Development and application of antibody microarray for white spot syndrome virus detection in shrimp

Detecting white spot syndrome virus （WSSV） in shrimp in high efficiency and veracity is important for disease prevention in aquaculture. Antibody-based mieroarray is a novel proteomic technology that can meet the requirements. In this study, we developed an antibody microarray for WSSV-detection in a specific and parallel way at multiple samples. First, seven slides each with different modifications were characterized by atomic force microscope, and were compared in the efficiency of immobilizing proteins. Of the seven, 3-dimensional structured agarose gel-modified slides were chosen appropriate for the microarray for having higher signal value and superior spot size. A purified rabbit anti-WSSV antibody was arrayed as the capture antibody of the microarray on the agarose gel-modified slides, and then the mieroarray slides were incubated in the tissue homogenate of sampled shrimp and the antibody-antigen complex was detected by Cy3-conjugated anti-WSSV monoclonal antibody. The results were measured by a laser chipscanner and analyzed with software. To obtain satisfied fluorescence signal intensity, optimal conditions were searched. The detection limit of the antibody microarray for WSSV is 0.62μg/mL, with a woven long shelf life for 6 months at 4℃ or 8 months at -20℃. Furthermore, concordance between antibody microarray and traditional indirect ELISA reached 100% for WSSV detection. These results suggest that the antibody microarray could be served as an effective tool for diagnostic and epidemiological studies of WSSV.

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.

Impact of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and white spot syndrome virus(WSSV)co-infection on survival of penaeid shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

White spot syndrome virus(WSSV) is an important viral pathogen that infects farmed penaeid shrimp, and the threat of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection to shrimp farming has become increasingly severe. Viral and bacterial cross or superimposed infections may induce higher shrimp mortality. We used a feeding method to infect L itopenaeus vannamei with WSSV and then injected a low dose of V. parahaemolyticus(WSSV+Vp), or we fi rst infected L. vannamei with a low-dose injection of V. parahaemolyticus and then fed the shrimp WSSV to achieve viral infection(Vp+WSSV). The effect of V. parahaemolyticus and WSSV co-infection on survival of L. vannamei was evaluated by comparing cumulative mortality rates between experimental and control groups. We also spread L. vannamei hemolymph on thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose agar plates to determine the number of V ibrio, and the WSSV copy number in L. vannamei gills was determined using an absolute quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method. L v My D88 and Lvakt gene expression levels were detected in gills of L. vannamei by real-time PCR to determine the cause of the different mortality rates. Our results show that(1) the cumulative mortality rate of L. vannamei in the WSSV+Vp group reached 100% on day 10 after WSSV infection, whereas the cumulative mortality rate of L. vannamei in the Vp+WSSV group and the WSSV-alone control group approached 100% on days 11 and 13 of infection;(2) the number of Vibrio in the L. vannamei group infected with V. parahaemolyticus alone declined gradually, whereas the other groups showed signifi cant increases in the numbers of Vibrio( P <0.05);(3) the WSSV copy numbers in the gills of the WSSV+Vp, Vp+WSSV, and the WSSV-alone groups increased from 10 5 to 10 7 /mg tissue 72, 96, and 144 h after infection, respectively. These results suggest that V. parahaemolyticus infection accelerated proliferation of WSSV in L. vannamei and vice versa. The combined accelerated proliferation of both V. parahaemolyticus and WSSV led to massive death of L. vannamei.

Peritrophin-like protein from Litopenaeus vannamei (LvPT) involved in white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection in digestive tract challenged with reverse gavage

The peritrophic membrane plays an important role in the defense system of the arthropod gut. The digestive tract is considered one of the major tissues targeted by white spot syndrome virus （WSSV） in shrimp. In this study, the nucleotide sequence encoding peritrophin-like protein of Litopenaeus vannamei （LvPT） was amplified from a yeast two-hybrid library of L. vannamei. The epitope peptide of LvPT was predicted with the GenScript OptimumAntigenTM design tool. An anti-LvPT polyclonal antibody was produced and shown to specifically bind a band at -27 kDa, identified as LvPT. The LvPT protein was expressed and its concentration determined. LvPT dsRNA （4 pg per shrimp） was used to inhibit LvPT expression in shrimp, and a WSSV challenge experiment was then performed with reverse gavage. The pleopods, stomachs, and guts were collected from the shrimp at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h post-infection （hpi）. Viral load quantification showed that the levels of WSSV were significantly lower in the pleopods, stomachs, and guts of shrimp after LvPT dsRNA interference than in those of the controls at 48 and 72 hpi. Our results imply that LvPT plays an important role during WSSV infection of the digestive tract.

White spot syndrome virus envelope protein VP124 involved in the virus infection

White spot syndrome virus （WSSV） is one of the major shrimp pathogens causing large economic losses to shrimp farming. In an attempt to identify the envelope proteins involved in the virus infection, purified WSSV virions were mixed with three antisera against WSSV envelope proteins （VP39, VP124 and VP187 ）, individually. And then they were injected intramuscularly into crayfish （Procambarus clarkii） to conduct in vivo neutralization assays. The results showed that for groups injected with virions only and groups injected with the mixture of virions and antiserum against VP124, the crayfish mortalities were 100% and 60% on the 8th day postinfection, individually. The virus infection could be delayed or neutralized by antibody against the envelope protein VP124. Quantitative PCR was used to further investigate the influence of three antisera described above on the virus infection. The results showed that the antiserum against VP124 could restrain the propagation of WSSV in crayfish. All of the results suggested that the viral envelope protein VP124 played a role in WSSV infection.

White spot syndrome virus inactivation study by using gamma irradiation

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of gamma irradiation on white spot syndrome virus （WS SV）. White spot syndrome virus is a pathogen of major economic importance in cultured penaeid shrimp industries. White spot disease can cause mortalities reaching 100% within 3-10 days of gross signs appearing. During the period of culture, immunostimulant agents and vaccines may provide potential methods to protect shrimps from opportunistic and pathogenic microrganisms. In this study, firstly, WSSV was isolated from infected shrimp and then multiplied in crayfish. WSSV was purified from the infected crayfish haemolymph by sucrose gradient and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. In vivo virus titration was performed in shrimp, Penaeus semisulcatus. The LD50 of live virus stock was calculated 1054/mL. Shrimp post-larvae （1-2 g） were treated with gamma-irradiated （different doses） WSSV （10^o to 10^-4 dilutions） for a period of 10 days. The dose/survival curve for irradiated and un-irradiated WSSV was drawn; the optimum dose range for inactivation of WSSV and unaltered antigenicity was obtained 14- 15 kGy. This preliminary information suggests that shrimp appear to benefit from treatment with gamma- irradiated WSSV especially at 14-15 KGy.

Minicistron from a gene of prawn white spot bacilliform virus(WSBV)and its expression

By the sequencing and analysis of genomic DNA and cDNA of WSBV, it was found that there existed a minicistron in the leading sequence of p204 gene. The minicistron utilized rare codons of genes from prawn and WSBV. The p204 gene could be expressed in Escherichia coli whether a miniciston exited in its leading sequence or not, but the amounts of the expressed products of them were different. The minicistron might be related to the expression of p204 gene.

Construction of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) whole genome phage display library

A rebuilt vector pCANTAB 5 EE was obtained by inserting a 34 bp double-stranded oligonucleotide which contained a EcoRV recognition sequence into pCANTAB 5 E. White spot syndrome virus （WSSV） genome DNA was fragmented by sonication to isolate fragments mainly in the range of 0.8 ～2.0 kb, then the fragments were blunt-ended with T4 DNA polymerase and cloned into the EcoRV site of pCANTAB 5 EE. The primary recombinant clone of the library was 3.0 × 10^5.Colony PCR of random selected recombinants showed that the size of the inserts was 0.12 ～ 1.77 kb. After the whole library recombinant phages infected Escherichia coli HB2151 cells, the extracellular and periplasmic extracts were dropped on PVDF membranes to perform dot blot, using polyclonal mouse anti-VP24 serum,anti-WSV026 serum,anti-WSV063 serum,anti-WSV069 serum,anti-WSV112 serum, anti WSV238 serum,anti-WSV303 serum and anti-VP26 serum as the primary antibody, respectively. The results showed that the display library could express the viral proteins.

Characterization and Diagnostic Use of a Monoclonal Antibody for VP28 Envelope Protein of White Spot Syndrome Virus

The gene encoding the VP28 envelope protein of White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was cloned into expression vector pET-30a and transformed into the Escherichia coli strain BL21.After induction,the recombinant VP28 (rVP28) protein was purified and then used to immunize Balb/c mice for monoclonal antibody (MAb) production.It was observed by immuno-electron microscopy the MAbs specific to rVP28 could recognize native VP28 target epitopes of WSSV and dot-blot analysis was used to detect natural WSSV infection.Competitive PCR showed that the viral level was approximately 104 copies/mg tissue in the dilution of gill homogenate of WSSV-infected crayfish at the detection limit of dot-blot assay.Our results suggest that dot-blot analysis with anti-rVP28 MAb could rapidly and sensitively detect WSSV at the early stages of WSSV infection.

Identification and Characterization of Nuclear Localization Signals within the Nucleocapsid Protein VP15 of White Spot Syndrome Virus

The nucleocapsid protein VP15 of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a basic DNA-binding protein. Three canonical bipartite nuclear localization signals (NLSs), called NLS1 (aa 11-27), NLS2 (aa 33-49) and NLS3 (44-60), have been detected in this protein, using the ScanProsite computer program. To determine the nuclear localization sequence of VP15, the full-length open reading frame, or the sequence of one of the three NLSs, was fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, and transiently expressed in insect Sf9 cells. Transfection with full-length VP15 resulted in GFP fluorescence being distributed exclusively in the nucleus. NLS1 alone could also direct GFP to the nucleus, but less efficiently. Neither of the other two NLSs (NLS2 and 3) was functional when expressed alone, but exhibited similar activity to NLS1 when they were expressed as a fusion peptide. Furthermore, a mutated VP15, in which the two basic amino acids (11RR12) of NLS1 were changed to two alanines (11AA12), caused GFP to be localized only in the cytoplasm of Sf9 cells. These results demonstrated that VP15, as a nuclear localization protein, needs cooperation between its three NLSs, and that the two residues (11RR12) of NLS1 play a key role in transporting the protein to the nucleus.

Production and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies of Shrimp White Spot Syndrome Virus Envelope Protein VP28

BALB/c 老鼠与净化的白点症候群病毒(WSSV ) 被使免疫。六根 monoclonal 抗体房间线被 ELISA 选择， VP28 蛋白质在 E 表示了。coli。在 vitro 中立化，实验证明他们中的 4 个能在喇蛄禁止病毒感染。西方污点建议所有这些 monoclonal 抗体对 VP28 的 conformational 结构。monoclonal 抗体 7B4 用胶体的金粒子被标记并且过去常由标记的 immunogold 在病毒信封上定位 VP28。这些 monoclonal 抗体能被用来为 WSSV 感染开发免疫学的诊断方法。关键词怀特点症候群病毒(WSSV )- Mab - 信封 - 本地化 - 中立化 CLC 数字 S945.

Interaction between a Peptide and White Spot Syndrome Virus VP28 Envelope Protein

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is one of the most important pathogens that endanger the global shrimp aquaculture. Studies have confirmed that in the early stage of infection, VP28, the main envelope protein of WSSV, is used as a viral adhesion protein to bind PcRab7 of Penaeus chinensis, helping virus enter the host cells, resulting in shrimp infection. Hence, inhibition of envelope protein VP28 would be a novel way to deal with the infection. Peptide 2E6 was confirmed to have a high specificity and blocked virus infection. However, the mechanism by which it combines with VP28 is not clear. Clarifying the binding mechanism between peptides and VP28 is of great significance for further optimization and screening of antiviral peptides. In this research, the MD simulation and binding free energy analysis were implemented to validate and capture intermolecular interactions aims to clarify the blocking mechanism.

Oral Hygiene in the Presence of Orthodontic Therapy

Orthodontic treatment offers great advantages in improving facial and smile aesthetics, self-confidence and the function of the stomatognathic apparatus. The pursuit of these advantages makes use of orthodontic appliances that could be fixed or removable. However, it’s worth stating that these appliances interfere with tooth brushing, making it more difficult to brush teeth effectively. Orthodontics appliances therefore promote the accumulation of dental plaque, which results in both quantitative and qualitative changes in the oral microbiota, hence, exposing patients to several adverse effects such as White spot lesions, dental caries, periodontal pathologies and halitosis. For this reason, oral assessment of patients before, during and after treatment is necessary as well as oral hygiene instructions and motivation. Orthodontists therefore, should educate patients on oral and periodontal hygiene in order to control dental and periodontal complications. Prescriptions of plaque control materials adapted to each patient are done in order to optimize the final result and minimize unwanted complications.

Transcriptional and signaling regulation in neural crest stem cell-derived melanocyte development： do all roads lead to Mitf？

Human neurocristopathies include a number of syndromes, tumors, and dysmorphologies of neural crest （NC） stem cell derivatives. In recent years, many white spotting genes have been associated with hypopigmentary disorders and deafness in neurocristopathies resulting from NC stem cell-derived melanocyte deficiency during development. These include PAX3, SOX10, MITF, SNAI2, EDNRB, EDN3, KIT, and KITL. Recent studies have revealed surprising new insights into a central role of MITF in the complex network of interacting genes in melanocyte development. In this perspective, we provide an overview of some of the current findings and explore complex functional roles of these genes during NC stem cell-derived melanocyte development.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a threonine/serine protein kinase lvakt from Litopenaeus vannamei

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-AKT pathway is involved in various cellular functions, including anti-apoptosis, protein synthesis, glucose metabolism and cell cycling. However, the role of the PI3K-AKT pathway in crustaceans remains unclear. In the present study, we cloned and characterized the AKT gene lvakt from Litopenaeus vannamei. The 511-residue LVAKT was highly conserved; contained a PH domain, a catalytic domain and a hydrophobic domain; and was highly expressed in the heart and gills of L. vannamei. We found, using Real-Time Quantitative PCR(Q-PCR) analysis, that lvakt was upregulated during early white spot syndrome virus(WSSV) infection. Moreover, the PI3K-specific inhibitor, LY294002, reduced viral gene transcription, implying that the PI3K-AKT pathway might be hijacked by WSSV. Our results therefore suggest that LVAKT may play an important role in the shrimp immune response against WSSV.

Prevalence of Three Shrimp Viruses in Zhejiang Province in 2008

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV),Taura syndrome virus (TSV) and Infectious hypodermal and haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) are three shrimp viruses responsible for major pandemics affecting the shrimp farming industry. Shrimps samples were collected from 12 farms in Zhejiang province,China,in 2008 and analyzed by PCR to determine the prevalence of these viruses. From the 12 sampling locations,8 farms were positive for WSSV,8 for IHHNV and 6 for both WSSV and IHHNV. An average percentage of 57.4% of shrimp individuals were infected with WSSV,while 49.2% were infected with IHHNV. A high prevalence of co-infection with WSSV and IHHNV among samples was detected from the following samples:Bingjiang (93.3%),liuao (66.7%),Jianshan (46.7%) and Xianxiang (46.7%). No samples exhibited evidence of infection with TSV in collected samples. This study provides comprehensive information of the prevalence of three shrimp viruses in Zhejiang and may be helpful for disease prevention control in this region.

Novel rechargeable calcium phosphate nanoparticle-containing orthodontic cement

White spot lesions （WSLs）, due to enamel demineralization, occur frequently in orthodontic treatment. We recently developed a novel rechargeable dental composite containing nanoparticles of amorphous calcium phosphate （NACP） with long-term calcium （Ca） and phosphate （P） ion release and caries-inhibiting capability. The objectives of this study were to develop the first NACP- rechargeable orthodontic cement and investigate the effects of recharge duration and frequency on the efficacy of ion re-release. The rechargeable cement consisted of pyromellitic glycerol dimethacrylate （PMGDM） and ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate （EBPADMA）. NACP was mixed into the resin at 40% by mass. Specimens were tested for orthodontic bracket shear bond strength （SBS） to enamel, Ca and P ion initial release, recharge and re-release. The new orthodontic cement exhibited an SBS similar to commercial orthodontic cement without CaP release （P〉 0.1）. Specimens after one recharge treatment （e.g., 1 min immersion in recharge solution repeating three times in one day, referred to as ＂1 min 3 times＂） exhibited a substantial and continuous re-release of Ca and P ions for 14 days without further recharge. The ion re-release did not decrease with increasing the number of recharge/re-release cycles （P〉 0.1）. The ion re-release concentrations at 14 days versus various recharge treatments were as follows： 1 min 3 times〉3 min 2 times〉 1 min 2 times〉6 min 1 time〉3 min 1 time〉 1 min 1 time. In conclusion, although previous studies have shown that NACP nanocomposite remineralized tooth lesions and inhibited caries, the present study developed the first orthodontic cement with Ca and P ion recharge and long-term release capability. This NACP-rechargeable orthodontic cement is a promising therapy to inhibit enamel demineralization and WSLs around orthodontic brackets.

Development of Lateral-flow Immunoassay for WSSV with Polyclonal Antibodies Raised against Recombinant VP (19+28) Fusion Protein

我们为 WSSV 开发了敏感、快速的侧面流动的免疫分析(LFIA ) ，用象指示物的胶体的黄金。熔化蛋白质， VP (19+28 ) ，在 E 被表示。coli，净化并且过去常准备 polyclonal 抗体。净化的 anti-VP (19+28 ) IgG 与胶体的黄金被结合。Unconjugated anti-VP (19+28 ) IgG 和山羊反兔子 IgG 在硝化纤维素膜上被使不能调动。在汇编以后，虾样品的三个组(在每个组的 5 个单个动物) 被测试它包括了健康、垂死、死了的虾。为每个组，三不同纸巾(身体蜜汁，鳃和 hepatopancreas ) 同时被测试。在平行，所有样品也为比较用 PCR 被分析。从测试的 45 件样品，当 15 作为否定被分类时， 30 作为积极被检测。LFIA 的结果相关，那些由 PCR 分析获得了，显示这二个察觉方法有在在这初步的研究测试的样品的有限数字的一样的功效。关键词侧面流动的免疫分析 - 白点症候群病毒(WSSV )- VP19 - VP28 CLC 数字 S945.

Molecular characteristics of three thymosin-repeat proteins from Marsupenaeus japonicus and their responses to WSSV infection

β-thymosins, a family of highly conserved peptides, play a vital role in wound-healing, angiogenesis,antimicrobial process and antiviral immunity. Three novel β-thymosin-repeat proteins, named mjthm4, mjthm3 and mjthm2, were cloned from Marsupenaeus japonicus using expressed sequence tags（EST） from suppression subtractive hybridization. The mjthm4, mjthm3 and mjthm2 c DNAs possessed open reading frames that encoded166, 128 and 90 amino acid residue polypeptides and contained four, three and two β-thymosin actin binding modules, respectively. Blast analysis demonstrated that mjthm4, mjthm3 and mjthm2 shared high homology with known invertebrate multi-repeat β-thymosins. These proteins are ubiquitously expressed in all of the examined tissues, and the transcriptional levels were highest in the intestine. Further investigation revealed that mjthm4,mjthm3 and mjthm2 were remarkably up-regulated 6 h after WSSV infection. Moreover, while mjthm4 transcriptional levels displayed no changes, mjthm3 and mjthm2 levels decreased in the virus-resistant shrimps.The results indicate that mjthm4, mjthm3 and mjthm2 are novel multi-repeat β-thymosin homologues, have a close relationship with WSSV infection, and might contribute to a better understanding of host defense and/or virus invasion interactions in shrimps.

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of a novel dual-CRD C-type lectin in kuruma shrimp(Marsupenaeus japonicus)

C-type lectins are among the most significant pattern recognition receptors（PRRs） found in invertebrate. They are a class of carbohydrate-binding proteins that can recognize specific sugar moieties on the surface of pathogens. In the present study, a novel C-type lecitn（termed Mj Lectin） from kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus was identified. The full-length c DNA of Mj Lectin was 1 245 bp with a 1 011 bp open reading frame（ORF） that encoded a polypeptide of 336 amino acid residues. Mj Lectin consisted of two tandemly arrayed carbohydrate-recognition domains（CRDs）, unlike other reported M. japonicus C-type lectins with only one CRD. It showed a high similarity to other shrimp dual-CRD lectins. Among the Ca2＋-binding Site 2, the tripeptide motif dictating the carbohydrate binding specificity was exhibited as a rare mutant LPN（Leu134-Pro135-Asn136） in CRD1 and a traditional EPN（Glu299-Pro300-Asn301） in CRD2, respectively. Mj Lectin showed a specific expression pattern in both tissue and cellular levels, for its m RNA transcript was mainly expressed in the F-cells of the hepatopancreas. After white spot syndrome virus（WSSV） challenge（3.6×108 virions/μL）, the expression of Mj Lectin in the hepatopancreas was up-regulated significantly at 48 h（P〈0.01） compared with the control group. These results suggested that Mj Lectin might be involved in the innate immune defense against WSSV infection.