| dc.description.abstract |
White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) is the most devastating disease affecting shrimp culture around the
world. Though, considerable progress has been made in the detection and molecular characterization of WSSV
in recent years, information pertaining to immune gene expression in shrimps with respect to WSSV infection
remains limited. In this context, the present study was undertaken to understand the differential expression
of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes in the haemocytes of Penaeus monodon in response to WSSV infection
on a time-course basis employing semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The present work analyzes the expression profile
of six AMP genes (ALF, crustin-1, crustin-2, crustin-3, penaeidin-3 and penaeidin-5), eight WSSV genes (DNA
polymerase, endonuclease, immediate early gene, latency related gene, protein kinase, ribonucleotide
reductase, thymidine kinase and VP28) and three control genes (18S rRNA, β-actin and ELF) in P. monodon in
response to WSSV challenge. Penaeidins were found to be up-regulated during early hours of infection and
crustin-3 during late period of infection. However, ALF was found to be up-regulated early to late period of
WSSV infection. The present study suggests that AMPs viz. ALF and crustin-3 play an important role in
antiviral defense in shrimps. WSSV gene transcripts were detected post-challenge day 1 itself and increased
considerably day 5 onwards. Evaluation of the control genes confirmed ELF as the most reliable control gene
followed by 18S rRNA and β-actin for gene expression studies in shrimps. This study indicated the role of
AMPs in the protection of shrimps against viral infection and their possible control through the up-regulation
of AMPs |
en_US |