Proteomic analysis of liver tissue reveals Aeromonas hydrophila infection mediated modulation of host metabolic pathways in Labeo rohita

Aeromonas hydrophila ( Ah ) is an opportunistic Gram-negative bacterium and a serious global pathogen causing Motile Aeromonas Septicaemia (MAS) in fish and many other vertebrates. The pathogenesis of aeromonas septicaemia is complex and involves multiple perturbed pathways. Molecular analysis of host tissues could be a powerful approach to identify mechanistic and diagnostic immune signatures of disease. We performed a deep proteomic analysis of Labeo rohita liver tissue to examine changes in the host proteome during Ah infection. A total of 2525 proteins were identified of which 158 were found differentially expressed during Ah infection. Functional analysis of significant proteins identified the dysregulation of several metabolic enzymes, antioxidative proteins, cytoskeletal proteins and immune related proteins. Proteomic analysis revealed the alterations in the cellular defence mechanisms including phagolysosomal killing and apoptosis during Ah infection. Our systemic approach revealed the protein dynamics in the host cells to explore the putative biological processes underlying the metabolic reprogramming of the host cells during Ah infection. Our findings paved the way for future research into the role of Toll-like receptors (Tlr3), C-type lectins (Clec4e) and metabolic enzymes in Ah pathogenesis leading towards host directed immunotherapies to tackle the Ah infection in fish.