Immune gene mining by pyrosequencing in the rockshell, Thais clavigera

The rockshell, Thais clavigera (Gastropoda: Muricidae) has been shown to be a useful species as a potential indicator for diverse pollution in the marine environment. However, their genetic information is still not widely available. Here, we performed an extensive transcriptome analysis of T. clavigera using the pyrosequencing method, and selected innate immune-related genes. Among the unigenes obtained in this species, we annotated a number of immune system-related genes (e.g. adhesive protein, antimicrobial protein, apoptosis- and cell cycle-related protein, cellular defense effector, immune regulator, pattern recognition protein, protease, protease inhibitor, reduction/oxidation-related protein, signal transduction-related protein and stress protein), which are potentially useful for immunity research in this species. To confirm the usefulness of potential immune-biomarker genes, we checked the transcript level of specific immune genes in both different tissues and LPS-exposed rockshells within the T. clavigera transcript database. This study would be helpful to extend our knowledge on the immune system of rockshell in comparative aspects. Also it would be useful to develop the rockshell as a potential test organism for monitoring of marine environment quality.

► Novel investigation of extensive immune-relevant genes in the rockshell, Thais clavigera as the first report.
► Confirm the usefulness for comparative analysis of specific immune gene in different developmental tissues of rockshell.
► Development of potential immune-biomarker gene upon bacterial challenge.
► Contribution on immune-relevant gene information resource for comparative gene expression analysis within aquatic invertebrates.