Identification of an essential role against shrimp pathogens of prophenoloxidase activating enzyme 1 (PPAE1) from Fenneropenaeus merguiensis hemocytes.

Prophenoloxidase (proPO) activating enzymes, known as PPAEs, are pivotal in activating the proPO system within invertebrate immunity. A cDNA encoding a PPAE derived from the hemocytes of banana shrimp, Fenneropenaeus merguiensis have cloned and analyzed, referred to as FmPPAE1. The open reading frame of FmPPAE1 encompasses 1392 base pairs, encoding a 464-amino acid peptide featuring a presumed 19-amino acid signal peptide. The projected molecular mass and isoelectric point of this protein stand at 50.5 kDa and 7.82, respectively. Structure of FmPPAE1 consists of an N-terminal clip domain and a C-terminal serine proteinase domain, housing a catalytic triad (His272, Asp321, Ser414) and a substrate binding site (Asp408, Ser435, Gly437). Expression of the FmPPAE1 transcript is specific to hemocytes and is heightened upon encountering pathogens like Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi, and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Using RNA interference to silence the FmPPAE1 gene resulted in reduced hemolymph phenoloxidase (PO) activity and decreased survival rates in shrimp co-injected with pathogenic agents. These findings strongly indicate that FmPPAE1 plays a vital role in regulating the proPO system in shrimp. Furthermore, upon successful production of recombinant FmPPAE1 protein (rFmPPAE1), it became evident that this protein exhibited remarkable abilities in both agglutinating and binding to a wide range of bacterial strains. These interactions were primarily facilitated through the recognition of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or peptidoglycans (PGN) found in the cell wall. This agglutination process subsequently triggered melanization, a critical immune response. Furthermore, rFmPPAE1 exhibited the ability to actively impede the growth of pathogenic bacteria harmful to shrimp, including V. harveyi and V. parahaemolyticus. These findings strongly suggest that FmPPAE1 not only plays a pivotal role in activating the proPO system but also possesses inherent antibacterial properties, actively contributing to the suppression of bacterial proliferation. In summary, these results underscore the substantial involvement of FmPPAE1 in activating the proPO system in F. merguiensis and emphasize its crucial role in the shrimp's immune defense against invading pathogens.

The MEF2 homolog of Penaeus vannamei is essential for maintaining the WSSV latent infection.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a lethal shrimp pathogen that has a latent infection cycle. The latent virus can easily turn into an acute infection when the culture environment changes, leading to widespread shrimp mortality. However, the mechanism of WSSV latent infection is poorly understood. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the promoters of WSSV latency-related genes (i.e., wsv151, wsv366, wsv403, and wsv427) contained putative myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) binding sites. This suggested that the transcription factor MEF2 may be involved in WSSV latent infection. To further investigate this, a MEF2 homolog (PvMEF2) was cloned from Penaeus vannamei and its role in WSSV latent infection was explored. The results showed that knockdown of PvMEF2 led to an increase in the copy number of WSSV, indicating reactivation of WSSV from a latent infection. It was further demonstrated that suppression of PvMEF2 significantly decreased expression of the viral latency-related genes in WSSV-latent shrimp, while overexpression of PvMEF2 in Drosophila S2 cells activated the promoter activity of the viral latency-related gene. Additionally, we demonstrated that silencing of PvMEF2 was able to upregulate the expression of pro-apoptosis genes, thereby promoting cell apoptosis during latent infection. Collectively, the present data suggest that PvMEF2 could promote the expression of virus latency-related genes and enhance cell survival to maintain WSSV latent infection. This finding would contribute to a better understanding of the maintenance mechanism of WSSV latent infection.

Activity of bovine lactoferrin in resistance to white spot syndrome virus infection in shrimp.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a notorious pathogen that has plagued shrimp farming worldwide for decades. To date, there are no known treatments that are effective against this virus. Lactoferrin (LF) is a protein with many bioactivities, including antiviral properties. In this study, the activities and mechanisms of bovine LF (bLF) against WSSV were analyzed. Our results showed that bLF treatment significantly reduced shrimp mortalities caused by WSSV infection. bLF was found to have the ability to bind to surfaces of both host cells and WSSV virions. These bindings may have been a result of bLF interactions with the host cellular chitin binding protein and F1 ATP synthase ß subunit protein and the WSSV structural proteins VP28, VP110, VP150 and VP160B. bLF demonstrated potential for development as an anti-WSSV agent in shrimp culture. Furthermore, these reactionary proteins may play a role in WSSV infection.

White spot syndrome virus directly activates mTORC1 signaling to facilitate its replication via polymeric immunoglobulin receptor-mediated infection in shrimp.

Previous studies have shown that the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway has antiviral functions or is beneficial for viral replication, however, the detail mechanisms by which mTORC1 enhances viral infection remain unclear. Here, we found that proliferation of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was decreased after knockdown of mTor (mechanistic target of rapamycin) or injection inhibitor of mTORC1, rapamycin, in Marsupenaeus japonicus, which suggests that mTORC1 is utilized by WSSV for its replication in shrimp. Mechanistically, WSSV infects shrimp by binding to its receptor, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR), and induces the interaction of its intracellular domain with Calmodulin. Calmodulin then promotes the activation of protein kinase B (AKT) by interaction with the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of AKT. Activated AKT phosphorylates mTOR and results in the activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway to promote its downstream effectors, ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6Ks), for viral protein translation. Moreover, mTORC1 also phosphorylates eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4EBP1), which will result in the separation of 4EBP1 from eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) for the translation of viral proteins in shrimp. Our data revealed a novel pathway for WSSV proliferation in shrimp and indicated that mTORC1 may represent a potential clinical target for WSSV control in shrimp aquaculture.

Proteomics analysis reveals a critical role for the WSSV immediate-early protein IE1 in modulating the host prophenoloxidase system.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a large, enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus that threatens shrimp aquaculture worldwide. So far, the mechanisms of WSSV-host interactions are ill-defined. Recent studies have revealed that IE1, an immediate-early protein of WSSV, is a multifunctional modulator implicated in virus-host interactions. In this study, the functions of IE1 were further explored by identifying its interacting proteins using GST-pull down and mass spectrometry analysis. A total of 361 host proteins that potentially bind to IE1 were identified. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the identified IE1-interactors wereinvolved in various signaling pathways such as prophenoloxidase (proPO) system, PI3K-AKT, and MAPK. Among these, the regulatory role of IE1 in shrimp proPO system was further studied. The Co-immunoprecipitation results confirmed that IE1 interacted with the Ig-like domain of Penaeus vannamei proPO or proPO-like protein (hemocyanin). Additionally, we found that knockdown of IE1 reduced viral genes expression and viral loads and increased the hemocytes' PO activity, whereas recombinant IE1 protein inhibited the PO activity in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, we demonstrated that WSSV could suppress the hemocytes' PO activity at the early infection stage. Collectively, our current data indicate that IE1 is a novel viral regulator that negatively modulates the shrimp proPO system.

Recent insights into anti-WSSV immunity in crayfish.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is currently the most severely viral pathogen for farmed crustaceans such as shrimp and crayfish, which has been causing huge economic losses for crustaceans farming worldwide every year. Unfortunately, study on the molecular mechanisms of WSSV has been restricted by the lack of crustacean cell lines for WSSV propagation as well as the incompletely annotated genomes for host species, resulting in limited elucidation for WSSV pathogenesis at present. In addition to the findings of anti-WSSV response in shrimp, some of novel cellular events involved in WSSV infection have been recently revealed in crayfish, including endocytosis and intracellular transport of WSSV, innate immune pathways in response to WSSV infection, and regulation of viral gene expression by host genes. Despite these advances, many fundamental gaps in WSSV pathogenesis are still remaining, for example, how WSSV genome enters into nucleus and how the progeny virions are fully assembled in the host cell nucleus. In this review, recent findings in WSSV infection mechanism and the antiviral immunity against WSSV in crayfish are summarized and discussed, which may provide us a better understanding of the WSSV pathogenesis as well as new ideas for the target design of antiviral drugs against WSSV in crustaceans farming.

Exosome-mediated apoptosis pathway during WSSV infection in crustacean mud crab.

MicroRNAs are regulatory molecules that can be packaged into exosomes to modulate cellular response of recipients. While the role of exosomes during viral infection is beginning to be appreciated, the involvement of exosomal miRNAs in immunoregulation in invertebrates has not been addressed. Here, we observed that exosomes released from WSSV-injected mud crabs could suppress viral replication by inducing apoptosis of hemocytes. Besides, miR-137 and miR-7847 were found to be less packaged in mud crab exosomes during viral infection, with both miR-137 and miR-7847 shown to negatively regulate apoptosis by targeting the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Our data also revealed that AIF translocated to the nucleus to induce DNA fragmentation, and could competitively bind to HSP70 to disintegrate the HSP70-Bax (Bcl-2-associated X protein) complex, thereby activating the mitochondria apoptosis pathway by freeing Bax. The present finding therefore provides a novel mechanism that underlies the crosstalk between exosomal miRNAs and apoptosis pathway in innate immune response in invertebrates.

A shrimp glycosylase protein, PmENGase, interacts with WSSV envelope protein VP41B and is involved in WSSV pathogenesis.

Viral glycoproteins are expressed by many viruses, and during infection they usually play very important roles, such as receptor attachment or membrane fusion. The mature virion of the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is unusual in that it contains no glycosylated proteins, and there are currently no reports of any glycosylation mechanisms in the pathogenesis of this virus. In this study, we cloned a glycosylase, mannosyl-glycoprotein endo-ß-N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase, EC 3.2.1.96), from Penaeus monodon and found that it was significantly up-regulated in WSSV-infected shrimp. A yeast two-hybrid assay showed that PmENGase interacted with both structural and non-structural proteins, and GST-pull down and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assays confirmed its interaction with the envelope protein VP41B. In the WSSV challenge tests, the cumulative mortality and viral copy number were significantly decreased in the PmEngase-silenced shrimp, from which we conclude that shrimp glycosylase interacts with WSSV in a way that benefits the virus. Lastly, we speculate that the deglycosylation activity of PmENGase might account for the absence of glycosylated proteins in the WSSV virion.

Alginate from Sargassum siliquosum Simultaneously Stimulates Innate Immunity, Upregulates Immune Genes, and Enhances Resistance of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Against White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV).

Although alginate is known as an immunostimulant in shrimp, the comprehensive and simultaneous study on its activity to resolve the relationship of the hematological parameters, upregulation of immune-related gene expression, and resistance to pathogen has not been found in shrimp. We performed experiments to evaluate the effect and mechanism of alginate from S. siliquosum on Pacific white shrimp immune system. Hematological parameters were examined after oral administration of Na alginate in the shrimp. White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was injected to the shrimp at 14 days, and its copy number was examined quantitatively (qRT-PCR). Immune-related gene expression was evaluated by qRT-PCR. Alginate increased some hematological immune parameters of shrimp. Before WSSV infection, expression levels of Toll and lectin genes were upregulated. The lectin gene were upregulated post infection, and the Toll gene in all the treatments were downregulated, except the shrimps fed with alginate at 6.0 g kg-1 at 48 h post infection (hpi). The shrimps fed with alginate at 6.0 g kg-1 were the most resistant and gave the least WSSV copy number at 48 hpi. Resistance of shrimps fed the alginate-supplemented diets against WSSV was significantly higher compared to that of the control treatment with 56% and 10% of survival rates, respectively. Oral administration of alginate did not affect the growth and total protein plasma. At 120 h post challenge, alginate treatment at 6.0 g kg-1 exhibited the highest survival rate. It is concluded that oral administration of alginate enhanced the innate immunity by upregulating immune-related gene expression. Consequently, the enhancement of the shrimp innate immunity improves the resistance against WSSV infection.

Role of DCP1-DCP2 complex regulated by viral and host microRNAs in DNA virus infection.

The DCP1-DCP2 complex can regulate the antiviral immunity of animals by the decapping of retrovirus RNAs and the suppression of RNAi during RNA virus infection. However, the influence of DCP1-DCP2 complex on DNA virus infection and the regulation of DCP1-DCP2 complex by microRNAs (miRNAs) remain unclear. In this study, the role of miRNA-regulated DCP1-DCP2 complex in DNA virus infection was characterized. Our results showed that the DCP1-DCP2 complex played a positive role in the infection of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), a DNA virus of shrimp. In the DCP1-DCP2 complex, the N-terminal regulatory domain of DCP2 was interacted with the EVH1 domain of DCP1. Furthermore, shrimp miRNA miR-87 inhibited WSSV infection by targeting the host DCP2 gene and viral miRNA WSSV-miR-N46 took a negative effect on WSSV replication by targeting the host DCP1 gene. Therefore, our study provided novel insights into the underlying mechanism of DCP1-DCP2 complex and its regulation by miRNAs in virus-host interactions. IMPORTANCE: During RNA virus infection, the DCP1-DCP2 complex can play important roles in the animal antiviral immunity by decapping retrovirus RNAs and suppressing RNAi. In the present study, the findings indicated that the silencing of DCP1 and DCP2 inhibited the infection of WSSV, a DNA virus of shrimp, suggesting that the DCP1-DCP2 complex facilitated DNA virus infection. Due to the suppressive role of the DCP1-DCP2 complex in shrimp RNAi against WSSV infection, the DCP1-DCP2 complex could promote WSSV infection in shrimp. The results showed that WSSV-miR-N46 and shrimp miR-87 could respectively suppress the expressions of DCP1 and DCP2 to affect virus infection. Therefore, our study contributed novel aspects of the DCP1-DCP2 complex and its regulation by miRNAs in virus-host interactions.

LvRas and LvRap are both important for WSSV replication in Litopenaeus vannamei.

The white Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) is a pathogen that causes huge economic losses in the shrimp-farming industry globally. At the WSSV genome replication stage (12 hpi) in WSSV-infected shrimp hemocytes, activation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway triggers metabolic changes that resemble the Warburg effect. In shrimp, the upstream regulators of this pathway are still unknown, and in the present study, we isolate, characterize and investigate two candidate factors, i.e. the shrimp Ras GTPase isoforms LvRas and LvRap, both of which are upregulated after WSSV infection. dsRNA silencing experiments show that virus replication is significantly reduced when expression of either of these genes is suppressed. Pretreatment with the Ras inhibitor Salirasib further suggests that LvRas, which is a homolog to a commonly overexpressed human oncoprotein, may be involved in regulating the WSSV-induced Warburg effect. We also show that while both the PI3K-Akt-mTOR and Raf-MEK-ERK pathways are activated by WSSV infection, LvRas appears to be involved only in the regulation of the mTOR pathway.

The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor-like protein from Marsupenaeus japonicus is a receptor for white spot syndrome virus infection.

Viral entry into the host cell is the first step towards successful infection. Viral entry starts with virion attachment, and binding to receptors. Receptor binding viruses either directly release their genome into the cell, or enter cells through endocytosis. For DNA viruses and a few RNA viruses, the endocytosed viruses will transport from cytoplasm into the nucleus followed by gene expression. Receptors on the cell membrane play a crucial role in viral infection. Although several attachment factors, or candidate receptors, for the infection of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) were identified in shrimp, the authentic entry receptors for WSSV infection and the intracellular signaling triggering by interaction of WSSV with receptors remain unclear. In the present study, a receptor for WSSV infection in kuruma shrimp, Marsupenaeus japonicus, was identified. It is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) with a transmembrane region, and is similar to the vertebrate polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR); therefore, it was designated as a pIgR-like protein (MjpIgR for short). MjpIgR was detected in all tissues tested, and its expression was significantly induced by WSSV infection at the mRNA and protein levels. Knockdown of MjpIgR, and blocking MjpIgR with its antibody inhibited WSSV infection in shrimp and overexpression of MjpIgR facilitated the invasion of WSSV. Further analyses indicated that MjpIgR could independently render non-permissive cells susceptible to WSSV infection. The extracellular domain of MjpIgR interacts with envelope protein VP24 of WSSV and the intracellular domain interacts with calmodulin (MjCaM). MjpIgR was oligomerized and internalized following WSSV infection and the internalization was associated with endocytosis of WSSV. The viral internalization facilitating ability of MjpIgR could be blocked using chlorpromazine, an inhibitor of clathrin dependent endocytosis. Knockdown of Mjclathrin and its adaptor protein AP-2 also inhibited WSSV internalization. All the results indicated that MjpIgR-mediated WSSV endocytosis was clathrin dependent. The results suggested that MjpIgR is a WSSV receptor, and that WSSV enters shrimp cells via the pIgR-CaM-Clathrin endocytosis pathway.

Identification and characterization of novel double zinc fingers encoded by putative proteins in genome of white spot syndrome virus.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV), is a major viral pathogen affecting the shrimp culture industry worldwide. Studies in understanding the mechanisms of WSSV pathogenicity has led to the identification of The Really Interesting New Gene (RING) finger domains in WSSV encoded proteins that have been shown to function as E3 ligase modulating the host-ubiquitin pathway. In this study, we report two proteins encoded by the WSSV genome to harbor a double zinc finger domain, one each in its N- and C-terminal region. Sequence and structural analysis of the two domains showed the N- and C-terminal domains to be similar to known RING1 and RING2 domains of eukaryotic RBR (RING-between-RING) ligases respectively. This is the first report wherein genes within WSSV are shown to encode for double RING domains, which could pave way in understanding further, the function of these proteins and their role in the pathogenic mechanisms of the virus.

Insight into a Transcriptional Adaptor Zinc Finger Encoded by a Putative Protein in the White Spot Syndrome Virus Genome.

The transcriptional adaptor zinc (TAZ) fingers are a specialized class of zinc finger domains reported to exist only in eukaryotic transcriptional coactivator proteins. A putative protein within the shrimp white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) encodes for a TAZ domain, which is unique as no virus so far has been reported for the presence of this domain. Our study shows the viral TAZ domain to be similar to TAZ2 rather than TAZ1 domain of eukaryotic CREB-binding proteins and its paralog p300 proteins. Furthermore, as with eukaryotic TAZ2 domain which interacts and binds to several transcriptional factors including the p53 tumor suppressor protein, an in silico docking study of the WSSV-TAZ and the shrimp p53 transcriptional factor showed the two protein domains to be involved in a protein-protein interaction.

The Improvement and Application of Lentivirus-Mediated Gene Transfer and Expression System in Penaeid Shrimp Cells.

This study first reported the improvement and application of lentivirus-mediated gene transfer and expression system in shrimp cells. After modified by the inclusion of two envelope proteins (VP19 and VP28) of shrimp white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) into the envelope of the packaged lentivirus, and insertion of a truncated promoter of immediate-early gene 1 (Pie1-504) of shrimp WSSV virus into the lentiviral reporter plasmid, the second-generation lentiviral expression system (pLVX-PEF1α-IRES-mCherry, psPAX2, and PMD2.G) was found to behave better in the mitosis-arrested shrimp cells than the similarly modified retrovirus expression system did. Results from the insect sf9 cells indicated that the inclusion of VP19 and VP28 into the envelope of packaged lentiviruses could significantly improve the tropism or infectivity of the modified lentiviruses to insect cells in a cumulative way. Notably, the VP28 contributed about 86% of the total increase of the tropism. In the shrimp primary lymphoid cells infected by modified lentivirus IV with both VP19 and VP28 included, the infection efficiency was up to 11% (non-confocal) and 19% (confocal) and no background fluorescent signal was observed. However, background fluorescent signal was observed in the shrimp primary Oka organ cells although only under a confocal microscope. In the lentivirus IV-infected Oka organ cells, the actual infection efficiencies were calculated up to 8% (non-confocal) and 19% (confocal), significantly higher than those of commercial intact lentivirus I of 0 (non-confocal) and 3% (confocal). The insertion of WSSV promoter (Pie1-504) had interrupted the effective expression of reporter plasmid encoding lentiviral construct of pLVX-PEF1α-Pie1-504-IRES-mCherry in the HEK293T cells, but markedly increased its efficiencies up to 14% (non-confocal) and 26% (confocal) in the Oka organ cells. This improved lentivirus expression system will provide us a useful tool for efficient gene transfer and expression in shrimp cells.

Identification of a Macrobrachium nipponense C-type lectin with a close evolutionary relationship to vertebrate lectins.

C-type lectins (CTLs) are involved in the innate immune defense of vertebrates and invertebrates against invading pathogens. This study cloned and characterized a novel C-type lectin (MnCTL) of the oriental river prawn, Macrobrachium nipponense. The cloned MnCTL cDNA encompasses an open reading frame of 774 nucleotides and encodes polypeptides of 257 residues. The deduced MnCTL protein contains a single carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) with an EPN (Glu-Pro-Asn) motif in calcium-binding site 2. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that MnCTL has a closer evolutionary relationship with vertebrate lectins than with invertebrate lectins. Tissue expression analysis showed that high levels of MnCTL are ubiquitously distributed in the gills and stomach of M. nipponense. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that MnCTL expression was up-regulated by bacteria or white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) challenge. Knock-down of the MnCTL gene in WSSV-challenged prawns significantly decreased MnALF1 and MnALF2 transcript levels. The recombinant MnCRD (rMnCRD) agglutinated both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Vibrio parahaemolyticus) in the presence of calcium. Furthermore, rMnCRD could bind to all the tested bacteria with different activities. The sugar-binding assay showed that rMnCRD was able to bind lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, rMnCRD could accelerate bacterial clearance. On the contrary, MnCTL silencing by dsRNA interference could weaken the bacterial clearance ability. All these findings implicated MnCTL were involved in the antiviral and antibacterial innate immunity of M. nipponense.

Crystal Structure of Major Envelope Protein VP24 from White Spot Syndrome Virus.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is one of the major and most serious pathogen in the shrimp industry. As one of the most abundant envelope protein, VP24 acts as a core protein interacting with other structure proteins and plays an important role in virus assembly and infection. Here, we have presented the crystal structure of VP24 from WSSV. In the structure, VP24 consists of a nine-stranded ß-barrel fold with mostly antiparallel ß-strands, and the loops extending out the ß-barrel at both N-terminus and C-terminus, which is distinct to those of the other two major envelope proteins VP28 and VP26. Structural comparison of VP24 with VP26 and VP28 reveals opposite electrostatic surface potential properties of them. These structural differences could provide insight into their differential functional mechanisms and roles for virus assembly and infection. Moreover, the structure reveals a trimeric assembly, suggesting a likely natural conformation of VP24 in viral envelope. Therefore, in addition to confirming the evolutionary relationship among the three abundant envelope proteins of WSSV, our structural studies also facilitate a better understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying special roles of VP24 in WSSV assembly and infection.

Envelope protein VP24 from White spot syndrome virus: expression, purification and crystallization.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a major shrimp pathogen known to infect penaeid shrimp and other crustaceans. VP24 is one of the major envelope proteins of WSSV. In order to facilitate purification, crystallization and structure determination, the predicted N-terminal transmembrane region of approximately 26 amino acids was truncated from VP24 and several mutants were prepared to increase the proportion of selenomethionine (SeMet) residues for subsequent structural determination using the SAD method. Truncated VP24, its mutants and the corresponding SeMet-labelled proteins were purified, and the native and SeMet proteins were crystallized by the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. Crystals of VP24 were obtained using a reservoir consisting of 0.1 M Tris-HCl pH 8.5, 2.75 M ammonium acetate with a drop volume ratio of two parts protein solution to one part reservoir solution. Notably, ATP was added as a critical additive to the drop with a final concentration of 10 mM. Crystals of SeMet-labelled VP24 mutant diffracted to 3.0 Šresolution and those of the native diffracted to 2.4 Šresolution; the crystals belonged to space group I213, with unit-cell parameters a = b = c = 140 Å.

ICP35 Is a TREX-Like Protein Identified in White Spot Syndrome Virus.

ICP35 is a non-structural protein from White spot syndrome virus believed to be important in viral replication. Since ICP35 was found to localize in the host nucleus, it has been speculated that the function of ICP35 might be involved in the interaction of DNA. In this study, we overexpressed, purified and characterized ICP35. The thioredoxin-fused ICP35 (thio-ICP35) was strongly expressed in E. coli and be able to form itself into dimers. Investigation of the interaction between ICP35 and DNA revealed that ICP35 can perform DNase activity. Structural model of ICP35 was successfully built on TREX1, suggesting that ICP35 might adopt the folding similar to that of TREX1 protein. Several residues important for dimerization in TREX1 are also conserved in ICP35. Residue Asn126 and Asp132, which are seen to be in close proximity to metal ions in the ICP35 model, were shown through site-directed mutagenesis to be critical for DNase activity.

A white spot syndrome virus microRNA promotes the virus infection by targeting the host STAT.

JAK/STAT pathway plays an important role in invertebrates during virus infection. However the microRNA (miRNA)-mediated regulation of JAK/STAT is not intensively investigated. Viral miRNAs, encoded by virus genome, have emerged as important regulators in the virus-host interactions. In this study, a WSSV (white spot syndrome virus)-encoded miRNA (WSSV-miR-22) was characterized in shrimp during virus infection. The results showed that the viral miRNA could promote WSSV infection in shrimp by targeting the host STAT gene. When the expression of JAK or STAT was knocked down by sequence-specific siRNA, the WSSV copies in shrimp were significantly increased, indicating that the JAK/STAT played positive roles in the antiviral immunity of shrimp. The further findings revealed that TEP1 and TEP2 were the effectors of JAK-STAT signaling pathway. The silencing of TEP1 or TEP2 led to an increase of WSSV copies in shrimp, showing TEP1 and TEP2 were involved in the shrimp immune response against virus infection. Therefore our study presented a novel viral miRNA-mediated JAK/STAT-TEP1/TEP2 signaling pathway in virus infection.