Infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus-like particle (IHHNV-VLP) induces peroxiredoxin expression and activity in Fenneropenaeus merguiensis

• Published in: Fish & shellfish immunology Vol. 121; pp. 53 - 61
• Main Authors: Weerachatyanukul, Wattana, Pooljun, Chettupon, Hirono, Ikuo, Kondo, Hidehiro, Chotwiwatthanakun, Charoonroj, Jariyapong, Pitchanee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2022
• Subjects: Animals; Densovirinae - immunology; Immune system; Immunity, Innate; Infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus; Penaeidae - genetics; Penaeidae - immunology; Penaeidae - virology; Peroxiredoxins - genetics; Phylogeny; Transcriptome; Virus Diseases - veterinary; Virus like particle; White spot syndrome virus; White spot syndrome virus 1 - pathogenicity; Infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus; White spot syndrome virus; Virus like particle; Immune system
• ISSN: 1050-4648; 1095-9947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2021.12.015

Virus like particles (VLPs) are non-infectious nanoparticles containing repetitive, high density viral epitopes on the surface and can prevent viral infections in aquatic animals. Here, we evaluated the immuno-stimulation effect of infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus like particle (IHHNV-VLP) using a next generation sequencing in Fenneropenaeus merguiensis to identify the important immune-related genes that may prevent viral infection. The in situ target of IHHNV was predominantly found in gill tissue following IHHNV-VLP administration in juvenile shrimp. Comparative transcriptome analysis in the injected gills showed that there were 326 unigenes expressed differently than the mock-injected samples. One of the most differential genes between the two animal groups was the antioxidative gene, peroxiredoxin (FmPrx), that was up-regulated after 6 h post-VLP injection. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that this gene could be found among many shrimp species and was closely clustered among Prx families. The expression of FmPrx was also detected in all tissues examined, thus suggesting the multi-functional roles of this gene in many tissues. Administration of IHHNV-VLP in vivo led to a significant increase in peroxidase activity in gill tissue—approximately two-fold versus control animals; the WSSV copy number was significantly reduced. These data suggest that IHHNV-VLP exerts an immune-stimulating effect by enhancing the level of immune-related genes including FmPrx and its corresponding peroxidase activity, which are a well-known part of the shrimp innate immune system. •IHHNV-VLP administered into F. Merguiensis targets chiefly into gill tissue.•IHHNV-VLP injection induces up-regulation of novel defensive related genes in F. merguensis, peroxiredoxin gene (FmPrx).•Reduction of WSSV viral copy number observed after IHHNV-VLP injection is correlated with the enhanced expression of FmPrx.•As part of immune genes, FmPrx is thus considered as an immune marker induced by IHHNV-VLP administration.