Recent insights into host-pathogen interaction in white spot syndrome virus infected penaeid shrimp

Viral disease outbreaks are a major concern impeding the development of the shrimp aquaculture industry. The viral disease due to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) observed in early 1990s still continues unabated affecting the shrimp farms and cause huge economic loss to the shrimp aquaculture industry. In the absence of effective therapeutics to control WSSV, it is important to understand viral pathogenesis and shrimp response to WSSV at the molecular level. Identification and molecular characterization of WSSV proteins and receptors may facilitate in designing and development of novel therapeutics and antiviral drugs that may inhibit viral replication. Investigations into host-pathogen interactions might give new insights to viral infectivity, tissue tropism and defence mechanism elicited in response to WSSV infection. However, due to the limited information on WSSV gene function and host immune response, the signalling pathways which are associated in shrimp pathogen interaction have also not been elucidated completely. In the present review, the focus is on those shrimp proteins and receptors that are potentially involved in virus infection or in the defence mechanism against WSSV. In addition, the major signalling pathways involved in the innate immune response and the role of apoptosis in host-pathogen interaction is discussed.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) genome stability maintained over six passages through three different penaeid shrimp species

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) replicates rapidly, can be extremely pathogenic and is a common cause of mass mortality in cultured shrimp. Variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) sequences present in the open reading frame (ORF)94, ORF125 and ORF75 regions of the WSSV genome have been used widely as genetic markers in epidemiological studies. However, reports that VNTRs might evolve rapidly following even a single transmission through penaeid shrimp or other crustacean hosts have created confusion as to how VNTR data is interpreted. To examine VNTR stability again, 2 WSSV strains (PmTN4RU and LvAP11RU) with differing ORF94 tandem repeat numbers and slight differences in apparent virulence were passaged sequentially 6 times through black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon, Indian white shrimp Feneropenaeus indicus or Pacific white leg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. PCR analyses to genotype the ORF94, ORF125 and ORF75 VNTRs did not identify any differences from either of the 2 parental WSSV strains after multiple passages through any of the shrimp species. These data were confirmed by sequence analysis and indicate that the stability of the genome regions containing these VNTRs is quite high at least for the WSSV strains, hosts and number of passages examined and that the VNTR sequences thus represent useful genetic markers for studying WSSV epidemiology.

Identification and expression analysis of differentially expressed genes from shrimp (Penaeus monodon) in response to low salinity stress

Four suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA libraries were constructed to identify differentially expressed salinity stress responsive genes of black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon exposed to low (3 ppt) salinity conditions. Forward and reverse SSH cDNA libraries were developed from the gill and gut tissues of shrimp and clones having inserts larger than 300 bp were unidirectionally sequenced. Based on the sequence homology search, the identified genes were categorized for their putative functions related to a wide range of biological roles, such as nucleic acid regulation and replication, immune response, energy and metabolism, cell signaling, cellular process, cytoskeleton and membrane structure, stress and osmoregulation. Gene expression levels in response to low salinity conditions at 2 weeks post salinity stress of thirteen selected differentially expressed genes identified from SSH cDNA libraries (14-3-3 like protein, crust in, lysozyme, arginine kinase, Naþ/Kþ-ATPase a-subunit, intracellular fatty acid binding protein, cathepsin B, anti-lipopolysaccharide factor, ferritin, ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2, calreticulin, innexin 2 and heat shock protein 21) were analyzed by RT-PCR. The highest gene expression levels were observed for Naþ/Kþ-ATPase a-subunit (34.28-folds) in gill tissues, intracellular fatty acid binding protein (13.30-folds) in gut tissues and innexin 2 (14.43-folds) in muscle tissues respectively. The differential and significant levels of gene expression indicate the functional role of these genes in shrimp salinity stress adaptive mechanisms.

Association of dual viral infection with mortality of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in culture ponds in India

Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei has been introduced recently for culture practice in India. Though SPF stocks are imported for larval production and thereafter culture practice, these are prone to infection with the existing viruses in the environment. Here we report mortality of L.vannamei in several farms in India with minimum biosecurity. The shrimp were harvested early within 50-72 days of culture due to the onset of disease and consequent mortality. As per the analysis carried out, the shrimp were infected with two virus, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV). About 80 % of the samples collected had either or both of the viruses. A majority of these samples (60 %) had dual infection with WSSV and IHHNV. Infection of shrimp with WSSV and IHHNV could be detected both by PCR and histopathology. Some of the samples had either exclusively WSSV infection or IHHNV infection and were also harvested before the completion of the required culture period. All the samples analyzed were negative for taura syndrome virus, yellow head virus and infectious myonecrosis virus. While it is difficult to point out the exact etiological agent as the cause of mortality, strict biosecurity measures are advisable for the continuity of L. vannamei culture in India.

Molecular cloning and characterization of acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) gene from shrimp Penaeus monodon exposed to salinity stress

Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP), a protein present ubiquitously in wide range of organisms play significant role in transport of acyl groups for macromolecular biosynthesis involved in various functional and regulatory processes. In crustaceans, ACBP has functional role in growth, reproduction and temperature tolerance. In the present study, two suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) cDNA libraries were performed using gut tissues of shrimp Penaeus monodon exposed to low (3 ppt) and high (55 ppt) salinity stress conditions. SSH library resulted in identification of differentially expressed genes that belonged to various functional classes such as the nucleic acid regulation and replication, defence proteins, allergen protein, signal transduction pathways, apoptosis, energy and metabolism, cell cycle regulation and hypothetical proteins. ACBP was identified as one of the differentially expressed gene in both the SSH libraries of shrimp P. monodon subjected to low and high salinity stress. The full-length cDNA of P. monodon ACBP gene was isolated and the sequence revealed 273 bp open reading frame encoding 90 amino acids with molecular mass of 10 kDa and pI 6.8. The ORF showed presence of four phosphorylation sites, with absence of signal peptide sequence and glycosylation sites. The deduced amino acid sequence of ACBP exhibited high sequence identity (92%) with ACBP class of protein identified from Fenneropenaeus chinensis. Real time PCR analysis of shrimps subjected to 3 ppt salinity conditions after 2 weeks revealed an increase in expression of ACBP transcripts, in the gut (28.08-folds), gills (11.71-folds) and in the muscle tissues (1.70-folds). Whereas, shrimps exposed to 55 ppt salinity conditions after 2 weeks exhibited increased ACBP transcript levels in the gut (11.95-folds), gills (1.052-folds) and muscle tissues (7.35-folds). The significant increase in expression levels of ACBP in various tissues of shrimps suggests a functional role of this gene in salinity stress tolerance and adaptation.

Identification, cloning and expression analysis of Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene from shrimp, Penaeus monodon and its relevance to salinity stress

O-methyltransferase (OMT), a protein present ubiquitously in wide range of organisms plays significant role in methylation of small macro molecules for various functional and regulatory purposes. In crustaceans, OMT has functional role in growth, reproduction, ovarian development and molting. In the present study, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) performed using gill tissues of low (3ppt) and high (55ppt) salinity stressed shrimp Penaeus monodon resulted in identification of differentially expressed genes involved in signal transduction pathways, metabolism, defense proteins, DNA repair and synthesis, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation along with unknown and hypothetical proteins. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) a type of OMT was identified by SSH as one of the differentially expressed genes of shrimp P. monodon subjected to low and high salinity stress. The full length cDNA of COMT was cloned from the gills of P. monodon which consisted an open reading frame of 666 bp, encoding 221 amino acids. The ORF revealed one each of N-glycosylation and O-glycosylation sites and nine phosphorylation sites. The deduced amino acid sequence of COMT exhibited high sequence identity (92%) with COMT class of protein from Fenneropenaeus chinensis. Real time PCR analysis of the shrimp samples exposed to low salinity conditions at 3ppt revealed significant increase in expression of COMT transcripts in the guts at 24 h, 48 h, 1 week and 2 weeks, gills at 24 h and in the muscle tissues at 48 h, with maximum expression of the COMT levels by 5 fold in guts (1 week), 1 fold in gills (24 h) and 1.5 fold in muscle (48 h) respectively. The increased expression level of COMT at different time intervals in different tissues suggests a possible role of this gene in salinity stress tolerance in shrimps under low salinity conditions.

Genetic variation and phylogenetic relationship between two species of yellow catfish, Horabagrus brachysoma and H. nigricollaris (Teleostei: Horabagridae) based on RAPD and microsatellite markers

The two species of yellow catfish, Horabagrus brachysoma and H. nigricollaris are categorized as 'endangered' and 'critically endangered' respectively in their wild habitat. Proper knowledge of genetic structure and variability of these endangered species are highly essential for the management, conservation and improvement of fish stocks. Therefore, genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships between these species of yellow catfish sampled from Chalakkudy River in the hot spot of biodiversity-Western Ghats region, Kerala, India were analyzed by using Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and microsatellite markers. 85 RAPD and five microsatellites loci were detected to analyze the genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships among these species. Out of 85 RAPD loci produced only 52.94% were polymorphic whereas in microsatellite, all 5 loci were polymorphic (100%). Species-specific RAPD bands were found in both species studied. In microsatellite, the number of alleles across the five loci ranged from 1 to 8. The observed heterozygosities in H. brachysoma and H. nigricollaris were 0.463 and 0.443, respectively. Here, both RAPD and microsatellite methods reported a low degree of gene diversity and lack of genetic heterogeneity in both species of Horabagrus which strongly emphasize the need of fishery management, conservation and rehabilitation of these species.

In vivo sister chromatid differentiation and base line sister chromatid exchanges in Channa punctatus

An in vivo system for differentially stained sister chromatids by incorporating 5' Bromo 2' deoxyuridine at two consecutive round of DNA replication has been developed in C. punctatus. The base line developed frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) was found to be 0.038 SCE/chromosome. This low baseline frequency of SCEs could be useful in detecting genotoxicity of pollutants in aquatic medium.