Betanodavirus infection in the freshwater model fish medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Dual-species proteomics and targeted intervention of animal-pathogen interactions

INTRODUCTION

Host-microbe interactions are important to human health and ecosystems globally, so elucidating the complex host-microbe interactions and associated protein expressions drives the need to develop sensitive and accurate biochemical techniques. Current proteomics techniques reveal information from the point of view of either the host or microbe, but do not provide data on the corresponding partner. Moreover, it remains challenging to simultaneously study host-microbe proteomes that reflect the direct competition between host and microbe. This raises the need to develop a dual-species proteomics method for host-microbe interactions.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to establish a forward + reverse Stable Isotope Labeling with Amino acids in Cell culture (SILAC) proteomics approach to simultaneously label and quantify newly-expressed proteins of host and microbe without physical isolation, for investigating mechanisms in direct host-microbe interactions.

METHODS

Using Caenorhabditis elegans-Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection model as proof-of-concept, we employed SILAC proteomics and molecular pathway analysis to characterize the differentially-expressed microbial and host proteins. We then used molecular docking and chemical characterization to identify chemical inhibitors that intercept host-microbe interactions and eliminate microbial infection.

RESULTS

Based on our proteomics results, we studied the iron competition between pathogen iron scavenger and host iron uptake protein, where P. aeruginosa upregulated pyoverdine synthesis protein (PvdA) (fold-change of 5.2313) and secreted pyoverdine, and C. elegans expressed ferritin (FTN-2) (fold-change of 3.4057). Targeted intervention of iron competition was achieved using Galangin, a ginger-derived phytochemical that inhibited pyoverdine production and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. The Galangin-ciprofloxacin combinatorial therapy could eliminate P. aeruginosa biofilms in a fish wound infection model, and enabled animal survival.

CONCLUSION

Our work provides a novel SILAC-based proteomics method that can simultaneously evaluate host and microbe proteomes, with future applications in higher host organisms and other microbial species. It also provides insights into the mechanisms dictating host-microbe interactions, offering novel strategies for anti-infective therapy.

Water-accommodated fractions of heavy and light oils impact DNA integrity, embryonic development, and immune system of Japanese medaka at early life stages

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous contaminants generally found in complex mixtures. PAHs are known to cause pleiotropic effects on living organisms, including developmental defects, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and immunotoxicity, and endocrine disruptions. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the toxicity of water-accommodated fractions (WAFs) of oils in two life stages of the Japanese medaka, larvae and juveniles. The deleterious effects of an acute exposure of 48 h to two WAFs from Arabian light crude oil (LO) and refined oil from Erika (HO) were analyzed in both stages. Relevant endpoints, including ethoxy resorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, DNA damage (Comet assay), photomotor response, and sensitivity to nervous necrosis virus (NNV) infection, were investigated. Larvae exposed to both oil WAFs displayed a significant induction of EROD activity, DNA damage, and developmental anomalies, but no behavioral changes. Deleterious effects were significantly increased following exposure to 1 and 10 μg/L of LO WAFs and 10 μg/L of HO WAFs. Larval infection to NNV induced fish mortality and sharply reduced reaction to light stimulation. Co-exposure to WAFs and NNV increased the mortality rate, suggesting an impact of WAFs on fish defense capacities. WAF toxicity on juveniles was only observed following the NNV challenge, with a higher sensitivity to HO WAFs than to LO WAFs. This study highlighted that environmentally realistic exposure to oil WAFs containing different compositions and concentrations of oil generated high adverse effects, especially in the larval stage. This kind of multi-marker approach is particularly relevant to characterize the toxicity fingerprint of environmental mixtures of hydrocarbons and PAHs.

Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) Nectin4 plays an important role against red spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus infection

Nectins are adhesion molecules that play a crucial role in the organization of epithelial and endothelial junctions and function as receptors for the entry of herpes simplex virus. However, the role of Nectin4 remains poorly understood in fish. In this study, nectin4 gene was cloned from medaka (OlNectin4). OlNectin4 was located on chromosome 18 and contained 11 exons, with a total genome length of 25754 bp, coding sequences of 1689 bp, coding 562 amino acids and a molecular weight of 65.5 kDa. OlNectin4 contained four regions, including an Immunoglobulin region, an Immunoglobulin C-2 Type region, a Transmembrane region and a Coiled coil region. OlNectin4 shared 47.18 % and 25.00 % identity to Paralichthys olivaceus and Mus musculus, respectively. In adult medaka, the transcript of nectin4 was predominantly detected in gill. During red spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) infection, overexpression of OlNectin4 in GE cells significantly increased viral gene transcriptions. Meanwhile, Two mutants named OlNectin4△4 (+4 bp) and OlNectin4△7 (-7 bp) medaka were established using CRISPR-Cas9 system. Nectin4-KO medaka had higher mortality than WT after infected with RGNNV. Moreover, the expression of RGNNV RNA2 gene in different tissues of the Nectin4-KO were higher than WT medaka after challenged with RGNNV. The brain and eye of Nectin4-KO medaka which RGNNV mainly enriched, exhibited significantly higher expression of interferon signaling genes than in WT. Taken together, the OlNectin4 plays a complex role against RGNNV infection by inducing interferon responses for viral clearance.

Multiple isoforms of HSP70 and HSP90 required for betanodavirus multiplication in medaka cells

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that have recently been shown to function as host factors (HFs) for virus multiplication in fish as well as in mammals, plants, and insects. HSPs are classified into families, and each family has multiple isoforms. However, no comprehensive studies have been performed to clarify the biological importance of these multiple isoforms for fish virus multiplication. Betanodaviruses are the causative agents of viral nervous necrosis in cultured marine fish and cause very high mortality. Although the viral genome and encoded proteins have been characterized extensively, information on HFs for these viruses is limited. In this study, therefore, we focused on the HSP70 and HSP90 families to examine the importance of their isoforms for betanodavirus multiplication. We found that HSP inhibitors (17-AAG, radicicol, and quercetin) suppressed viral RNA replication and production of progeny virus in infected medaka (Oryzias latipes) cells. Thermal stress or virus infection resulted in increased expression of some isoform genes and facilitated virus multiplication. Furthermore, overexpression and knockdown of some isoform genes revealed that the isoforms HSP70-1, HSP70-2, HSP70-5, HSP90-α1, HSP90-α2, and HSP90-β play positive roles in virus multiplication in medaka. Collectively, these results suggest that multiple isoforms of fish HPSs serve as HFs for betanodavirus multiplication.

FELASA-AALAS Recommendations for Monitoring and Reporting of Laboratory Fish Diseases and Health Status, with an Emphasis on Zebrafish (Danio Rerio)

The exchange of fish for research may expose an aquatic laboratory to pathogen contamination as incoming fish can introduce bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses capable of affecting both experimental results and fish and personnel health and welfare. To develop risk mitigation strategies, FELASA and AALAS established a joint working group to recommend good practices for health monitoring of laboratory fish. The recommendations address all fish species used for research, with a particular focus on zebrafish (Danio rerio). First, the background of the working group and key definitions are provided. Next, fish diseases of high impact are described. Third, recommendations are made for health monitoring of laboratory fishes. The recommendations emphasize the importance of daily observation of the fish and strategies to determine fish colony health status. Finally, report templates are proposed for historical screening data and aquatic facility description to facilitate biohazard risk assessment when exchanging fish.

Comparative biomarker responses in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene and challenged with betanodavirus at three different life stages

It is now well documented that several contaminants can modulate the fish immune system, leading to disrupted host resistance against pathogens and increased incidence of disease. Since fish are usually co-exposed to chemicals and pathogens in the natural environment, analysis of the immunotoxic effects of pollutants is particularly relevant. The authorities in the European Union have recommended the development of toxicity assays on cell cultures and embryos, as an alternative to testing in vertebrates. This is why in our study, a fish immune challenge assay was developed for the early life stages of Japanese medaka to evaluate and compare the relevance of new biomarkers. Fish were exposed to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a model pollutant, for 8days at the embryonic stage, or for 48h at the larvae and juvenile stages, and fish were infected with betanodavirus by bath-challenge of 10⁶TCID₅₀/mL. Biometric changes and induction of malformations were observed after embryonic exposure. DNA damage and induction of EROD activity were recorded at the end of all chemical exposures. Viral infection increased the mortality rate significantly and disturbed the behavior of fish after light stimulation. While BaP exposure increased swimming speed, betanodavirus infection slowed swimming activity. In larvae co-exposed to BaP and the virus, the viral titer in the whole body was higher than in fish infected only with the virus. This study highlighted the sensitivity and usefulness of the immune challenge assay on the early life stages of Japanese medaka to evaluate the toxic effects of pollutants.

Immune competence assessment in marine medaka (Orzyias melastigma)-a holistic approach for immunotoxicology

Many anthropogenic pollutants in coastal marine environments can induce immune impairments in wild fish and reduce their survival fitness. There is a pressing need to establish sensitive and high throughput in vivo tools to systematically evaluate the immunosuppressive effects of contaminants in marine teleosts. This study reviewed a battery of in vivo immune function detection technologies established for different biological hierarchies at molecular (immune function pathways and genes by next generation sequencing (NGS)), cellular (leukocytes profiles by flow cytometry), tissues/organ system (whole adult histo-array), and organism (host resistance assays (HRAs)) levels, to assess the immune competence of marine medaka Oryzias melastigma. This approach enables a holistic assessment of fish immune competence under different chemical exposure or environmental scenarios. The data obtained will also be useful to unravel the underlying immunotoxic mechanisms. Intriguingly, NGS analysis of hepatic immune gene expression profiles (male > female) are in support of the bacterial HRA findings, in which infection-induced mortality was consistently higher in females than in males. As such, reproductive stages and gender-specific responses must be taken into consideration when assessing the risk of immunotoxicants in the aquatic environment. The distinct phenotypic sexual dimorphism and short generation time (3 months) of marine medaka offer additional advantages for sex-related immunotoxicological investigation.

Tributyltin exposure increases mortality of nodavirus infected Japanese medaka Oryzias latipes larvae

We investigated the effect of combined exposure to nodavirus infection and TBT on medaka (Oryzias latipes). Medaka larvae were infected by immersion in medium containing nodavirus at titers of 10^2.5, 10^3.5, or 10^4.5 TCID₅₀/mL. Infected fish then were exposed to TBT at 0, 0.17, 0.52, 1.6, or 4.7μg/L. Of the 12 groups exposed to both stressors, the mortalities of 6 (10^2.5 TCID₅₀/mL+0.52, 1.6, or 4.7μg/L, 10^3.5 TCID₅₀/mL+4.7μg/L and 10^4.5 TCID₅₀/mL+1.6 or 4.7μg/L) were significantly higher than that of each TBT control. Specifically, mortality was 46±5.5% in the group exposed to both 10^2.5 TCID₅₀/mL virus and 0.52μg/L TBT, which represent the lowest observed effective dose and concentration, respectively, among the 6 groups with increased mortalities. Our results suggest that combined exposure to both stressors suppresses antiviral mechanisms in the fish, thus increasing mortality.

Betanodavirus: Dissection of the viral life cycle

Progressive research has been recently made in dissecting the molecular biology of Betanodavirus life cycle, the causative pathogen of viral encephalopathy and retinopathy in economic important marine fish species. Establishment of betanodavirus infectious clone allows the manipulation of virus genome for functional genomic study, which elucidates the biological event of the viral life cycle at molecular level. The betanodavirus strategizes its replication by expressing anti-apoptosis/antinecrotic proteins to maintain the cell viability during early infection. Subsequently utilizes and controls the biological machinery of the infected cells for viral genome replication. Towards the late phase of infection, mass production of capsid protein for virion assembly induces the activation of host apoptosis pathway. It eventually leads to the cell lysis and death, which the lysis of cell contributes to the accomplishment of viral shedding that completes a viral life cycle. The recent efforts to dissect the entire betanodavirus life cycle are currently reviewed.

Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing to further explore growth and trade-off effects in myostatin-mutated F4 medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Myostatin (MSTN) suppresses skeletal muscle development and growth in mammals, but its role in fish is less well understood. Here we used CRISPR/Cas9 to mutate the MSTN gene in medaka (Oryzias latipes) and evaluate subsequent growth performance. We produced mutant F0 fish that carried different frameshifts in the OlMSTN coding sequence and confirmed the heritability of the mutant genotypes to the F1 generation. Two F1 fish with the same heterozygous frame-shifted genomic mutations (a 22 bp insertion in one allele; a 32 bp insertion in the other) were then crossbred to produce subsequent generations (F2~F5). Body length and weight of the MSTN-/- F4 medaka were significantly higher than in the wild type fish, and muscle fiber density in the inner and outer compartments of the epaxial muscles was decreased, suggesting that MSTN null mutation induces muscle hypertrophy. From 3~4 weeks post hatching (wph), the expression of three major myogenic related factors (MRFs), MyoD, Myf5 and Myogenin, was also significantly upregulated. Some medaka had a spinal deformity, and we also observed a trade-off between growth and immunity in MSTN-/- F4 medaka. Reproduction was unimpaired in the fast-growth phenotypes.

Viral encephalopathy and retinopathy in aquaculture: a review

Viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), otherwise known as viral nervous necrosis (VNN), is a major devastating threat for aquatic animals. Betanodaviruses have been isolated in at least 70 aquatic animal species in marine and in freshwater environments throughout the world, with the notable exception of South America. In this review, the main features of betanodavirus, including its diversity, its distribution and its transmission modes in fish, are firstly presented. Then, the existing diagnosis and detection methods, as well as the different control procedures of this disease, are reviewed. Finally, the potential of selective breeding, including both conventional and genomic selection, as an opportunity to obtain resistant commercial populations, is examined.

Constitutive overexpressed type I interferon induced downregulation of antiviral activity in medaka fish (Oryzias latipes)

In fish, as well as vertebrates, type I interferons (IFNs) are important cytokines that help to provide innate, antiviral immunity. Although low amounts of IFN are constitutively secreted under normal physiological conditions, long-term and excessive IFN stimulation leads to reduced sensitivity to the IFN signal. This provides a negative feedback mechanism that prevents inappropriate responses and autoimmunity. At present, however, neither IFN desensitization nor the normal physiological role of constitutive IFN are well characterized in fish. The objective here was therefore to produce and characterize a transgenic medaka fish (Oryzias latipes), designated IFNd-Tg, that constitutively overexpressed the IFNd gene. A dual promoter expression vector was constructed for overexpression of IFNd under an EF1α promoter and a DsRed reporter gene under control of a γF-crystaline promoter. The phenotype of the IFNd-Tg fish had a lower response to poly(I:C) and increased susceptibility to nervous necrosis virus (NNV) infection compared to wild-type (WT). Furthermore, transduction of IFN signals for STAT1b, STAT2 and IRF9 were down-regulated in the IFNd-Tg fish, and expression levels of RLR signal molecules (MDA5, MITA, IRF1 and IRF3) were lower than in WT. The constitutive overexpression of IFNd resulted in desensitization of IFN-stimulation, apparently due to downregulation of IFN signal transduction, and this caused increased susceptibility to NNV.

Susceptibility of Chinese Perch Brain (CPB) Cell and Mandarin Fish to Red-Spotted Grouper Nervous Necrosis Virus (RGNNV) Infection

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) is the causative agent of viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER), a neurological disease responsible for high mortality of fish species worldwide. Taking advantage of our established Chinese perch brain (CPB) cell line derived from brain tissues of Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi), the susceptibility of CPB cell to Red-Spotted Grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) was evaluated. The results showed that RGNNV replicated well in CPB cells, resulting in cellular apoptosis. Moreover, the susceptibility of Mandarin fish to RGNNV was also evaluated. Abnormal swimming was observed in RGNNV-infected Mandarin fish. In addition, the cellular vacuolation and viral particles were also observed in brain tissues of RGNNV-infected Mandarin fish by Hematoxylin-eosin staining or electronic microscopy. The established RGNNV susceptible brain cell line from freshwater fish will pave a new way for the study of the pathogenicity and replication of NNV in the future.

TALENs-mediated gene disruption of myostatin produces a larger phenotype of medaka with an apparently compromised immune system

Although myostatin, a suppressor of skeletal muscle development and growth, has been well studied in mammals, its function in fish remains unclear. In this study, we used a popular genome editing tool with high efficiency and target specificity (TALENs; transcription activator-like effector nucleases) to mutate the genome sequence of myostatin (MSTN) in medaka (Oryzias latipes). After the TALEN pair targeting OlMyostatin was injected into fertilized medaka eggs, mutant G0 fish carrying different TALENs-induced frameshifts in the OlMSTN coding sequence were mated together in order to transmit the mutant sequences to the F1 generation. Two F1 mutants with frameshifted myostatin alleles were then mated to produce the F2 generation, and these F2 OlMSTN null (MSTN(-/-)) medaka were evaluated for growth performance. The F2 fish showed significantly increased body length and weight compared to the wild type fish at the juvenile and post-juvenile stages. At the post-juvenile stage, the average body weight of the MSTN(-/-) medaka was ∼25% greater than the wild type. However, we also found that when the F3 generation were challenged with red spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV), the expression levels of the interferon-stimulated genes were lower than in the wild type, and the virus copy number was maintained at a high level. We therefore conclude that although the MSTN(-/-) medaka had a larger phenotype, their immune system appeared to be at least partially suppressed or undeveloped.

Expression and biological activity of two types of interferon genes in medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Type I interferon (IFN) is one of most important cytokines for antiviral responses in fish innate immunity, after the induction pathway following pattern recognition. In this study, 2 types of type I IFN mRNA from a medaka (Japanese rice fish; Oryzias latipes) were identified and classified (phylogenetic analysis) into subgroup-a and -d by (designated olIFNa and olIFNd, respectively). Both olIFNa and olIFNd (encoding 197 and 187 amino acid residues, respectively) contained 2 cysteines. Gene expression pattern of olIFNa, olIFNd and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) was assessed (quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR, qRT-PCR) in various organs (i.e., whole kidney, liver and spleen) of medaka stimulated by polyI:C or infected with nervous necrosis virus (NNV). Expression of olIFNa, olIFNd and ISGs, especially the ISG15 gene, were significantly upregulated after NNV-infection. Furthermore, olIFNa, olIFNd and ISGs mRNAs were sufficiently induced in DIT cells (i.e., medaka hepatoma cell line) transfected with polyI:C or infected with NNV. In addition, in vitro biological activities of recombinant olIFNa and olIFNd (rolIFNa and rolIFNd) produced by mammalian cell line HEK293T were also characterized. Expression of GIG1a and ISG15 genes in kidney cells of adult medaka were induced by rolIFNa or rolIFNd. The olIFNs-overexpressing DIT cells had reduced viral titers following NNV infection. Therefore, we inferred that 2 type I IFNs were involved in innate immunity (antiviral response) in medaka fish.

Influence of temperature on Betanodavirus infection in Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis)

In this study Senegalese sole juveniles were experimentally infected with a reassortant Betanodavirus strain at three different temperatures: 22 °C, 18 °C and 16 °C by bath challenge and cohabitation. The results obtained showed that virus virulence decreased by reducing the water temperature. At 22 °C mortalities reached 100%, at 18 °C they ranged from 75 to 80% and at 16 °C only 8% of the fish died. In addition, horizontal transmission was demonstrated regardless of the rearing temperature. At 16 °C active viral replication was detected up to 66 days post-infection, but no signs of the disease were observed and only a very low level of mortality was recorded. The increase in water temperature from 16 to 22 °C caused a quick rise in the viral load and a subsequent outbreak of mortalities. These findings demonstrate that this reassortant Betanodavirus strain can cause a persistent infection in Senegalese sole at low temperatures (16 °C) for long periods of time, and when temperature increases the virus is able to trigger an acute infection and provoke high mortalities.

Involvement of fish signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in nodavirus infection induced cell death

The Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway is an important signaling pathway activated by interferons in response to virus infection. Fish STAT3 has been demonstrated to be involved in Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) infection and virus induced paraptosis, but its effects on the replication of other fish viruses still remained uncertain. Here, the roles of grouper STAT3 (Ec-STAT3) in red spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) infection were investigated. The present data showed that the distribution of phosphorylated Ec-STAT3 was altered in RGNNV infected fish cells, and the promoter activity of STAT3 was significantly increased during virus infection, suggesting that STAT3 activation was involved in RGNNV infection. Using STAT3 specific inhibitor, we found that inhibition of Ec-STAT3 in vitro did not affect the transcription and protein synthesis of RGNNV coat protein (CP), however, the severity of RGNNV induced vacuolation and autophagy was significantly increased. Meanwhile, at the late stage of virus infection, RGNNV induced necrotic cell death was significantly decreased after inhibition of Ec-STAT3. Further studies indicated that Ec-STAT3 inhibition significantly increased the transcript level of autophagy related genes, including UNC-51-like kinase 2 (ULK2) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) induced by RGNNV infection. Moreover, the expression of several pro-inflammatory factors, including TNFα, IL-1β and IL-8 were mediated by Ec-STAT3 during RGNNV infection. Together, our results not only firstly revealed that STAT3 exerted novel roles in response to fish virus infection, but also provided new insights into understanding the roles of STAT3 in different forms of programmed cell death.

Genetic characterization of a betanodavirus isolated from a clinical disease outbreak in farm-raised tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) in Thailand

Betanodavirus infection was diagnosed in larvae of farm-raised tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.), in central Thailand. Extensive vacuolar degeneration and neuronal necrosis were observed in histological sections with positive immunohistochemical staining for betanodavirus. Molecular phylogenetic analysis was performed based on the nucleotide sequences (1333 bases) of the capsid protein gene. The virus strain was highly homologous (93.07-93.88%) and closely related to red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV).

Transcriptome analysis of medaka following epinecidin-1 and TH1-5 treatment of NNV infection

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) infects a wide range of larval and juvenile fish species, thereby causing enormous economic losses in the aquaculture industry. Possible solutions to this problem include the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which directly inhibit bacterial growth, and also modulate host signaling mechanisms. The AMPs epinecidin (Epi)-1 and Tilapia hepcidin (TH) 1-5 have been demonstrated to be effective against Nervous necrosis virus infection in medaka (Oryzias latipes). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are yet to be explored. Here, microarray analyses were performed to examine how NNV infection and/or epinecidin-1 or TH1-5 treatment affects gene expression in medaka; such analyses enabled the prediction of host signaling pathways affected by virus infection and/or regulated by epinecidin-1 and TH1-5. Transcriptome analysis revealed altered expression of genes involved in B cell activation, T cell activation, adipocytokine signaling, and mast cell activation. We subsequently used real-time PCR to analyze expression of key genes involved in these signaling mechanisms. Medaka infected with NNV exhibited up-regulation of PVALB, CEBPA, IFIM, IFN, IL-6ST, NF-kB2, SOC3, SP1, and TGFB1, and such increases were prevented by pre-treatment with epinecidin-1 or TH1-5. Immunohistochemistry using the anti-NNV antibody to stain brain and eye sections revealed that epinecidin-1 treatment during or after infection clears viral load, while TH1-5 treatment only reduces viral numbers if applied during infection. These observations demonstrate that epinecidin-1 and TH1-5 modulate NNV-induced host signaling mechanisms, thereby preventing viral multiplication in host organisms.

Susceptibility of various Japanese freshwater fish species to an isolate of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) genotype IVb

Genotype IVb of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) was isolated for the first time in the Great Lakes basin in 2003, where it spread and caused mass mortalities in several wild fish species throughout the basin. In order to prevent further spreading of the disease and to assess risks of new genotypes invading new watersheds, basic microbiological information such as pathogenicity studies are essential. In this study, experimental infections were conducted on 7 indigenous freshwater fish species from Japan by immersion with a VHSV genotype IVb isolate. In Expt 1, cumulative mortalities in bluegill Lepomis macrochirus used as positive controls, Japanese fluvial sculpin Cottus pollux, and iwana Salvelinus leucomaenis pluvius were 50, 80 and 0%, respectively. In Expt 2, cumulative mortalities of 100, 100 and 10% were observed in Japanese fluvial sculpin C. pollux, Japanese rice fish Oryzias latipes and yoshinobori Rhinogobius sp., respectively. No mortality was observed in honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens, akaza Liobagrus reini or Japanese striped loach Cobitis biwae. VHSV was detected by RT-PCR from samples of kidney, spleen, and brain from all dead fish, and virus re-isolation by cell culture was successful from all dead fish. We detected the virus in the brain from a few surviving bluegill 50 d post exposure by both cell culture and RT-PCR. These results revealed that VHSV IVb could become a serious threat to wild freshwater fish species in Japan, and that some surviving fish might become healthy carriers of the virus.

Medaka haploid embryonic stem cells are susceptible to Singapore grouper iridovirus as well as to other viruses of aquaculture fish species

Viral infection is a challenge in high-density aquaculture, as it leads to various diseases and causes massive or even complete loss. The identification and disruption of host factors that viruses utilize for infection offer a novel approach to generate viral-resistant seed stocks for cost-efficient and sustainable aquaculture. Genetic screening in haploid cell cultures represents an ideal tool for host factor identification. We have recently generated haploid embryonic stem (ES) cells in the laboratory fish medaka. Here, we report that HX1, one of the three established medaka haploid ES cell lines, was susceptible to the viruses tested and is thus suitable for genetic screening to identify host factors. HX1 cells displayed a cytopathic effect and massive death upon inoculation with three highly infectious and notifiable fish viruses, namely Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV), spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) and red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV). Reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot analyses revealed the expression of virus genes. SGIV infection in HX1 cells elicited a host immune response and apoptosis. Viral replication kinetics were determined from a virus growth curve, and electron microscopy revealed propagation, assembly and release of infectious SGIV particles in HX1 cells. Our results demonstrate that medaka haploid ES cells are susceptible to SGIV, as well as to SVCV and RGNNV, offering a unique opportunity for the identification of host factors by genetic screening.

Betanodavirus of marine and freshwater fish: distribution, genomic organization, diagnosis and control measures

The family Nodaviridae include the genera Alphanodavirus and the Betanodavirus which are non-enveloped, single stranded RNA viruses. Alphanodavirus include the insect viruses while betanodavirus include species that are responsible for causing disease outbreaks in hatchery-reared larvae and juveniles of a wide variety of marine and freshwater fish throughout the world and has impacted fish culture over the last decade. According to International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, the genus Betanodavirus comprises four recognized species viz barfin flounder nervous necrosis virus, red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV), striped jack nervous necrosis virus and tiger puffer nervous necrosis virus with the RGNNV being the most common. The viruses are distributed worldwide having been recorded in Southeast Asia, Mediterranean countries, United Kingdom, North America and Australia. The disease has been reported by different names such as viral nervous necrosis, fish encephalitis, viral encephalopathy and retinopathy by various investigators. The virus is composed of two segments designated RNA1 and RNA2 and sometimes possesses an additional segment designated RNA3. However, genome arrangement of the virus can vary from strain to strain. The virus is diagnosed by microscopy and other rapid and sensitive molecular methods as well as immunological assays. Several cell lines have been developed for the virus propagation and study of infection mechanism. Control of nodavirus infection is a serious issue in aquaculture industry since it is responsible for huge economic losses. In combination with other management practices, vaccination of fish would be a useful strategy to control the disease.

Heavy oil exposure induces high moralities in virus carrier Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

The relationship between chemical exposure and disease outbreak in fish has not been fully defined due to the limitations of experimental systems (model fish and pathogens). Therefore, we constructed a system using the Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, and viral haemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), and evaluated it by heavy oil (HO) exposure. The fish were exposed to HO at 0.3, 0.03, 0.003, and 0 g/L following VHSV infection at doses of 10(2.5) or 10(3.5) tissue culture infectious dose (TCID)50/fish. As a result, groups given the dual stressors showed more than 90% mortality. Although VHSV infection at 10(2.5) and 10(3.5) TCID50/fish without HO exposure also induced high mortality, at 68.8% and 81.3%, respectively, HO exposure induced faster and higher mortality in the virus carrier fish, indicating that chemical stressors raise the risk of disease outbreak in fish. The experimental system established in this study could be useful for chemical risk assessment.

Susceptibilities of medaka (Oryzias latipes) cell lines to a betanodavirus

Background

Betanodaviruses, members of the family Nodaviridae, have bipartite, positive-sense RNA genomes and are the causal agents of viral nervous necrosis in many marine fish species. Recently, the viruses were shown to infect a few freshwater fish species including a model fish medaka (Oryzias latipes). Although virological study using cultured medaka cells would provide a lot of insight into virus-fish interactions in molecular aspects, no such cells have yet been tested for virus susceptibility.

Results

We tested ten medaka cell lines for susceptibilities to redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV). Although the viral coat protein was detected in all the cell lines inoculated, the levels of cytopathic effect development and viral propagation were quite different among the cell lines. Those levels were especially high in OLHNI-1 and OLHNI-2 cells, but were extremely low in OLME-104 cells. Some cell lines entered into antiviral state after RGNNV infections probably because of inducing an antiviral system. This is the first report to examine the susceptibilities of cultured medaka cells against a virus.

Conclusion

OLHNI-1 and OLHNI-2 cells are candidates of new standard cells for betanodavirus study because of their high susceptibilities to the virus and their several advantages as model fish cells.

Antiviral activity by fish antimicrobial peptides of epinecidin-1 and hepcidin 1-5 against nervous necrosis virus in medaka

The nervous necrosis virus (NNV)-medaka infection model was used in this study for analysis of NNV infection and treatment of NNV with the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of epinecidin-1 and hepcidin 1-5 at the organismal level. Our results showed that co-treatment of AMPs with the virus was effective in promoting a significant increase in medaka survival. Re-challenge with the virus also showed high survival suggesting that these two AMPs enhanced fish survival. However, pretreatment or post-treatment with AMPs showed that both of these AMPs increased medaka survival and suggested that AMPs can be used as drugs to rescue infected medaka. The data presented here indicate that epinecidin-1 and hepcidin 1-5 have in vivo antivirus activity against the NNV, and hepcidin 1-5 functions like a lytic peptide after an in vitro assay. Infection after pretreatment, co-treatment, and post-treatment with epinecidin-1 or hepcidin 1-5 was verified by RT-PCR which showed both peptides can downregulate NNV and interferon gene expressions. In addition, our results suggest that epinecidin-1 or hepcidin 1-5 may prove to be an effective chemotherapeutic agent for aquaculture in the future.