Time-course and levels of apoptosis in various tissues of black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon infected with white-spot syndrome virus

This study focused on apoptosis in various tissues of the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon following white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) injection. The study included: (1) light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of various tissues; (2) fluorescent LM of nuclear DNA by staining with 4, 6-diamidine-2-phenyl indole dihydrochloride (DAPI) and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) techniques; and (3) determination of caspase-3 activity. Juvenile P. monodon were injected with WSSV, and several tissues of ectodermal and mesodermal origin were studied at different intervals after injection. The total haemocyte count had decreased to one-tenth of its original level 60 h after WSSV injection. By LM, extensive destruction by WSSV was observed in the stomach epithelium, gills, hematopoietic tissue, hemocytes and the heart, but the most severely affected tissue was the subcuticular epithelium. TEM revealed that at 6 h post-injection (p.i.) the chromatin of infected nuclei was marginated, and by 24 h p.i. the nuclei were filled with enveloped and non-enveloped WSSV virions. At later stages of the infection, the nucleus extruded WSSV particles. Chromatin margination and nuclear condensation and fragmentation (i.e. signs of apoptosis) were observed as early as 6 h p.i. in all affected tissues, but occurred in cells without WSSV virions rather than in cells with virions. The occurrence of apoptosis was supported by data obtained using TUNEL and by DAPI-staining and progressed from 6 to 60 h p.i. In addition, caspase-3 activity in WSSV-infected shrimp was about 6-fold higher than that in uninfected shrimp. The data strongly suggests that apoptosis occurs following WSSV infection in P. monodon, but the extent to which it contributes to shrimp mortality requires further investigation.     

Genotyping of white spot syndrome virus prevalent in shrimp farms of India

DNA extracts from white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) that had infected post-larvae and juveniles of cultured shrimp, wild shrimp and crabs, which had been collected from different hatcheries and farms located along both the east and west coasts of India, revealed considerable variation in several previously identified WSSV DNA repeat regions. These include the 54 bp repeat in ORF 94, the 69 bp repeat in ORF 125 and the compound 45 and 57 bp repeat region in ORF 75. In ORF 94, 13 genotypes were observed with the number of repeats ranging from 2 to 16 units. While 7 repeat units were commonly observed (11.3%), no samples with 11 or 15 repeat units were found. In ORF 125, 11 types were found, with repeats ranging from 2 to 14 units. The most prevalent genotype displayed 4 repeat units (47.1%); no samples with 6 or 13 repeats were observed. The compound repeat region of ORF 75 displayed 6 different patterns of repeats. Samples with the same repeat pattern in one ORF did not always show identical repeat patterns in one or both of the other repeat regions. These data suggest that combined analysis of all 3 variable loci could be used to differentiate and characterize specific WSSV strains. For general epidemiological studies, the best marker with maximum variation is ORF 94, followed by ORF 125 and ORF 75. The 3 repeat regions above were used to compare WSSV genotypes from disease outbreaks on 3 sets of farms from different locations in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The genotypes within each farm set were almost identical, but differed between farm sets, suggesting that WSSV transmission occurred directly through virus carriers or water exchange between adjacent farms at each location. These findings show that genotyping can be a useful epidemiological tool for tracing the movement of WSSV within infected populations.     

Results from black tiger shrimp penaeus monodon culture ponds stocked with postlarvae PCR-positive or -negative for white-spot syndrome virus (WSSV).

Commercial, intensive, earthen shrimp ponds (188) in southern Thailand were stocked with postlarvae (PL) of Penaeus monodon that had tested positive or negative for white-spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. All the PL were grossly healthy. At 2 wk intervals after stocking, shrimp from each pond were examined for gross WSSV lesions and tested for WSSV by PCR. Shrimp from all the ponds stocked with WSSV-PCR-positive PL (Group 0, n = 43) eventually showed gross signs of white-spot disease (WSD) at an average of 40 d after stocking. Of the remaining ponds stocked with WSSV-PCR-negative PL (n = 145), some remained WSSV-PCR-negative throughout the study (Group 5, n = 52), while others (93) became WSSV-PCR-positive after stocking, during the first month (Group 1, n = 23), second month (Group 2, n = 40), third month (Group 3, n = 24), or fourth month (Group 4, n = 6). Crop failure was defined as a pond drain or forced harvest before 14 wk or 98 d of cultivation. For Group 0 the proportion of ponds failing was 0.953, while it was only 0.019 for Group 5. Thus, the relative risk of failure for Group 0 was approximately 50 times that of Group 5. The relative risk of failure for Group 0 was also 3 times that for ponds stocked with WSSV-PCR-negative PL. Obviously, not all WSSV outbreaks resulted in crop failure. Of the 93 ponds stocked with PCR-negative PL that later yielded WSSV-PCR-positive shrimp, 53% reached successful harvest. The study showed that PCR screening of PL and rejection of WSSV-positive batches before stocking could greatly improve the chances of a successful harvest.     

不同途径感染白斑综合征病毒 (WSSV) 对日本沼虾的致病性

日本沼虾肉质鲜美、经济价值高,但其对白斑综合征病毒(White spot syndrome virus,WSSV)的易感性尚不明确。采用流行病学调查、感染试验和荧光定量PCR(qPCR)等方法,研究了日本沼虾Macrobrachium nipponense对WSSV的易感性、感染发病率以及WSSV在其体内的增殖情况。结果表明:日本沼虾是WSSV的自然宿主,上海市附近省份地区120个样本的自然携带率为8.33%。日本沼虾可以通过注射、摄食、浸泡途径感染WSSV,10 d内累计感染率均为100%,累计死亡率分别为100%、75%和0%。其中注射途径感染日本沼虾,感染后5 d肌肉病毒含量达到感染后1 d的1 000倍,8 d死亡率达100%。用注射WSSV感染日本沼虾死亡率来测量病毒致死日本沼虾的半数致死剂量(LD_(50)),2.71×10~5病毒粒子/μL能使日本沼虾死亡率达到50%以上。在养殖生产中,日本沼虾可以通过摄食感染WSSV的病虾或死虾而感染WSSV,也能通过浸泡在含WSSV的水体中而感染,并因此成为一种传播媒介,从而影响了WSSV的迅速传播与致病。     

Knocking down caspase-3 by RNAi reduces mortality in Pacific white shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei challenged with a low dose of white-spot syndrome virus

Apoptosis has long been observed in viral target organs of white-spot syndrome virus (WSSV)-infected shrimp and whether the phenomenon helps the shrimp to survive the infection or is a factor leading to mortality is still controversial. If the shrimp mortality is a result of triggered apoptosis, then inactivation of caspase-3, a key protein in the induction of apoptosis, should improve shrimp survival upon challenge with WSSV. To test this prediction, we identified and characterized a caspase-3 homologue (cap-3) from the Pacific white shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei and used this information to silence cap-3 expression by RNA interference prior to WSSV challenge. After confirming the efficacy of cap-3 silencing, its effects on mortality at high and low doses of WSSV were evaluated. In a high-dose WSSV challenge, cap-3 silencing had no significant effect on WSSV-induced mortality, except for a delay in mean time to death. However, at a low-dose WSSV challenge, cap-3 silencing correlated with a lower level of cumulative mortality, relative to silencing of a control gene, suggesting that apoptosis may exacerbate rather than decrease mortality in WSSV-challenged shrimp.     

Taura syndrome,a disease important to shrimp farms in the Americas

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology -     

VP37 of white spot syndrome virus interact with shrimp cells

Aims:  To investigate VP37 [WSV 254 of White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) genome] interacting with shrimp cells and protecting shrimp against WSSV infection.
Methods and Results:  VP37 was expressed in Escherichia coli and was confirmed by Western blotting. Virus overlay protein binding assay (VOPBA) technique was used to analyse the rVP37 interaction with shrimp and the results showed that rVP37 interacted with shrimp cell membrane. Binding assay of recombinant VP37 with shrimp cell membrane by ELISA confirmed that purified rVP37 had a high-binding activity with shrimp cell membrane. Binding of rVP37 to shrimp cell membrane was a dose-dependent. Competition ELISA result showed that the envelope protein VP37 could compete with WSSV to bind to shrimp cells. In vivo inhibition experiment showed that rVP37 provided 40% protection. Inhibition of virus infection by rVP37 in primary cell culture revealed that rVP37 counterparted virus infection within the experiment period.
Conclusions:  VP37 has been successfully expressed in E . coli . VP37 interacted with shrimp cells.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The results suggest that rVP37 has a potential application in prevention of virus infection.     

Proteomic analyses of the shrimp white spot syndrome virus

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV), a unique member within the virus family Nimaviridae, is the most notorious aquatic virus infecting shrimp and other crustaceans and has caused enormous economic losses in the shrimp farming industry worldwide. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of WSSV morphogenesis, structural proteins, and replication is essential for developing prevention measures of this serious parasite. The viral genome is approximately 300kb and contains more than 180 open reading frames (ORF). However, most of proteins encoded by these ORF have not been characterized. Due to the importance of WSSV structural proteins in the composition of the virion structure, infection process and interaction with host cells, knowledge of structural proteins is essential to understanding WSSV entry and infection as well as for exploring effective prevention measures. This review article summarizes mainly current investigations on WSSV structural proteins including the relative quantities, localization, function and protein-protein interactions. Traditional proteomic studies of 1D or 2D gel electrophoresis separations and mass spectrometry (MS) followed by database searches have identified a total of 39 structural proteins. Shotgun proteomics and iTRAQ were initiated to identify more structural proteins. To date, it is estimated that WSSV is assembled by at least 59 structural proteins, among them 35 are defined as the envelope fraction (including tegument proteins) and 9 as nucleocapsid proteins. Furthermore, the interaction within several major structural proteins has also been investigated. This identitification and characterization of WSSV protein components should help in the understanding of the viral assembly process and elucidate the roles of several major structural proteins.     

Arabidopsis-derived shrimp viral-binding protein, PmRab7 can protect white spot syndrome virus infection in shrimp

White spot syndrome virus is currently the leading cause of production losses in the shrimp industry. Penaeus monodon Rab7 protein has been recognized as a viral-binding protein with an efficient protective effect against white spot syndrome infection. Plant-derived recombinant PmRab7 might serve as an alternative source for in-feed vaccination, considering the remarkable abilities of plant expression systems. PmRab7 was introduced into the Arabidopsis thaliana T87 genome. Arabidopsis-derived recombinant PmRab7 showed high binding activity against white spot syndrome virus and a viral envelope, VP28. The growth profile of Arabidopsis suspension culture expressing PmRab7 (ECR21# 35) resembled that of its counterpart. PmRab7 expression in ECR21# 35 reached its maximum level at 5 mg g(-1) dry weight in 12 days, which was higher than those previously reported in Escherichia coli and in Pichia. Co-injection of white spot syndrome virus and Arabidopsis crude extract containing PmRab7 in Litopenaeus vannamei showed an 87% increase in shrimp survival rate at 5 day after injection. In this study, we propose an alternative PmRab7 source with higher production yield, and cheaper culture media costs, that might serve the industry's need for an in-feed supplement against white spot syndrome infection.     

Vp28 of shrimp white spot syndrome virus is involved in the attachment and penetration into shrimp cells

White spot disease (WSD) is caused by the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), which results in devastating losses to the shrimp farming industry around the world. However, the mechanism of virus entry and spread into the shrimp cells is unknown. A binding assay in vitro demonstrated VP28-EGFP (envelope protein VP28 fused with enhanced green fluorescence protein) binding to shrimp cells. This provides direct evidence that VP28-EGFP can bind to shrimp cells at pH 6.0 within 0.5 h. However, the protein was observed to enter the cytoplasm 3 h post-adsorption. Meanwhile, the plaque inhibition test showed that the polyclonal antibody against VP28 (a major envelope protein of WSSV) could neutralize the WSSV and block an infection with the virus. The result of competition ELISA further confirmed that the envelope protein VP28 could compete with WSSV to bind to shrimp cells. Overall, VP28 of the WSSV can bind to shrimp cells as an attachment protein, and can help the virus enter the cytoplasm.     

Haemolymph parameters of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) infected with Taura syndrome virus

Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) were injected with Taura syndrome virus (TSV) to assess shrimp immune responses and survival. TSV-infected shrimp suffered high mortality, but mock-infected and untreated shrimp experienced no mortality. Moribund shrimp were a pale, reddish colour and were lethargic and soft-shelled. Their haemolymph was clear red and coagulated poorly. In TSV-infected shrimp, the total haemocyte count (THC), hyalinocyte and granulocyte counts, and total plasma protein decreased significantly to 21%, 24%, 17% and 56% of untreated control values, respectively. Haemocyanin decreased to 67%, and clottable proteins to 80% of control values (P< 0.01). Copper and calcium ions, haemocytic transglutaminase (TGase) activity and plasma growth inhibitory activity against Vibrio harveyi also decreased significantly. Generation of intrahaemocytic superoxide anion, O(-2), in TSV-infected shrimp was significantly greater (P< 0.05) than in both control groups, no matter whether glucan stimulated or unstimulated. But the relative increase of intrahaemocytic O(-2) generation in TSV-infected shrimp response to glucan stimulation was lower in both controls. Plasma phenoloxidase (PO) activity increased significantly in TSV-infected shrimp. The plasma bacterial agglutinin titre against E. coli and V. harveyi, growth inhibition of E. coli and the concentration of magnesium ions in TSV-infected shrimp did not change significantly.In conclusion, ten of thirteen haemolymph parameters changed significantly during the host-TSV interaction. These parameters might be valuable references of shrimp health status.     

A model for apoptotic interaction between white spot syndrome virus and shrimp

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is an enveloped, large dsDNA virus that mainly infects penaeid shrimp, causing serious damage to the shrimp aquaculture industry. Like other animal viruses, WSSV infection induces apoptosis. Although this occurs even in by-stander cells that are free of WSSV virions, apoptosis is generally regarded as a kind of antiviral immune response. To counter this response, WSSV has evolved several different strategies. From the presently available literature, we construct a model of how the host and virus both attempt to regulate apoptosis to their respective advantage. The basic sequence of events is as follows: first, when a WSSV infection occurs, cellular sensors detect the invading virus, and activate signaling pathways that lead to (1) the expression of pro-apoptosis proteins, including PmCasp (an effecter caspase), MjCaspase (an initiator caspase) and voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC); and (2) mitochondrial changes, including the induction of mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and increased oxidative stress. These events initiate the apoptosis program. Meanwhile, WSSV begins to express its genes, including two anti-apoptosis proteins: AAP-1, which is a direct caspase inhibitor, and WSV222, which is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that blocks apoptosis through the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of shrimp TSL protein (an apoptosis inducer). WSSV also induces the expression of a shrimp anti-apoptosis protein, Pm-fortilin, which can act on Bax to inhibit mitochondria-triggered apoptosis. This is a life and death struggle because the virus needs to prevent apoptosis in order to replicate. If WSSV succeeds in replicating in sufficient numbers, this will result in the death of the infected penaeid shrimp host.     

Indel-II region deletion sizes in the white spot syndrome virus genome correlate with shrimp disease outbreaks in southern Vietnam

Sequence comparisons of the genomes of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) strains have identified regions containing variable-length insertions/deletions (i.e. indels). Indel-I and Indel-II, positioned between open reading frames (ORFs) 14/15 and 23/24, respectively, are the largest and the most variable. Here we examined the nature of these 2 indel regions in 313 WSSV-infected Penaeus monodon shrimp collected between 2006 and 2009 from 76 aquaculture ponds in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. In the Indel-I region, 2 WSSV genotypes with deletions of either 5950 or 6031 bp in length compared with that of a reference strain from Thailand (WSSV-TH-96-II) were detected. In the Indel-II region, 4 WSSV genotypes with deletions of 8539, 10970, 11049 or 11866 bp in length compared with that of a reference strain from Taiwan (WSSV-TW) were detected, and the 8539 and 10970 bp genotypes predominated. Indel-II variants with longer deletions were found to correlate statistically with WSSV-diseased shrimp originating from more intensive farming systems. Like Indel-I lengths, Indel-II lengths also varied based on the Mekong Delta province from which farmed shrimp were collected.     

白斑综合症病毒与对虾血淋巴细胞的体外结合实验

通过差速离心和蔗糖密度梯度离心,从感染了白斑综合症病毒(WSSV)的病虾头胸部分离了WSSV,利用地高辛对病毒蛋白进行了标记(DIG-WSSV),以体外培养的对虾血淋巴细胞为吸附基底,观察和分析了病毒与细胞间的结合现象及特性。以NBT/BCIP为酶反应显色底物观察到在细胞周围形成许多暗紫色颗粒,证实病毒与细胞间存在着稳定的结合。以OPD为酶反应显色底物分析了结合反应的特性:当DIG-WSSV维持恒定值时,随着血淋巴细胞数量的增加结合显色增强,细胞数量达到1.2104cells/孔,492nm处的吸光值达到饱和;当血淋巴细胞数量维持恒定值时,随着DIG-WSSV蛋白含量的增加显色增强,且在DIG-WSSV的蛋白浓度达到4g/孔时,492nm处的吸光值达到饱和;未标记WSSV可竞争抑制血淋巴细胞与DIG-WSSV间的结合作用。进一步的研究得出:4℃下,随着结合时间的延长显色增强,但继续延长结合时间显色反而减弱;缓冲液的渗透压对结合结果影响甚微,而酸性条件利于病毒与细胞间的结合。37℃孵育对病毒结合活性影响不大,55℃和70℃孵育可显著影响病毒的结合活性;短时间超声波处理病毒可增加病毒结合能力,长时间超声波处理可破坏病毒结合能力;有机溶剂处理同样可破坏病毒结合能力,其中尤以氯仿/甲醇的处理更为激烈;不同的去垢剂对病毒结合活性的影响结果不同:SDS和脱氧胆酸钠可以降低病毒的结合活性,而Triton X-100和NP-40可以提高病毒的结合活性。       

Crassostrea gigas oysters as a shrimp farm bioindicator of white spot syndrome virus

This study explored whether Crassostrea gigas oysters can be used as a bioindicator of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in shrimp farm water canals. Bioassays showed that C. gigas can accumulate WSSV in their gills and digestive glands but do not become infected, either by exposure to seawater containing WSSV or by cohabitation with infected shrimp. The use of a WSSV nested PCR to screen oysters placed in water canals at the entry of a shrimp farm allowed WSSV to be detected 16 d prior to the disease occurring. The finding that C. gigas can concentrate small amounts of WSSV present in seawater without being harmed makes it an ideal sentinel species at shrimp farms.     

Sampling and evaluation of white spot syndrome virus in commercially important Atlantic penaeid shrimp stocks

In 1997, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was discovered in shrimp culture facilities in South Carolina, USA. This disease was known to cause devastating mortalities in cultured populations in Southeast Asia and prompted concern for the health of wild populations in the USA. Our study surveyed wild shrimp populations for the presence of WSSV by utilizing molecular diagnostics and bioassay techniques. A total of 1150 individuals (586 Litopenaeus setiferus, 477 Farfantepenaeus aztecus and 87 F. dourarum) were examined for the presence of WSSV DNA by PCR. A total of 32 individuals tested positive and were used in a bioassay to examine the transmission of disease to healthy individuals of the culture species L. vannamei. DNA sequencing of PCR products from a positive individual confirmed that the positive individuals carried WSSV DNA. Significant mortalities were seen in test shrimp injected with tissue extracts from heavily infected wild shrimp. These data confirm the existence of WSSV in wild shrimp stocks along the Atlantic Coast and that the virus can cause mortalities in cultured stocks.