Genome-wide Associated Analysis and KASP Marker Development for Resistance to Streptococcicosis in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
WANG Zhang1, ZHU Wei-Juan1,2, LIU Hong1,2, TANG Cheng-Lin1,2, LIU Zhi-Gang1,2, CAO Jian-Meng1, WANG Miao1, YI Meng-Meng1, LU Mai-Xin1,2, KE Xiao-Li1,2,*
1 Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Science/Key Laboratory of Tropical &Subtropical Fishery Resource Application &Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture/Guangdong Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immunization Technology, Guangzhou 510380, China; 2 College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
Abstract：The susceptibility of tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) to streptococcicosis is an important industry problem that hindering the healthy development of tilapia culture. However, studies on the resistance mechanisms of tilapia to streptococcal diseases and their related molecular markers is still relatively limited. In this study, molecular markers were identified associated with tilapia resistance to S. agalactiae based on resistant and susceptible phenotypes. Through artificial challenge with S. agalactiae, individuals were selected from a Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) population that exhibited resistance or susceptibility to S. agalactiae based on their survival or death following the challenge. Whole-genome resequencing were then performed on these resistant and susceptible individuals and conducted a genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) based on the resistant and susceptible phenotypes. The results showed that in this population, a total of 9 major-effect molecular markers associated with tilapia resistance to S. agalactiae were identified (P<2.50×10-6), as well as 787 minor-effect molecular markers (2.50×10-6<P<1.00×10-4). These major-effect molecular markers were primarily located on tilapia linkage groups 13 (LG13), LG17, and LG22 and annotated to genes associated with the tumor immune microenvironment and immune cell infiltration (such as WD repeat domain 27 (WDR27), thrombospondins 2 (THBS2) and collagen type XIX α-1 chain (COL19A1)) as well as genes related to innate immunity (such as F10 α chain (class Ⅰ histocompatibility antigen, F10 α chain-like)). Meanwhile, GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the genes annotated by minor-effect markers were enriched in immune and inflammatory pathways, including the urokinase-type plasminogen activator signaling pathway, Ras signaling pathway, cyanine amino acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and taurine metabolism. In addition, validation based on kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) revealed that the GG genotype at locus LG13_20881657 and the TT genotype at locus LG13_20548718 were advantageous genotypes associated with tilapia resistance to S. agalactiae. In summary, this study has preliminary revealed the genes and molecular markers associated with tilapia resistance to streptococcosis, and provides a scientific basis for the molecular marker-assisted breeding of tilapia resistant to streptococcosis.
王章, 朱伟娟, 刘洪, 唐程林, 刘志刚, 曹建萌, 王淼, 衣萌萌, 卢迈新, 可小丽. 尼罗罗非鱼抗链球菌病全基因组关联分析及KASP标记开发[J]. 农业生物技术学报, 2025, 33(9): 2018-2035.
WANG Zhang, ZHU Wei-Juan, LIU Hong, TANG Cheng-Lin, LIU Zhi-Gang, CAO Jian-Meng, WANG Miao, YI Meng-Meng, LU Mai-Xin, KE Xiao-Li. Genome-wide Associated Analysis and KASP Marker Development for Resistance to Streptococcicosis in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). 农业生物技术学报, 2025, 33(9): 2018-2035.
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