Aeromonas salmonicides is a type of Gram-negative bacteria and has become the main fish pathogen in aquaculture because of its characteristics of worldwide distribution, broad host range and potentially devastating impacts. In the past years, studies have been focused to explore the regulatory roles of
circRNA-
miRNA-
mRNA network in
fish diseases. However, there are only few systematic studies linked to the anti-bacterial roles of
circRNA-related
ceRNA networks in the spleen immune system of black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii). In this study, the whole-transcriptome sequencing (
RNA-seq) was conducted in the black rockfish spleen with A. salmonicida challenging. The differentially expressed (DE)
circRNAs were identified comprehensively for the following enrichment analysis. Interactions of
miRNA-
circRNA pairs and
miRNA-
mRNA pairs were predicted for the construction of
circRNA-related
ceRNA regulatory networks. Then,
protein-
protein interaction (PPI) analysis of mRNAs from these
ceRNA networks were conducted. Finally, a total number of 39
circRNAs exhibited significantly differential expressions during A. salmonicida
infection in the black rockfish spleen in 4338 identified
circRNAs from 12 samples in 4 libraries. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that they were significantly enriched in several immune-related pathways, including Endocytosis, FoxO signaling pathway, Jak-STST signaling pathway,
Herpes simplex infection, etc. Subsequently, 290
circRNA-
miRNA-
mRNA pathways (91 at 2 h, 142 at 12 h and 65 at 24 h) were constructed including 31
circRNAs, 50
miRNAs, and 156 mRNAs. In conclusion, the
circRNA-related
ceRNA networks were established, which will provide some novel insights in molecular mechanistic investigations of anti-bacterial immune response in teleost. Also, these findings will propose significant predictive values for the development of methods of treatment and prevention in black rockfish after
bacterial infection in the future.