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- Title
Immune signaling of Litopenaeus vannamei c-type lysozyme and its role during microsporidian Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) infection.
- Authors
Sangklai, Nutthapon; Supungul, Premruethai; Jaroenlak, Pattana; Tassanakajon, Anchalee
- Abstract
The microsporidian Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is a fungi-related, spore-forming parasite. EHP infection causes growth retardation and size variation in shrimp, resulting in severe economic losses. Studies on shrimp immune response have shown that several antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were upregulated upon EHP infection. Among those highly upregulated AMPs is c-type lysozyme (LvLyz-c). However, the immune signaling pathway responsible for LvLyz-c production in shrimp as well as its function against the EHP infection are still poorly understood. Here, we characterized major shrimp immune signaling pathways and found that Toll and JAK/STAT pathways were up-regulated upon EHP infection. Knocking down of a Domeless (DOME) receptor in the JAK/STAT pathways resulted in a significant reduction of the LvLyz-c and the elevation of EHP copy number. We further elucidated the function of LvLyz-c by heterologously expressing a recombinant LvLyz-c (rLvLyz-c) in an Escherichia coli. rLvLyz-c exhibited antibacterial activity against several bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Interestingly, we found an antifungal activity of rLvLyz-c against Candida albican, which led us to further investigate the effects of rLvLyz-c on EHP spores. Incubation of the EHP spores with rLvLyz-c followed by a chitin staining showed that the signals were dramatically decreased in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that rLvLyz-c possibly digest a chitin coat on the EHP spores. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that an endospore layer, which is composed mainly of chitin, was digested by rLvLyz-c. Lastly, we observed that EHP spores that were treated with rLvLyz-c showed a significant reduction of the spore germination rate. We hypothesize that thinning of the endospore of EHP would result in altered permeability, hence affecting spore germination. This work provides insights into shrimp immune signaling pathways responsible for LvLyz-c production and its anti-EHP property. This knowledge will serve as important foundations for developing EHP control strategies. Author summary: The microsporidian parasite Enterozytozoon hepatopanei (EHP) has caused a significant disease in Penaeid shrimp since 2009. EHP infection results in growth retardation and severe size variation in shrimp. Currently, the immune defense mechanism against EHP infection is still largely unknown, thus the basic knowledge on shrimp innate immunity is useful for controlling EHP infection. Recently, it has been shown that a lysozyme-c type (LvLyz-c) potentially plays an important role during the EHP infection. However, the signaling cascade that regulates the LvLyz-c production is poorly studied. Here, we examined the immune signaling pathway responsible for the LvLyz-c production and its crucial role in controlling EHP infection. We showed that Toll and JAK/STAT pathways were up-regulated upon EHP infection. Inhibition of JAK/STAT pathway resulted in reduction of LvLyz-c and increase in EHP proliferation. Further characterization using a recombinant LvLyz-c (rLvLyz-c) revealed both antibacterial and antifungal activities. rLvLyz-c digested an endospore layer of the EHP spore. Thinning of the endospore consequently reduced spore germination rate. This work provides a basic foundation on the immune signaling pathway leading to the LvLyz-c production and its function against EHP spores. LvLyz-c could serve as a promising target for the development of EHP control strategy.
- Subjects
WHITELEG shrimp; VIBRIO parahaemolyticus; CHITIN; LYSOZYMES; GROWTH disorders; TRANSMISSION electron microscopy; ANTIMICROBIAL peptides; BACILLUS subtilis
- Publication
PLoS Pathogens, 2024, Vol 20, Issue 4, p1
- ISSN
1553-7366
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.ppat.1012199