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Expanding non-invasive approaches for fish-health monitoring: A survey of the epidermal mucous metabolomes of phylogenetically diverse freshwater fish species
Citation:
Ekman, D., M. Evich, J. Mosley, J. Doering, K. Fay, G. Ankley, AND T. Collette. Expanding non-invasive approaches for fish-health monitoring: A survey of the epidermal mucous metabolomes of phylogenetically diverse freshwater fish species. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA, 103(5):1178-1189, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15512
Impact/Purpose:
Metabolomic tools provide high throughput, untargeted biochemical information without the 33 requirement of a sequenced genome while enabling the use of sample matrices that can be collected with 34 minimal impact on the organism (e.g., blood, urine, mucus). These qualities make metabolomics ideal for 35 monitoring a wide range of fish species, particularly those under protected status. In the current study, we 36 surveyed the relative abundances of 120 endogenous metabolites in epidermal mucus across eight 37 freshwater fish species belonging to seven phylogenetic orders. Principal components analysis was used 38 to provide an overview of the dataset, revealing strong inter-species relationships in the epidermal mucus 39 metabolome. Normalized relative abundances of individual endogenous metabolites were then used to 40 identify commonalities across multiple species, as well as those metabolites that showed notable species 41 specificity. For example, taurine was measured in high relative abundance in the epidermal mucus of 42 common carp (Cyprinus carpio), northern pike (Esox lucius), golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas), 43 rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), whereas γ-amino butyric 44 acid (GABA) displayed a uniquely high relative abundance in flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris). 45 Finally, hierarchical cluster analysis was used to compare and contrast species relatedness as 46 characterized by both the epidermal mucus metabolome (phenotype) and genetic phylogeny (genotype). 47 These, and other findings reported here, highlight novel areas for future research, and support the 48 expansion of metabolomics for non-invasive monitoring.
Description:
There is a pressing need for more-holistic approaches to fisheries assessments along with growing demand to reduce the health impacts of sample collections. Metabolomic tools enable the use of sample matrices that can be collected with minimal impact on the organism (e.g., blood, urine, and mucus) and provide high-throughput, untargeted biochemical information without the requirement of a sequenced genome. These qualities make metabolomics ideal for monitoring a wide range of fish species, particularly those under protected status. In the current study, we surveyed the relative abundances of 120 endogenous metabolites in epidermal mucus across eight freshwater fish species belonging to seven phylogenetic orders. Principal component analysis was used to provide an overview of the data set, revealing strong interspecies relationships in the epidermal mucous metabolome. Normalized relative abundances of individual endogenous metabolites were then used to identify commonalities across multiple species, as well as those metabolites that showed notable species specificity. For example, taurine was measured in high relative abundance in the epidermal mucus of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), northern pike (Esox lucius), golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), whereas γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) exhibited a uniquely high relative abundance in flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris). Finally, hierarchical cluster analysis was used to evaluate species relatedness as characterized by both the epidermal mucous metabolome (phenotype) and genetic phylogeny (genotype). This comparison revealed species for which relatedness in the epidermal mucous metabolome composition closely aligns with phylogenetic relatedness (e.g., N. crysoleucas and C. carpio), as well as species for which these two measures are not well aligned (e.g., P. olivaris and Polyodon spathula). These, and other findings reported here, highlight novel areas for future research with fish, including development of epidermal mucous-based markers for non-invasive health monitoring, sex determination, and hypoxia tolerance.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Expanding non-invasive approaches for fish-health monitoring: A survey of the epidermal mucous metabolomes of phylogenetically diverse freshwater fish species
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37492948/