Biology subjects

Ciesielski, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Ciesielski, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Farmed oyster mortality follows consistent Vibrio community reorganization

Mortality events in marine bivalves cause substantial economic losses in aquaculture, yet the microbial dynamics underlying these events remain poorly characterized. Here, we investigated succession patterns in oyster-associated Vibrio communities during mortality events by sampling eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) at a North Carolina commercial farm that has experienced repeated, unexplained mortality events. Through whole-genome sequencing of 110 Vibrio isolates from 26 oysters sampled across mortality events in two consecutive years, we identified six conserved phylogenetic clades with distinct temporal associations. Vibrio mediterranei and a clade of resident Vibrios consistently dominated the initial cultured community at the onset of mortality. However, V. mediterranei was absent as mortality progressed, coinciding with increased abundance of V. harveyi, V. alginolyticus, V. diabolicus, and V. astriarenae. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that initial isolates were enriched in pathways associated with host colonization and complex carbon metabolism, while isolates from elevated mortality showed enrichment in virulence mechanisms and adaptation to degraded host tissues. Temporal separation between genetically distinct clades suggests microbial competition shapes community assembly during mortality events that ultimately reached >85% in both years. This predictable succession from commensal to potentially pathogenic Vibrio species provides genome-level insight into microbial community dynamics during oyster mortality. The consistent absence of V. mediterranei prior to severe mortality suggests this species could serve as a bioindicator for early warning systems to mitigate economic losses in shellfish aquaculture. ImportanceMortality events in aquaculture systems represent complex host-microbe-environment interactions that challenge our ability to predict and prevent disease. By characterizing succession patterns in oyster-associated Vibrio communities at whole-genome resolution, we reveal a consistent transition from metabolically versatile species associated with healthy oysters to functionally distinct Vibrio taxa enriched in virulence factors and tissue degradation pathways as mortality progresses. This genome-level evidence for predictable community reorganization suggests that monitoring commensal Vibrio populations, particularly the presence or absence of V. mediterranei, could provide earlier warning of impending disease compared to tracking only known pathogens. This shift in monitoring approach could advance aquaculture disease management while expanding our fundamental understanding of how microbial community transitions contribute to host health and disease progression.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Performance and allocation can simultaneously shape behaviour in fire-disturbed populations of root vole

Metabolic physiology and animal personality are often considered linked to each other, shaping ecological and evolutionary strategies along a life-history continuum. The energy allocation model predicts a negative while the performance model predicts a positive correlation between the rate of metabolic processes and behaviours, such as activity level. The models might operate simultaneously but depending on the context one can predominate over the other, determining expression of alternative pro- and reactive behavioural strategies. Large-scale fires, such as the one that burnt wetlands of Biebrza National Park (NE Poland), degrade natural habitats, affect amount of food and shelters and modify predatory-prey interactions. Fires pose also direct threat to survival of local populations, such as the wetland specialist root vole (Microtus oeconomus). We hypothesized that fire disturbance, by changing environmental context and selective regimes, determines mechanisms linking physiology and behaviour. Positive relation found among most studies, predicted by the performance model, would revert to negative relation, predicted by the allocation model, affecting animals ecological strategy in disturbed habitat. We repeatedly measured maintenance and exercise metabolic rates and activity behaviour on voles from post-fire and unburnt populations. Repeatable maintenance metabolism and activity level were positively correlated, but more labile exercise metabolism did not explain behaviour. The correlations were not strongly affected by fire disturbance, but voles from post-fire habitat had higher maintenance but not maximum metabolism and moved shorter distances than individuals from unburnt area. The results suggest that performance model predominates, while habitat disturbance might reveal some allocation constraints on physiology-personality linkage. Summary statementContrasting allocation and performance models, for energetics-behaviour linkage, were tested in context of fire-disturbance. Positive (performance) correlation predominated but animals from burned habitat had elevated metabolism and suppressed exploration (allocation).

zoology↗

bioRxiv2020

Influenza-induced activation of recruited alveolar macrophages during the early inflammatory phase drives lung injury and lethality

Severe respiratory virus infections initiate a robust host immune response that contributes to disease severity. Immunomodulatory strategies that limit virus-initiated inflammation are of critical importance. In this study, we compared the host response to influenza A virus (IAV) infection in susceptible animals (wild-type, WT) to resilient mice (Vimentin-/- mice). We identified distinct gene expression patterns in recruited monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages (MoAMs) associated with three phases (Infiltrating, Early Inflammatory, Late Inflammatory) that evolve in sequence over the course of IAV infection. We report a core set of pro-inflammatory genes involved in the WT MoAM Early Inflammatory response that is suppressed in Vim-/- MoAMs. Moreover, we identify CEBPB, Jun-AP1, and IRF transcriptions factors as regulators of this attenuated inflammatory response. We performed causal experiments using bone-marrow chimeras to credential that Vim-/- MoAMs with suppressed pro-inflammatory genes confer protection from influenza-induced mortality in WT susceptible mice. Taken together, these data support the notion that vimentin plays a causal role in determining the pro-inflammatory function of recruited MoAMs and drives IAV-induced lung injury.

immunology↗