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Differential expression of immune‐related genes in Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, previously reared in biofloc and challenged with Vibrio harveyi
Author(s) -
AguileraRivera Diana,
RodríguezFuentes Gabriela,
EscalanteHerrera KarlaSusana,
GuerraCastro Edlin,
PrietoDavó Alejandra,
Gaxiola Gabriela
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.14063
Subject(s) - litopenaeus , prophenoloxidase , biology , vibrio harveyi , shrimp , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogen , vibrio , gene , immune system , white spot syndrome , innate immune system , bacteria , immunology , genetics , ecology
This study aimed to evaluate possible modification of some immune‐related genes ( hemocyanin, alpha2‐macroglobulin , prophenoloxidase and penaeidin3a ) at the transcriptional level and signs of disease and mortality in Litopenaeus vannamei previously reared in biofloc and challenged with different Vibrio harveyi densities (10 3 –10 8 CFU per ml). Gene expression was up‐ or downregulated based on bacterial density, indicating that defence mechanisms were activated to remove the pathogen. The genes analysed were not affected in the control group (without bacteria) or in the 10 3 CFU per ml group. The prophenoloxidase gene was expressed in the 10 4 CFU per ml group, whereas transcripts of the alpha2‐macroglobulin gene were detected in the 10 5 and 10 6 CFU per ml groups. However, the penaeidin3a and hemocyanin genes were upregulated in the 10 7 and 10 8 CFU per ml groups, in which signs of disease and mortality in shrimp were evident. These results suggest that the genes involved in the shrimp immune response fluctuate according to pathogen density, and when this density increases (e.g. 10 7 and 10 8 CFU per ml), the activated disease tolerance and defence mechanisms are inefficient. For this reason, disease and mortality were observed in the shrimp regardless of the previous condition of the biofloc.