Transcriptomics reveals the temporal responses of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) to the challenge by bacterial peptidoglycans

Key Points

• Immune response of sea cucumbers significantly varies following exposure to bacterial peptidoglycans, indicating an adaptive mechanism to threats.
• Transcriptomic analysis shows specific gene expression changes that occur in a temporal manner after encountering bacterial peptidoglycans.
• Observational analysis across multiple timepoints reveals distinct patterns of immune-related gene activation in Apostichopus japonicus.
• Understanding these responses may highlight potential for improving aquaculture resilience against bacterial infections and inform ecological studies.