Molecular Pathogens 2024, Vol.15, No.2, 72-82 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mp 72 Research Insight Open Access Isolation, Identification, and Genomic Analysis of Kelp Pathogens FanWang Aquatic Biology Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: fan.wang@cuixi.org Molecular Pathogens, 2024, Vol.15, No.2 doi: 10.5376/mp.2024.15.0008 Received: 04 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 10 Mar., 2024 Published: 05 Apr., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Wang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Wang F., 2024, Isolation, identification, and genomic analysis of kelp pathogens, Molecular Pathogens, 15(2): 72-82 (doi: 10.5376/mp.2024.15.0008) Abstract Kelp, as an important marine biological resource, plays a crucial role in the ecosystem and has extensive applications in food, medicine, and other fields. However, kelp pathogens pose a serious threat to kelp health and growth, leading to decreased yield and economic losses. Research on the isolation, identification, and genomic analysis of kelp pathogens is significant as it helps understand the characteristics and virulence factors of pathogens, reveals the mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions, and provides scientific basis for disease management and breeding disease-resistant kelp. This study covers sampling methods and laboratory isolation techniques, morphological, biochemical, and molecular identification methods, DNA extraction and sequencing, genomic annotation, and bioinformatics analysis tools. Through comparative genomic analysis, the study identifies the virulence genes of kelp pathogens, explores their infection mechanisms and host defense responses, and assesses their impact on kelp health and growth. The research aims to provide references for kelp aquaculture disease management strategies, disease-resistant breeding, and sustainable farming practices, as well as to offer a scientific basis for future genomic research and disease prevention. Keywords Kelp pathogens; Isolation; Identification; Genomic analysis; Host-pathogen interactions 1 Introduction Kelp, large brown algae belonging to the order Laminariales, are foundational species in marine ecosystems, particularly in temperate and arctic coastal regions. These photosynthetic giants create essential habitats, forming underwater forests that are among the most productive marine ecosystems on Earth (Weigel and Pfister, 2019; Weigel et al., 2022). Kelp forests play a crucial role in nutrient cycling, energy capture, and transfer, and provide biogenic coastal defense (Teagle et al., 2017). They offer extensive substrata for colonizing organisms, ameliorate conditions for understory assemblages, and provide three-dimensional habitat structures for a vast array of marine plants and animals, including commercially important species (Teagle et al., 2017). The ecological significance of kelp extends to their role in supporting diverse microbial communities that facilitate the transfer of carbon from algal primary production to higher trophic levels (Lemay et al., 2018). Despite the ecological importance of kelp, our understanding of the microorganisms associated with them, particularly pathogens, remains limited. Kelp-associated bacteria are known to play significant roles in nutrient cycling and host-microbe interactions, potentially influencing the health and productivity of kelp forests (Vollmers et al., 2017; Weigel et al., 2022). Pathogens can have profound impacts on kelp populations, leading to declines in kelp forest coverage and associated biodiversity (Vollmers et al., 2017). Understanding the dynamics of kelp pathogens is essential for managing and conserving these critical ecosystems. The study of kelp pathogens can reveal insights into disease mechanisms, host-pathogen interactions, and the potential for microbial symbionts to influence kelp health and resilience (Vollmers et al., 2017; Weigel et al., 2022). This study synthesizes current knowledge on the isolation, identification, and genomic analysis of kelp pathogens. It aims to collect and analyze existing research on kelp-associated microbial communities, identify key pathogens affecting kelp species, explore genomic insights into kelp-pathogen interactions, and highlight gaps in current research and propose future directions. This study will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of kelp pathogens and their implications for the health and sustainability of kelp forest ecosystems.
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