated with significant bacterial translocation and microbial dysbiosis. In contrast, males showed greater disease resistance and maintained a more stable gut microbiota. These results emphasize a significant correlation between changes in gut microbiota and sex-specific immune responses and provide valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying immunological dimorphism in teleost fish. These findings have important implications for improving aquaculture management and developing targeted disease control strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101277,"journal":{"name":"Water Biology and Security","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100410"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals cellular heterogeneity and gonadal niche interactions in the hermaphroditic scallop Argopecten irradians","authors":"Ya Shu ,&nbsp;Yajuan Li ,&nbsp;Huilan Wei ,&nbsp;Liangjie Liu ,&nbsp;Tian Liu ,&nbsp;Lijing Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaohui Ma ,&nbsp;Yaxin Yang ,&nbsp;Guoqing Li ,&nbsp;Xinyi Zhang ,&nbsp;Shi Wang ,&nbsp;Zhenmin Bao ,&nbsp;Lingling Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100405","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.watbs.2025.100405","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The process of gonadal development necessitates the self-renewal and differentiation of germ cells, which is a complex and precisely regulated procedure that is inextricably linked with the gonadal microenvironment. However, our understanding of the microenvironment of the gonads remains incomplete in invertebrates. In the present study, we employed single-cell transcriptome sequencing to examine the early differentiated gonad of a simultaneous hermaphroditic scallop, <em>Argopecten irradians</em>. A total of six clusters were identified, comprising 5669 high-quality cells. The clusters were classified into one germ cell cluster and five somatic cell clusters (accessory cell, hemocyte, ciliated cell, fibroblast, and an uncharacterized cluster) based on functional enrichment analysis and the identification of classical marker genes. The cell types were validated through <em>in situ</em> hybridization. In addition, a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to elucidate the co-expression patterns of these clusters, which identified key transcription factors in these modules (e.g., <em>Hr38</em>, <em>Mycbp</em>, and <em>Nkx2.5</em>) and revealed that germ cells exhibited a high degree of connectivity with accessory cells. Further analysis demonstrated the existence of two subsets of germ cells with a continuous developmental trajectory and three subclusters of accessory cells, including an ovary-unique cell type. A substantial number of bidirectional ligand–receptor interactions were observed between germ cells and accessory cells, including those involving the TGF-β, Notch, PI3K-Akt, and Wnt signaling pathways. Our study elucidates the cellular composition and gonadal microenvironment of <em>A. irradians</em> at the single-cell level, thereby providing new insights into a comprehensive understanding of the development of germ cells in bivalve mollusks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101277,"journal":{"name":"Water Biology and Security","volume":"5 1","pages":"Article 100405"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}