Epidemiological parameters of White Spot Syndrome Virus infections in Litopenaeus vannamei and L. setiferus

An experimental protocol based on a mathematical epidemiology model was developed to study the transmission, virulence, and recovery rates of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV). Two modes of transmission were compared for WSSV in Litopenaeus vannamei. We compared transmission by ingestion of infected cadavers to transmission by cohabitation with infected animals. In addition, we compared the ingestion transmission of WSSV in L. vannamei and in L. setiferus. Finally, we compared the virulence and recovery rates of WSSV in L. vannamei and L. setiferus. The transmission rate of WSSV to L. vannamei by cohabitation was 0.01. The transmission rate by ingestion of infected cadavers was over an order of magnitude larger at 0.46, suggesting that cohabitation is a much less important mode of transmission for WSSV. A statistically significant difference was detected between the estimates of ingestion transmission of L. vannamei (0.46) and those of L. setiferus (0.84), yet no differences in the virulence or recovery rates were detected between hosts. The overall estimated virulence rate was 0.34, and the overall estimated recovery rate from a WSSV infection was 0.007 for both species. According to epidemiological theory the threshold density of hosts necessary for an epidemic to occur is directly related to the virulence and recovery rates and inversely related to the transmission rate. Therefore, the epidemic threshold density may be lower for ingestion transmission than cohabitation transmission and lower for L. setiferus than for L. vannamei.     

Envelope Proteins of White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) Interact with Litopenaeus vannamei Peritrophin-Like Protein (LvPT)

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a major pathogen in shrimp cultures. The interactions between viral proteins and their receptors on the surface of cells in a frontier target tissue are crucial for triggering an infection. In this study, a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) library was constructed using cDNA obtained from the stomach and gut of Litopenaeus vannamei, to ascertain the role of envelope proteins in WSSV infection. For this purpose, VP37 was used as the bait in the Y2H library screening. Forty positive clones were detected after screening. The positive clones were analyzed and discriminated, and two clones belonging to the peritrophin family were subsequently confirmed as genuine positive clones. Sequence analysis revealed that both clones could be considered as the same gene, LV-peritrophin (LvPT). Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed the interaction between LvPT and VP37. Further studies in the Y2H system revealed that LvPT could also interact with other WSSV envelope proteins such as VP32, VP38A, VP39B, and VP41A. The distribution of LvPT in tissues revealed that LvPT was mainly expressed in the stomach than in other tissues. In addition, LvPT was found to be a secretory protein, and its chitin-binding ability was also confirmed.     

Suppression of Shrimp Melanization during White Spot Syndrome Virus Infection

The melanization cascade, activated by the prophenoloxidase (proPO) system, plays a key role in the production of cytotoxic intermediates, as well as melanin products for microbial sequestration in invertebrates. Here, we show that the proPO system is an important component of the Penaeus monodon shrimp immune defense toward a major viral pathogen, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Gene silencing of PmproPO(s) resulted in increased cumulative shrimp mortality after WSSV infection, whereas incubation of WSSV with an in vitro melanization reaction prior to injection into shrimp significantly increased the shrimp survival rate. The hemolymph phenoloxidase (PO) activity of WSSV-infected shrimp was extremely reduced at days 2 and 3 post-injection compared with uninfected shrimp but was fully restored after the addition of exogenous trypsin, suggesting that WSSV probably inhibits the activity of some proteinases in the proPO cascade. Using yeast two-hybrid screening and co-immunoprecipitation assays, the viral protein WSSV453 was found to interact with the proPO-activating enzyme 2 (PmPPAE2) of P. monodon. Gene silencing of WSSV453 showed a significant increase of PO activity in WSSV-infected shrimp, whereas co-silencing of WSSV453 and PmPPAE2 did not, suggesting that silencing of WSSV453 partially restored the PO activity via PmPPAE2 in WSSV-infected shrimp. Moreover, the activation of PO activity in shrimp plasma by PmPPAE2 was significantly decreased by preincubation with recombinant WSSV453. These results suggest that the inhibition of the shrimp proPO system by WSSV partly occurs via the PmPPAE2-inhibiting activity of WSSV453.     

以枯草芽孢杆菌递呈VP28对南美白对虾免疫相关基因表达和细胞特异性吞噬的影响

以枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)为活载体口服递呈对虾白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)囊膜蛋白VP28, 评价其抗病毒感染能力、对南美白对虾免疫相关基因表达以及血淋巴细胞对病毒特异性吞噬的影响。经口服免疫枯草重组菌株B. subtilis-VP28攻毒后, 对虾的相对存活率达83.3%。为探讨重组菌株的抗病机理, 比较研究了免疫相关基因proPO(酚氧化酶原)、Peroxinectin(PE)和脂多糖--1, 3-葡聚糖结合蛋白(LGBP)基因的表达差异, 并进一步分析了血淋巴细胞吞噬活性和特异性。结果表明, B. subtilis-VP28菌液能显著提高(P 0.05)对虾proPO、PE和LGBP mRNA的表达水平和血细胞对WSSV的吞噬活性, B. subtilis组对免疫相关基因也有一定的激活作用, 而B. subtilis-VP28发酵上清液则能增加血细胞吞噬活性; 此外, B. subtilis-VP28菌液组血细胞对WSSV具有特异性吞噬作用。研究为枯草重组菌株B. subtilis-VP28抗WSSV感染作用及其作为特殊功能水产微生态制剂的应用提供了一定的科学依据。       

The Porcine MicroRNA Transcriptome Response to Transmissible Gastroenteritis Virus Infection

Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV; Coronaviridae family) causes huge economic losses to the swine industry. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a regulatory role in viral infection and may be involved in the mammalian immune response. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of host miRNA expression in TGEV-infected swine testis (ST) cells. Deep sequencing generated 3,704,353 and 2,763,665 reads from uninfected ST cells and infected ST cells, respectively. The reads were aligned to known Sus scrofa pre-miRNAs in miRBase 19, identifying 284 annotated miRNAs. Certain miRNAs were differentially regulated during TGEV infection. 59 unique miRNAs displayed significant differentially expression between the normal and TGEV-infected ST cell samples: 15 miRNAs were significantly up-regulated and 44 were significantly down-regulated. Stem-loop RT-PCR was carried out to determine the expression levels of specific miRNAs in the two samples, and the results were consistent with those of sequencing. Gene ontology enrichment analysis of host target genes demonstrated that the differentially expressed miRNAs are involved in regulatory networks, including cellular process, metabolic process, immune system process. This is the first report of the identification of ST cell miRNAs and the comprehensive analysis of the miRNA regulatory mechanism during TGEV infection, which revealed the miRNA molecular regulatory mechanisms for the viral infection, expression of viral genes and the expression of immune-related genes. The results presented here will aid research on the prevention and treatment of viral diseases.     

对虾白斑综合征病毒新株型WSSV-CN-Pc的毒力研究

对虾白斑综合征病毒(white spot syndrome virus,WSSV)是一种能够感染虾类并且造成其大面积死亡的环状双链DNA病毒。WSSV有多种分离株,其毒力有所差异。从克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkii)中分离得到1株WSSV新分离株WSSV-CN-Pc,其毒力尚不清楚。本研究采用肌肉注射和经口注射的方法,以WSSVTW型作为阳性对照,分别对克氏原螯虾(P.clarkii)和罗氏沼虾(Macrobrachium rosenbergii)进行活体实验。实验结果显示:肌肉注射WSSV-CN-Pc和WSSV-TW的克氏原螯虾均在第6天出现100%的死亡;罗氏沼虾在肌肉注射WSSV-TW后未出现死亡,但在注射WSSV-CN-Pc后的第9天死亡率达100%。经口注射WSSV-CN-Pc和WSSV-TW的克氏原螯虾均在第16天出现100%的死亡;罗氏沼虾经口注射WSSV-CN-Pc后的第19天死亡率为100%,但注射WSSV-TW的实验组并未出现死亡。结果表明,对于克氏原螯虾,WSSV-CN-Pc具有和WSSV-TW相似的毒力,而对罗氏沼虾存在明显的毒力差异。提示克氏原螯虾是WSSV传播途径中的重要因素。     

对虾白斑综合征杆状病毒体内增殖模型的建立

应用对虾白斑综合征杆状病毒（WSSV）,对淡水克氏螯虾、罗氏沼虾、日本沼虾和两种淡水蟹（中华绒螯蟹、长江华溪蟹）进行人工感染实验。结果除淡水克氏螯虾之外,其它受试的虾蟹均不能感染WSSV。克氏螯虾3个不同剂量级感染至12d平均死亡率为94％。从发病或死亡个体采集血淋巴,经电镜负染色可观察到完整的病毒粒子,其形态大小、靶细胞组织病理均与从中国对虾中分离的WSSV相似或相同。同时,通过原位杂交技术进一步证明该实验的可靠性。克氏螯虾重复感染效果良好,有可能成为研究WSSV的一种理想的病毒体内增殖模型。     

对虾白斑综合征杆状病毒体内增殖模型的建立

应用对虾白斑综合征杆状病毒(WSSV),对淡水克氏螯虾、罗氏沼虾、日本沼虾和两种淡水蟹(中华绒螯蟹、长江华溪蟹)进行人工感染实验.结果除淡水克氏螯虾之外,其它受试的虾蟹均不能感染WSSV.克氏螯虾3个不同剂量组感染至12 d,平均死亡率为94%.从发病或死亡个体采集血淋巴,经电镜负染色可观察到完整的病毒粒子,其形态大小、靶细胞组织病理均与从中国对虾中分离的WSSV相似或相同.同时,通过原位杂交技术进一步证明该实验的可靠性.克氏螯虾重复感染效果良好,有可能成为研究WSSV的一种理想的病毒体内增殖模型.