Gonadal transcriptomic analysis of the mud crab Scylla olivacea infected with rhizocephalan parasite Sacculina beauforti

Infection by the rhizocephalan parasite Sacculina beauforti can have detrimental effects on mud crab Scylla olivacea. However, the molecular changes that occur during rhizocephalan infection are poorly understood. Due to the disruption in the reproductive system after infection, the gonadal transcriptomic profiles of non-infected and infected Scylla olivacea were compared. A total of 686 and 843 unigenes were differentially expressed between non-infected and infected males, and females, respectively. The number of DEGs increased after infection. By comparing shared DEGs of non-infected and infected individuals, potential immune- and reproduction-related of host, and immune- and metabolism-related genes of parasite are highlighted. The only shared KEGG pathway between non-infected and infected individuals was the ribosome pathway. In summary, findings in this study provide new insights into the host-parasite relationship of rhizocephalan parasites and their crustacean hosts. •Sacculina beauforti's infection resulted in increased genes being differentially expressed.•Infection induced up-regulation of immune-related genes and down-regulation of reproduction-related genes in Scylla olivacea.•Infection induced up-regulation of immune- and metabolism-related genes in Sacculina beauforti.•Significant up-regulation of genes in ribosome pathway after infection.