Bacteria evoke alarm behaviour in zebrafish

Joanne Shu Ming Chia, Elena S. Wall, Caroline Lei Wee, Thomas A. J. Rowland, Ruey-Kuang Cheng, Kathleen Cheow, Karen Guillemin and Suresh Jesuthasan ()
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Joanne Shu Ming Chia: Nanyang Technological University
Elena S. Wall: Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon
Caroline Lei Wee: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
Thomas A. J. Rowland: Nanyang Technological University
Ruey-Kuang Cheng: Nanyang Technological University
Kathleen Cheow: Nanyang Technological University
Karen Guillemin: Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon
Suresh Jesuthasan: Nanyang Technological University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract When injured, fish release an alarm substance (Schreckstoff) that elicits fear in members of their shoal. Although Schreckstoff has been proposed to be produced by club cells in the skin, several observations indicate that these giant cells function primarily in immunity. Previous data indicate that the alarm substance can be isolated from mucus. Here we show that mucus, as well as bacteria, are transported from the external surface into club cells, by cytoplasmic transfer or invasion of cells, including neutrophils. The presence of bacteria inside club cells raises the possibility that the alarm substance may contain a bacterial component. Indeed, lysate from a zebrafish Staphylococcus isolate is sufficient to elicit alarm behaviour, acting in concert with a substance from fish. These results suggest that Schreckstoff, which allows one individual to unwittingly change the emotional state of the surrounding population, derives from two kingdoms and is associated with processes that protect the host from bacteria.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11608-9

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