Genetic parameters of seven immune factors in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) infected with Vibrio anguillarum

In this study, 1,800 turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) individuals from 30 full-sib families were experimentally infected with Vibrio anguillarum, and the expression levels of the immune factors lysozyme, hepcidin, heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70), HSP90, immunoglobulin M (IgM), C-type lectin and Lily-type lectin in the liver were measured by real-time PCR. Heritability values of the seven immune factors were 0.289 +/- 0.087, 0.092 +/- 0.024, 0.282 +/- 0.043, 0.244 +/- 0.027, 0.343 +/- 0.081, 0.092 +/- 0.011 and 0.084 +/- 0.009, respectively. The ranges of phenotypic, genetic and environmental correlations were -0.889 to 0.759, -0.841 to 0.888 and -0.919 to 0.883, respectively. The heritability values of HSP70, HSP90 and IgM were moderate, and the genetic correlations between HSP70, HSP90 and IgM were moderate to highly positive, which suggests that the immunocompetence of turbot against V. anguillarum can be improved by genetically improving these three immune characters via multi-trait integrated breeding technology or indirect selection.

Automated summary

This study investigated the heritability of immune factors in turbot infected with Vibrio anguillarum. The moderate heritability values of HSP70, HSP90, and IgM suggest that improving these traits genetically can enhance the turbot's immune capacity against the pathogen. Genetically improving these immune characters may be achieved through multi-trait integrated breeding technology or indirect selection.