Integrated analysis of a miRNA-mRNA network related to immunity and autophagy in Macrobrachium rosenbergii infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of RNAs that regulate gene expression in the post-transcriptionally. miRNAs can regulate numerous processes, such as the immune response, due to their dynamic expression patterns. The giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii is a major freshwater aquaculture prawn that is attacked by various bacteria, including Aeromonas hydrophila. For this study, we performed an analysis of the miRNA and mRNA transcriptome analysis of M. rosenbergii which was infected with A. hydrophila. We identified 56 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and 1542 differentially expressed mRNAs. Furthermore, an integrated analysis of miRNA-mRNA expression led to the identification of 729 differentially predicted target genes (DETGs) of the DEMs. Multiple functional categories related to immunity, apoptosis, and autophagy were found to be enriched in the DETGs. During the infection of M. rosenbergii by A. hydrophila, an elaborate regulatory network involving Toll and immune deficiency (IMD) signaling, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, lysosome, and cell apoptosis was formed by a complex interplay of 40 crucial DEMs and 22 DETGs, all associated with the immune and autophagy pathway. The findings suggest that infection with A. hydrophila triggers intricate responses in both miRNA and mRNA, significantly impacting immune and autophagy processes in M. rosenbergii.