Single-cell resolution of the adult zebrafish intestine under conventional conditions and in response to an acute Vibrio cholerae infection

Abstract

Vibrio cholerae is an aquatic bacterium that causes severe and potentially deadly diarrheal disease. Despite the impact on global health, our understanding of host mucosal responses to Vibrio remains limited, highlighting a knowledge gap critical for the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies. Using a natural infection model, we combine physiological and single-cell transcriptomic studies to characterize conventionally reared adult zebrafish guts and guts challenged with Vibrio. We demonstrate that Vibrio causes a mild mucosal immune response characterized by T cell activation and enhanced antigen capture; Vibrio suppresses host interferon signaling; and ectopic activation of interferon alters the course of infection. We show that the adult zebrafish gut shares similarities with mammalian counterparts, including the presence of Best4⁺ cells, tuft cells, and a population of basal cycling cells. These findings provide important insights into host-pathogen interactions and emphasize the utility of zebrafish as a natural model of Vibrio infection.

Keywords: CP: Immunology; CP: Microbiology; Vibrio cholerae; Zebrafish intestine; interferon; intraepithelial leukocytes; single-cell RNA sequencing.