Yong-Chin Lin

Identification and phylogenetic analysis on lipopolysaccharide and β-1,3-glucan binding protein (LGBP) of kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus

A lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and beta-1,3-glucan binding protein (LGBP) gene was cloned from hemocytes of kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), cloning and sequencing of overlapping PCR, and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The open reading frame (ORF) of M. japonicus LGBP is 1062 bp and encodes a 354 amino acid (aa) sequence with a 23 aa signal peptide. The calculated molecular mass of the mature protein (331 aa) is 40.15 kDa with an estimated pI of 4.78. The M. japonicus LGBP sequence contains (1) two putative N-linked glycosylation sites, (2) two putative integrin-binding motifs, (3) a kinase C phosphorylation site (KCPS), (4) a glucanase motif (GM), and (5) two potential polysaccharide recognition motifs (polysaccharide binding motif (PsBM) and beta-glucan recognition motif (GRM)), and with features of tryptophan-rich, slight homology to lysozyme, and slight homology to lectin. A sequence comparison showed that the deduced amino acids of M. japonicus LGBP has an overall high similarity to penaeid LGBP and betaGBP (85.6-89.9%), lobster Homarus gammarus betaGBP (77.0%), and crayfish Pacifastacius leniusculus LGBP (67.8%). The phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. japonicus LGBP grouped together with other crustacean LGBP and betaGBP, and was close to termite GNBP, but was far way from moth betaGBP, betaGRP, fly GNBP, and mosquito betaGRP. The LGBP of M. japonicus was strongly expressed in hemocytes. The LGBP mRNA transcript in hemocytes of M. japonicus was significantly upregulated 12-48 h after a LPS injection, indicating activation of the innate immune system through the binding of the LGBP and LPS complex.

Dietary administration of a Gracilaria tenuistipitata extract enhances the immune response and resistance against Vibrio alginolyticus and white spot syndrome virus in the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

The haemogram, phenoloxidase (PO) activity, respiratory bursts (RBs), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, lysozyme activity, and the mitotic index of haematopoietic tissue (HPT) were examined after the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei had been fed diets containing the hot-water extract of Gracilaria tenuistipitata at 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g kg(-1) for 7-35 days. Results indicated that these parameters directly increased with the amount of extract and time, but slightly decreased after 35 days. RBs, SOD activity, and GPx activity reached the highest levels after 14 days, whereas PO and lysozyme activities reached the highest levels after 28 days. In a separate experiment, white shrimp L. vannamei, which had been fed diets containing the extract for 14 days, were challenged with Vibrio alginolyticus at 2 × 10(6) cfu shrimp(-1) and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) at 1 × 10(3) copies shrimp(-1), and then placed in seawater. The survival rate of shrimp fed the extract-containing diets was significantly higher than that of shrimp fed the control diet at 72-144 h post-challenge. We concluded that dietary administration of the G. tenuistipitata extract at ≤1.0 g kg(-1) could enhance the innate immunity within 14 days as evidenced by the increases in immune parameters and mitotic index of HPT in shrimp and their enhanced resistance against V. alginolyticus and WSSV infections. Shrimp fed the extract-containing diets showed a higher and continuous increase in the humoral response indicating its persistent role in innate immunity.

White shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei immersed in seawater containing Sargassum hemiphyllum var. chinense powder and its extract showed increased immunity and resistance against Vibrio alginolyticus and white spot syndrome virus

This study was to examine the immune response of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and its resistance against Vibrio alginolyticus and WSSV when shrimp received the Sargassum hemiphyllum var. chinense powder and its hot-water extract. Both powder and extract showed activation of prophenoloxidase and generation of superoxide anion in the shrimp in vitro. The haemocyte count, phenoloxidase (PO) activity, respiratory burst, and lysozyme activity were examined after the shrimp were immersed in seawater containing S. hemiphyllum var. chinense powder or its extract at 0, 100, 300, and 500 mg L⁻¹ for 1, 3, and 5 h. These immune parameters of shrimp immersed in 300 and 500 mg L⁻¹ powder, and 100 and 300 mg L⁻¹ extract were significantly higher than those of control shrimp after 3 h, but slightly decreased after 5 h. In another experiment, shrimp immersed in seawater containing the powder or the extract at 0, 100, 300, and 500 mg L⁻¹ after 3 h were challenged with V. alginolyticus at 8 × 10⁵ colony-forming unit (cfu) shrimp⁻¹, or challenged with WSSV at 1 × 10⁵ copies shrimp⁻¹, and then placed in seawater. Survival rate of shrimp immersed in 500 mg L⁻¹ powder was significantly higher than that of control shrimp after 24-120 h in the V. alginolyticus-challenge test, and after 72 h in the WSSV-challenge test, respectively. Survival rate of shrimp immersed in 300 mg L⁻¹ extract was significantly higher than that of control shrimp after 72-120 h in both V. alginolyticus-challenge and WSSV-challenge tests. It was concluded that the shrimp immersed in seawater containing the powder at 500 mg L⁻¹, and the extract at 300 mg L⁻¹ had increased immunity and resistance against V. alginolyticus infection, and the shrimp that received extract at 300 mg L⁻¹ showed resistance against WSSV infection.

Administration of the hot-water extract of Spirulina platensis enhanced the immune response of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and its resistance against Vibrio alginolyticus

White shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei which had been injected with the hot-water extract of Spirulina platensis at 6, 10, and 20 microg g(-1), or immersed in aerated seawater containing extract at 200, 400, and 600 mg L(-1) were challenged with Vibrio alginolyticus at 1.5 x 10(6) or 1.4 x 10(6) colony-forming units (cfu) shrimp(-1), and then placed in seawater. Survival rates of shrimp that received the extract of S. platensis at 6-20 microg g(-1), and those of shrimp immersed in seawater containing the extract at 400 and 600 mg L(-1) were significantly higher than those of control shrimp after 24-96 and 48-96 h, respectively. In a separate experiment, the hyaline cell (HC) count, granular cell (GC, including semi-granular cell) count, total haemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase (PO) activity, respiratory burst (RB), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, and lysozyme activity were measured when shrimp were injected with the extract at 6, 10, and 20 microg g(-1), and immersed in seawater containing the extract at 200, 400, and 600 mg L(-1). These parameters directly increased with the concentration, and significantly increased when shrimp were immersed in the seawater containing the extract at 0.5-4 h. L. vannamei that received all doses of the extract via injection or via immersion all had increased phagocytic activity and clearance efficiency to V. alginolyticus at 12-72 h and 3-4 h, respectively. It was concluded that L. vannamei that received the hot-water extract of S. platensis had enhanced innate immunity and increased resistance against V. alginolyticus infection.

Fucoidan effectively provokes the innate immunity of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and its resistance against experimental Vibrio alginolyticus infection

In this study, we examined the effect of fucoidan on the immune response of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and its resistance against Vibrio alginolyticus infection. Fucoidan induced degranulation, caused changes in the cell morphology, and increased activation of prophenoloxidase (proPO) and the production of superoxide anions in vitro. Shrimp that received fucoidan via immersion at 100, 200, and 400 mg l(-1) after 3 h showed haemocyte proliferation and a higher mitotic index of haematopoietic tissue. In another experiment, the haemocyte count, phenoloxidase (PO) activity, and respiratory bursts (RBs) were examined after the shrimp had been fed diets containing fucoidan at 0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g kg(-1) for 7-21 days. Results indicated that these parameters directly increased with time. The immune parameters of shrimp fed the 1.0 g kg(-1) diet were significantly higher than those of shrimp fed the 2.0 g kg(-1) diet after 14 and 21 days. Phagocytic activity and the clearance efficiency against V. alginolyticus were significantly higher in shrimp fed the 1.0 g kg(-1) diet compared to those of shrimp fed the 0, 0.5 and 2.0 g kg(-1) diets. In a separate experiment, shrimp that had been fed diets containing fucoidan for 21 days were challenged with V. alginolyticus at 10(6) colony-forming units shrimp(-1). Survival rates of shrimp fed the 1.0 and 2.0 g kg(-1) diets were significantly higher than those of shrimp fed the 0 and 0.5 g kg(-1) diets for 96-120 h. We concluded that fucoidan provokes innate immunity of shrimp as evidenced by haemocyte degranulation, proPO activation, and the mitotic index of haematopoietic tissue, and that dietary administration of fucoidan at 1.0 g kg(-1) enhanced the immune response of shrimp and their resistance against V. alginolyticus infection.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a cytosolic manganese superoxide dismutase (cytMnSOD) and mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (mtMnSOD) from the kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus.

A cytosolic manganese superoxide dismutase (cytMnSOD) gene and a mitochondrial manganese superoxide dismutase (mtMnSOD) gene were cloned from the kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The open reading frame (ORF) of cytMnSOD is 861 bp and encodes a 287 amino acids (aa) protein with a 61 aa leader sequence, whereas the ORF of mtMnSOD is 663 bp and encodes a 221 aa protein with a 21 aa mitochondrial-targeting sequence in the N-terminus. The calculated molecular mass of translated protein of cytMnSOD and mtMnSOD is 31.4 kDa and 24.3 kDa with an estimated pI of 5.62 and 7.27, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequence of cytMnSOD has similarity of 50.2% to that of mtMnSOD. Both cytMnSOD and mtMnSOD contain a manganese superoxide dismutase domain (DVWEHAYY), and four conserved amino acids responsible for binding manganese. Both cytMnSOD and mtMnSOD of M. japonicus were expressed in haemocytes, eyestalk, muscle, intestine, gill, and hepatopancreas. Both cytMnSOD and mtMnSOD transcripts in haemocytes of M. japonicus significantly increased 6 h after injection of Vibrio alginolyticus, and 12 h after injection of beta-glucan, indicating induction of SOD system response in a short time.

Modulation of the innate immune system in white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei following long-term low salinity exposure.

Immune parameters, haemocyte lifespan, and gene expressions of lipopolysaccharide and β-glucan-binding protein (LGBP), peroxinectin (PX), integrin β, and α2-macroglobulin (α2-M) were examined in white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles (0.48 ± 0.05 g) which had been reared at different salinity levels of 2.5‰, 5‰, 15‰, 25‰, and 35‰ for 24 weeks. All shrimp survived during the first 6 weeks. The survival rate of shrimp reared at 2.5‰ and 5‰ was much lower (30%) than that of shrimp reared at 15‰, 25‰, and 35‰ (76%~86%) after 24 weeks. Shrimp reared at 25% grew faster. Shrimp reared at 2.5‰ and 5‰ showed lower hyaline cells (HCs), granular cells (GCs), phenoloxidase activity (PO) activity, respiratory bursts (RBs), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and lysozyme activity, but showed a longer haemocyte lifespan, and higher expressions of LGBP, PX, integrin β, and α2-M. In another experiment, shrimp which had been reared at different salinity levels for 24 weeks were challenged with Vibrio alginolyticus (6 × 10(6) cfu shrimp(-1)), and WSSV (10(3) copies shrimp(-1)) and then released to their respective seawater. At 96-144 h, cumulative mortalities of shrimp reared at 2.5‰ and 5‰ were significantly higher than those of shrimp reared at 15‰, 25‰, and 35‰. It was concluded that following long-term exposure to 2.5‰ and 5‰ seawater, white shrimp juveniles exhibited decreased resistance against a pathogen due to reductions in immune parameters. Increases in the haemocyte lifespan and gene expressions of LGBP, integrin β, PX, and α2-M indicated that shrimp had the ability to expend extra energy to modulate the innate immune system to prevent further perturbations at low salinity levels.

Vaccination Enhances Early Immune Responses in White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei after Secondary Exposure to Vibrio alginolyticus

Background Recent work suggested that the presence of specific memory or some form of adaptive immunity occurs in insects and shrimp. Hypervariable pattern recognition molecules, known as Down syndrome cell adhesion molecules, are able to mount specific recognition, and immune priming in invertebrates. In the present study, we attempted to understand the immune response pattern of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei which received primary (PE) and secondary exposure (SE) to Vibrio alginolyticus. Methodology Immune parameters and proliferation of haematopoietic tissues (HPTs) of shrimp which had received PE and SE to V. alginolyticus were measured. In the PE trial, the immune parameters and proliferation of HPTs of shrimp that received heat-killed V. alginolyticus (HVa) and formalin-inactivated V. alginolyticus (FVa) were measured. Mortality, immune parameters and proliferation of HPTs of 7-day-HVa-PE shrimp (shrimp that received primary exposure to HVa after 7 days) and 7-day-FVa-PE shrimp (shrimp that received primary exposure to FVa after 7 days) following SE to live V. alginolyticus (LVa) were measured. Phagocytic activity and clearance efficiency were examined for the 7∼35-day-HVa-PE and FVa-PE shrimp. Results HVa-receiving shrimp showed an earlier increase in the immune response on day 1, whereas FVa-receiving shrimp showed a late increase in the immune response on day 5. The 7-day-FVa-PE shrimp showed enhancement of immunity when encountering SE to LVa, whereas 7-day-HVa-PE shrimp showed a minor enhancement in immunity. 7-day-FVa-PE shrimp showed higher proliferation and an HPT mitotic index. Both phagocytic activity and clearance maintained higher for both HVa-PE and FVa-PE shrimp after 28 days. Conclusions HVa- and FVa-receiving shrimp showed the bacteria agglutinated prior to being phagocytised. FVa functions as a vaccine, whereas HVa functions as an inducer and can be used as an immune adjuvant. A combined mixture of FVa and HVa can serve as a “vaccine component” to modulate the immunity of shrimp.

White shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei that received the hot-water extract of Gracilaria tenuistipitata showed protective innate immunity and up-regulation of gene expressions after low-salinity stress

White shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei which had been immersed in seawater (35 per thousand) containing the hot-water extract of Gracilaria tenuistipitata at 0 (control), 200, 400, and 600 mg L(-1) for 3 h, were subjected to a salinity transfer to 25 per thousand, and the immune parameters including hyaline cells (HCs), granular cells (GCs, including semi-granular cells), total haemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase (PO) activity, respiratory burst (RB), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, haemolymph protein concentration, and transcripts of the lipopolysaccharide- and beta-glucan-binding protein (LGBP), peroxinectin (PX), and alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2-M) were examined 6-96 h post-transfer. Shrimp with no exposure to the hot-water extract and no salinity transfer served as the background control. Results indicated that HCs, GCs, THC, PO activity, RB, SOD activity, and haemolymph protein concentration of shrimp immersed in 600 mg L(-1) extract were significantly higher than those of control shrimp at 6-12 h post-transfer. Results also indicated that these parameters of shrimp immersed in 600 mg L(-1) extract had returned to the background values at 12, 6, 12, 6, 12, 24, and 24 h post-transfer with significant transcripts of LGBP, PX, and alpha2-M at 12 h, whereas these immune parameters in control shrimp had returned to the original values at 96 h post-transfer. It was therefore concluded that the innate immunity of L. vannamei which had been immersed in seawater containing the hot-water extract of G. tenuistipitata exhibited a protective effect against low-salinity stress as evidenced by increases in LGBP, PX, and alpha2-M transcripts, and earlier recovery of immune parameters.

White shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei that had received the hot-water extract of Spirulina platensis showed earlier recovery in immunity and up-regulation of gene expressions after pH stress.

White shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei which had been immersed in seawater (35‰, pH 8.2) containing the hot-water extract of Spirulina platensis at 0 (control), 200, 400, and 600 mg L(-1) for 3 h, were transferred to seawater at pH 6.8, and the immune parameters and transcripts of the lipopolysaccharide- and β-glucan-binding protein (LGBP), peroxinectin (PX), and integrin β (IB) were examined 6-96 h post-transfer. Shrimp with no exposure to the hot-water extract and no pH change served as the background control. Results indicated that the hyaline cells, granular cells (including semi-granular cells), total haemocyte count, phenoloxidase activity, respiratory burst, superoxide dismutase activity, glutathione peroxidase activity, and lysozyme activity of shrimp transferred to seawater at pH 6.8 significantly decreased to the lowest at 6 h post-transfer. These immune parameters of shrimp immersed in 600 mg L(-1) of the extract were significantly higher than those of control shrimp at 24-96 h post-transfer, and had returned to the background values earlier at 48-72 h post-transfer with significant transcripts of LGBP, PX, and IB at 24, 6, and 24 h, respectively, whereas these parameters of control shrimp returned to the original values at ≥96 h post-transfer.