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Ocean acidification and host–pathogen interactions: blue mussels, M ytilus edulis , encountering V ibrio tubiashii
Author(s) -
Asplund Maria E.,
Baden Susanne P.,
Russ Sarah,
Ellis Robert P.,
Gong Ningping,
Hernroth Bodil E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12307
Subject(s) - mytilus , mussel , blue mussel , biology , pathogen , host (biology) , bivalvia , microbiology and biotechnology , ocean acidification , ecology , zoology , immune system , immunity , mollusca , seawater , immunology
Summary Ocean acidification ( OA ) can shift the ecological balance between interacting organisms. In this study, we have used a model system to illustrate the interaction between a calcifying host organism, the blue mussel M ytilus edulis and a common bivalve bacterial pathogen, V ibrio tubiashii , with organisms being exposed to a level of acidification projected to occur by the end of the 21st century. OA exposures of the mussels were carried out in relative long‐term (4 months) and short‐term (4 days) experiments. We found no effect of OA on the culturability of V . tubiashii , in broth or in seawater. OA inhibited mussel shell growth and impaired crystalline shell structures but did not appear to affect mussel immune parameters (i.e haemocyte counts and phagocytotic capacity). Despite no evident impact on host immunity or growth and virulence of the pathogen, V . tubiashii was clearly more successful in infecting mussels exposed to long‐term OA compared to those maintained under ambient conditions. Moreover, OA exposed V . tubiashii increased their viability when exposed to haemocytes of OA ‐treated mussel. Our findings suggest that even though host organisms may have the capacity to cope with periods of OA , these conditions may alter the outcome of host–pathogen interactions, favouring the success of the latter.