YHV-protease dsRNA inhibits YHV replication in Penaeus monodon and prevents mortality

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2006-03, Vol.341 (2), p.351-356
• Main Authors: Yodmuang, Supansa, Tirasophon, Witoon, Roshorm, Yaowaluck, Chinnirunvong, Wanlop, Panyim, Sakol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Blotting, Western; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-stranded RNA; Hemolymph - metabolism; Penaeidae - genetics; Penaeidae - virology; Penaeus monodon; Plasmids - metabolism; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Recombinant Proteins - chemistry; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA Interference; RNA, Double-Stranded - genetics; RNA, Double-Stranded - metabolism; Roniviridae - genetics; Roniviridae - metabolism; Time Factors; Virus Replication; Yellow head virus
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.12.186

Yellow head virus infects cultured shrimps and causes severe mortality resulting in a great economic loss. Haemolymph injection of dsRNA(pro) corresponding to the protease motif of YHV genome resulted in a complete inhibition of YHV replication. The effect of dsRNA lasted for at least 5 days. Injecting sequence-unrelated dsRNA(gfp) or dsRNA(TSV-pol) also resulted in an inhibition of YHV replication but at a comparatively much less extent. Shrimp mortality was monitored for 10 days when more than 90% shrimps receiving no dsRNA died within 8 dpi. However, those receiving dsRNA(pro) showed no mortality. A partial mortality was observed among the shrimps receiving dsRNA(gfp) or dsRNA(TSV-pol). Thus, Penaeus monodon possesses the sequence-specific protection to YHV infection, most likely through the RNAi pathway, in addition to sequence-independent protection. It gives a new notion that dsRNA induction of antiviral immunity in shrimp goes through two pathways, sequence-independent and sequence-dependent.