Transcriptomic Snapshot of the wedge clam Donax trunculus containing Diarrhetic Shellfish Toxins in the Threshold Value Permitted for Human Consumption

The wedge clam Donax trunculus is one of the most valuable species of bivalves for aquaculture and fisheries in Portugal. However, like other shellfish, D. trunculus is seasonally affected by Diarrhetic Shellfish Toxins (DSTs) blooms, which are then slowly depurated representing a risk for human consumption. The molecular process underlying the DSTs depuration process, as well as the responses of the main organs involved is still unknown in this species. Herein, we explore the transcriptomic profile of the digestive gland and the gills of D. trunculus, contaminated with DSTs in the twilight zone of permitted value for human consumption. Besides, this study aims to determine the Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) involved in the mechanism of resistant and depuration process of DSTs in the wedge clam to DSTs and the main metabolic routes related. The data generated will be a useful genetic resource to create custom database for future proteogenomic analyses, to design specific primers to test DEGs analyses in qPCR, thus, to address more efficient depuration strategies.