Detection of major capsid protein of infectious myonecrosis virus in shrimps using monoclonal antibodies

An Indigenous, Field-Deployable, Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic Assay Rapidly Detects Infectious Myonecrosis in Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

Shrimp farming is an important socioeconomic activity worldwide. Infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) is an important shrimp virus responsible for significant mortality (up to 70%) in Litopenaeus vannamei. We produced recombinant capsid protein (r-IMNV31) and obtained a highly specific antibody, anti-r-IMNV31, which was used in WOAH-approved ELISA and Western blot to detect IMNV. Further, anti-r-IMNV31 was employed in an indigenously developed lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) with gold nanoparticles as a visual label. Using LFA, IMNV could be detected rapidly (20 min) from tissue homogenate with high specificity, reproducibility, and sensitivity (LOD = 10³ viral particles). LFA was validated with "gold standard" qRT-PCR using 60 samples with high sensitivity (100%), specificity (86%). A Cohen's kappa coefficient of 0.86 suggested "good agreement" between LFA and qRT-PCR. With a shelf-life of ~ 1 year at ambient temperature, the use of LFA in the on-site detection of IMNV by shrimp farmers will be a reality.

Viral Shrimp Diseases Listed by the OIE: A Review

Shrimp is one of the most valuable aquaculture species globally, and the most internationally traded seafood product. Consequently, shrimp aquaculture practices have received increasing attention due to their high value and levels of demand, and this has contributed to economic growth in many developing countries. The global production of shrimp reached approximately 6.5 million t in 2019 and the shrimp aquaculture industry has consequently become a large-scale operation. However, the expansion of shrimp aquaculture has also been accompanied by various disease outbreaks, leading to large losses in shrimp production. Among the diseases, there are various viral diseases which can cause serious damage when compared to bacterial and fungi-based illness. In addition, new viral diseases occur rapidly, and existing diseases can evolve into new types. To address this, the review presented here will provide information on the DNA and RNA of shrimp viral diseases that have been designated by the World Organization for Animal Health and identify the latest shrimp disease trends.

Immunological-based assays for specific detection of shrimp viruses

Among shrimp viral pathogens, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and yellow head virus (YHV) are the most lethal agents, causing serious problems for both the whiteleg shrimp, Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei, and the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus (Penaeus) monodon. Another important virus that infects P. vannamei is infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV), which induces the white discoloration of affected muscle. In the cases of taura syndrome virus and Penaeus stylirostris densovirus (PstDNV; formerly known as infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus), their impacts were greatly diminished after the introduction of tolerant stocks of P. vannamei. Less important viruses are Penaeus monodon densovirus (PmDNV; formerly called hepatopancreatic parvovirus), and Penaeus monodon nucleopolyhedrovirus (PemoNPV; previously called monodon baculovirus). For freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii nodavirus and extra small virus are considered important viral pathogens. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific to the shrimp viruses described above have been generated and used as an alternative tool in various immunoassays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, dot blotting, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Some of these MAbs were further developed into immunochromatographic strip tests for the detection of WSSV, YHV, IMNV and PemoNPV and into a dual strip test for the simultaneous detection of WSSV/YHV. The strip test has the advantages of speed, as the result can be obtained within 15 min, and simplicity, as laboratory equipment and specialized skills are not required. Therefore, strip tests can be used by shrimp farmers for the pond-side monitoring of viral infection.

Immunophenotyping of classic murine myeloma cell lines used for monoclonal antibody production

Murine myeloma cell lines play an important role in different areas of scientific research and are essential tools for monoclonal antibody production technology. Thus, it is important to understand the biology of these cell lines in order to provide useful information to various research fronts. The present study aims to perform detailed analyses of surface antigens expressed on three major murine myeloma cell lines extensively used for MAb production. The P3X63Ag8.653 cell line expresses molecules associated with T cell interaction (CD40(low), CD80(low)), as well as antigens related to plasma cell phenotype (CD138(high), CD184(low)). The Sp2/0-Ag14 cell line presents molecules associated with BCR activation and regulation (CD79b(low), CD22(low), CD72(med)), molecules related to T cell interaction (CD40(low), CD80(low)), and markers of plasma cell phenotype (CD138(high), CD184(low)). The NS1 cell line presents all molecules of plasma cell phenotype evaluated in this study (CD184(low), CD138(high), CD38(med)) with low expression of CD72 (CD72(low)), a molecule related to BCR activation. Molecules associated with immune response modulation such as CD23 and CD25, as well as CD117, a marker related to undifferentiated cell phenotype, were not observed in any of the three murine myeloma cell lines evaluated. These data show that in spite of their common origin and function, the immunological profiles differ between P3X63Ag8.653, Sp2/0-Ag14, and NS1 cell lines.

Detection of infectious myonecrosis virus using monoclonal antibody specific to N and C fragments of the capsid protein expressed heterologously

The gene encoding the capsid protein in ORF1 of the genome of infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) (GenBank AY570982) was amplified into three parts named CP-N (nucleotides 2248-3045), CP-I (nucleotides 3046-3954) and CP-C (nucleotides 3955-4953). The CP-N fragment was inserted into expression vector pTYB1 while CP-I and CP-C were each inserted into expression vector pGEX-6P-1 for transformation of BL21 E. coli strain. After induction, intein-CP-N (84 kDa), glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-CP-I (60 kDa) and GST-CP-C (62 kDa) fusion proteins were produced. They were separated by SDS-PAGE and electroeluted before immunization of Swiss mice for monoclonal antibody (MAb) production. Two MAbs specific to CP-N and one MAb specific to CP-C were selected for use for detection of natural IMNV infections in Penaeus vannamei by dot blotting, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. There was no cross-reaction with shrimp tissues or common shrimp viruses including white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), yellow head virus (YHV), Taura syndrome virus (TSV), Penaeus monodon nucleopolyhedrovirus (PemoNPV), Penaeus stylirostris densovirus (PstDNV) and Penaeus monodon densovirus (PmDNV). The detection sensitivities of the MAbs were approximately 6 fmol/spot of purified recombinant intein-CP-N protein and 8 fmol/spot of GST-CP-C as determined by dot blotting. A combination of all three MAbs resulted in a twofold increase in sensitivity over use of any single MAb. However, this sensitivity was approximately 10 times lower than that of one-step RT-PCR using the same sample. Immunohistochemical analysis using MAbs specific to CP-N and CP-C in IMNV-infected shrimp revealed intense staining patterns in muscles, the lymphoid organ, gills, the heart, hemocytes and connective tissue.