Horizontal Gene Transfer: The Transposases of Vibrios and Shrimp

Host-microbe interactions are capable of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TgEI) of stress-induced phenotypes. For example, exposure to antibiotic G418 induced TgEI phenotypes, including a delay in larval development, gene induction in the gut and morphological changes (Fridmann-Sirkis et al. 2014). G418 selectively depleted commensal Acetobacter sp and the depletion explained the heritable delay, but not the inheritance of other phenotypes. TgEI mechanisms could also be associated with Glyphosate, a bactericide and EDC present in genetically modified crops (GMCs) used to produce aquafeeds. Increased commercial use of genetically engineered (GE), GMCs or GMOs has renewed calls to assess their potential ecological and health risks, new zoonosis. We review the likelihood of tolerance of insects (and non-target species like shrimp) to insect-resistant GMCs, the health effects caused by microbial transgenes (Bacillus thuringiensis, Bt); and potential impact of Bt, Glyphosate, GE, GMCs, GMOs on biodiversity, in light of globalization, climate change, HGT and TgEI. We compare conserved protein domains of bacterial transposases of Tn3, Tn4, Tn5 transposons, Bt transposase, and transposase of new Tn6264 transposon in plasmids of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) and V. harveyi-causing Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrotic Disease (AHPND). Sequence variations of horizontally-transferred TnpA transposase (E. coli Tn1000) into L. vannamei genome will be reviewed. Transposases of Mariner, EnSpm, other transposons of L. vannamei will be presented. This review represents background information for testing the hypothesis by ‘The Shrimp Epigenome (shrimpENCODE) Consortium’ collaborators that AHPND/EMS is TgEI mediated by both genomic and epigenetic mechanisms involving interactions of bacteria-shrimp genomes and environmental and nutritional factors.