Comparative transcriptomics of Atlantic Salmo salar, chum Onchorhynchus keta and pink salmon O. gorbuscha responding to salmon lice Lepeophtheirus salmonis infections

The present work characterizes the response of co-habited Atlantic (Salmo salar), chum (Oncorhynchus keta) and pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) to sea lice infections. Atlantic and pink salmon anterior kidney samples were profiled at three time points over nine days after the start of an experimental infection. Chum salmon anterior kidney was profiled at day six post infection only. All three species were also profiled at six days post exposure for skin responses of the pectoral fin, typically associated with lice infection. Anterior kidney was profiled at day 3, 6, 9 post exposure to lice infection in Atlantic and pink salmon, but only at 6 days post exposure in chum salmon (for each day/species n = 10 for control, 10 for infected). Controls were treated exactly as experimental, but with the addition of seawater only (no lice). Time-matched controls were used for analysis. Please note that each tissue/species combination was normalized separately and then indirectly compared.