Cloning, characterization, and phylogenetic analysis of a shrimp white spot syndrome virus gene that encodes a protein kinase

Comparison of five commercial kits for isolation of total RNA in samples of WSSV-infected shrimp

Viral diseases are the most serious threat to the expansion and development of shrimp aquaculture. Rapid diagnosis of the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), a lethal shrimp pathogen, is essential to restrict its spread and reduce the mortality of infected shrimp. This virus has globally affected the shrimp farming industry, with a devastating economic impact. Several studies have focused on the expression of WSSV transcripts to understand the molecular mechanisms governing the pathological development of the disease. Since gene expression studies and molecular diagnostics at the early stages of infection depend on the efficient isolation of high-quality RNA, the extraction methods should be carefully selected. However, previous comparisons of the performance of RNA isolation kits have yet to be systematically investigated. In this study, 5 commercial RNA extraction methods were compared in WSSV-infected shrimp. The highest total RNA yield (ng mg-1 tissue) was obtained using TRIzol. Even though the 260/280 nm absorption ratios showed significant differences, the methods showed good purity values (>2.0). RNA integrity was evaluated in a denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis, and degradation was observed after the total RNA samples were treated with DNase I. Finally, the method that allowed the earlier detection of WSSV transcripts by qRT-PCR was the Zymo Direct-zol RNA MiniPrep kit. This study shows that the amount of observed (or estimated) WSSV transcripts might be affected because of the RNA isolation method. In addition, these results may contribute to improve the accuracy of the results obtained in gene expression studies, for more sensitive and robust detection of WSSV.

Molecular Mechanisms of White Spot Syndrome Virus Infection and Perspectives on Treatments

Since its emergence in the 1990s, White Spot Disease (WSD) has had major economic and societal impact in the crustacean aquaculture sector. Over the years shrimp farming alone has experienced billion dollar losses through WSD. The disease is caused by the White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV), a large dsDNA virus and the only member of the Nimaviridae family. Susceptibility to WSSV in a wide range of crustacean hosts makes it a major risk factor in the translocation of live animals and in commodity products. Currently there are no effective treatments for this disease. Understanding the molecular basis of disease processes has contributed significantly to the treatment of many human and animal pathogens, and with a similar aim considerable efforts have been directed towards understanding host-pathogen molecular interactions for WSD. Work on the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis in aquatic crustaceans has been restricted by a lack of sequenced and annotated genomes for host species. Nevertheless, some of the key host-pathogen interactions have been established: between viral envelope proteins and host cell receptors at initiation of infection, involvement of various immune system pathways in response to WSSV, and the roles of various host and virus miRNAs in mitigation or progression of disease. Despite these advances, many fundamental knowledge gaps remain; for example, the roles of the majority of WSSV proteins are still unknown. In this review we assess current knowledge of how WSSV infects and replicates in its host, and critique strategies for WSD treatment.

Knockdown of Litopenaeus vannamei HtrA2, an up-regulated gene in response to WSSV infection, leading to delayed shrimp mortality

HtrA2 is an apoptosis-activating gene that enhances the apoptotic process by preventing the formation of the IAP-caspase complex, thereby freeing caspase to trigger the apoptosis pathway. In this study, we presented the full-length cDNA sequence of HtrA2 from Litopenaeus vannamei (LvHtrA2). The full-length LvHtrA2 was 1335 bp, encoding 444 amino acids. This deduced amino acid sequence contained five conserved domains: a mitochondrial targeting signal (MTS), a transmembrane (TM) domain, an IAP-binding motif (IBM), a trimerization motif, a serine protease domain, and a PDZ domain normally found in the HtrA2 proteins of other organisms. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that LvHtrA2 clustered with the HtrA2 from other invertebrates and was closely related to Penaeus monodon HtrA2 (PmHtrA2). RT-PCR with RNA extracts from L. vannamei revealed that LvHtrA2 expression was found in several tissues, including the lymphoid organs, the haemocytes, the hepatopancreas, the gill, and the stomach, with different expression levels. When determining the role of LvHtrA2 in WSSV infection, it was found that LvHtrA2 transcription was early up-regulated in the WSSV-infected shrimp at 8h post-infection (p.i.) and expression still remained high at 48 h p.i.. It also demonstrated that dsRNA specific to LvHtrA2 reduced the cumulative mortality in the WSSV-infected shrimp compared with the control group. Additionally, depletion of the LvHtrA2 transcripts reduced expression levels for caspase-3 (Cap-3) gene in shrimp. This result could suggest that LvHtrA2 may involved in apoptosis mediated mortality rather than providing immune protection during WSSV infection.

Characterization of fossilized relatives of the White Spot Syndrome Virus in genomes of decapod crustaceans

Background

The White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) is an important pathogen that infects a variety of decapod species and causes a highly contagious disease in penaeid shrimps. Mass mortalities caused by WSSV have pronounced commercial impact on shrimp aquaculture. Until now WSSV is the only known member of the virus family Nimaviridae, a group with obscure phylogenetic affinities. Its isolated position makes WSSV studies challenging due to large number of genes without homology in other viruses or cellular organisms.

Results

Here we report the discovery of an unusually large amount of sequences with high similarity to WSSV in a genomic library from the Jamaican bromeliad crab Metopaulias depressus. De novo assembly of these sequences allowed for the partial reconstruction of the genome of this endogenized virus with total length of 200 kbp encompassed in three scaffolds. The genome includes at least 68 putative open reading frames with homology in WSSV, most of which are intact. Among these, twelve orthologs of WSSV genes coding for non-structural proteins and nine genes known to code for the major components of the WSSV virion were discovered. Together with reanalysis of two similar cases of WSSV-like sequences in penaeid shrimp genomic libraries, our data allowed comparison of gene composition and gene order between different lineages related to WSSV. Furthermore, screening of published sequence databases revealed sequences with highest similarity to WSSV and the newly described virus in genomic libraries of at least three further decapod species. Analysis of the viral sequences detected in decapods suggests that they are less a result of contemporary WSSV infection, but rather originate from ancestral infection events. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that genes were acquired repeatedly by divergent viruses or viral strains of the Nimaviridae.

Conclusions

Our results shed new light on the evolution of the Nimaviridae and point to a long association of this viral group with decapod crustaceans.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0380-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Immune gene expression profile of Penaeus monodon in response to marine yeast glucan application and white spot syndrome virus challenge

Immunostimulant potential of eight marine yeast glucans (YG) from Candida parapsilosis R20, Hortaea werneckii R23, Candida spencermartinsiae R28, Candida haemulonii R63, Candida oceani R89, Debaryomyces fabryi R100, Debaryomyces nepalensis R305 and Meyerozyma guilliermondii R340 were tested against WSSV challenge in Penaeus monodon post larvae (PL). Structural characterization of these marine yeast glucans by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) indicated structures containing (1-6)-branched (1-3)-β-D-glucan. PL were fed 0.2% glucan incorporated diet once in seven days for a period of 45 days and the animals were challenged with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). The immunostimulatory activity of yeast glucans were assessed pre- and post-challenge WSSV by analysing the expression profile of six antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes viz., anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF), crustin-1, crustin-2, crustin-3, penaeidin-3 and penaeidin-5 and 13 immune genes viz., alpha-2-macroglobulin (α-2-M), astakine, caspase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-s-transferase, haemocyanin, peroxinectin, pmCathepsinC, prophenol oxidase (proPO), Rab-7, superoxide dismutase and transglutaminase. Expression of seven WSSV genes viz., DNA polymerase, endonuclease, protein kinase, immediate early gene, latency related gene, thymidine kinase and VP28 were also analysed to detect the presence and intensity of viral infection in the experimental animals post-challenge. The study revealed that yeast glucans (YG) do possess immunostimulatory activity against WSSV and also supported higher survival (40-70 %) post-challenge WSSV. Among the various glucans tested, YG23 showed maximum survival (70.27%), followed by YG20 (66.66%), YG28 (60.97%), YG89 (58.53%), YG100 (54.05%), YG63 (48.64%), YG305 (45.7%) and YG340 (43.24%).

White spot syndrome virus protein kinase 1 defeats the host cell's iron-withholding defense mechanism by interacting with host ferritin

Iron is an essential nutrient for nearly all living organisms, including both hosts and invaders. Proteins such as ferritin regulate the iron levels in a cell, and in the event of a pathogenic invasion, the host can use an iron-withholding mechanism to restrict the availability of this essential nutrient to the invading pathogens. However, pathogens use various strategies to overcome this host defense. In this study, we demonstrated that white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) protein kinase 1 (PK1) interacted with shrimp ferritin in the yeast two-hybrid system. A pulldown assay and 27-MHz quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) analysis confirmed the interaction between PK1 and both ferritin and apoferritin. PK1 did not promote the release of iron ions from ferritin, but it prevented apoferritin from binding ferrous ions. When PK1 was overexpressed in Sf9 cells, the cellular labile iron pool (LIP) levels were elevated significantly. Immunoprecipitation and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) further showed that the number of iron ions bound by ferritin decreased significantly at 24 h post-WSSV infection. Taken together, these results suggest that PK1 prevents apoferritin from iron loading, and thus stabilizes the cellular LIP levels, and that WSSV uses this novel mechanism to counteract the host cell's iron-withholding defense mechanism.

IMPORTANCE

We show here that white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) ensures the availability of iron by using a previously unreported mechanism to defeat the host cell's iron-withholding defense mechanism. This defense is often implemented by ferritin, which can bind up to 4,500 iron atoms and acts to sequester free iron within the cell. WSSV's novel counterstrategy is mediated by a direct protein-protein interaction between viral protein kinase 1 (PK1) and host ferritin. PK1 interacts with both ferritin and apoferritin, suppresses apoferritin's ability to sequester free iron ions, and maintains the intracellular labile iron pool (LIP), and thus the availability of free iron is increased within cells.

Characterization and interactome study of white spot syndrome virus envelope protein VP11

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a large enveloped virus. The WSSV viral particle consists of three structural layers that surround its core DNA: an outer envelope, a tegument and a nucleocapsid. Here we characterize the WSSV structural protein VP11 (WSSV394, GenBank accession number AF440570), and use an interactome approach to analyze the possible associations between this protein and an array of other WSSV and host proteins. Temporal transcription analysis showed that vp11 is an early gene. Western blot hybridization of the intact viral particles and fractionation of the viral components, and immunoelectron microscopy showed that VP11 is an envelope protein. Membrane topology software predicted VP11 to be a type of transmembrane protein with a highly hydrophobic transmembrane domain at its N-terminal. Based on an immunofluorescence assay performed on VP11-transfected Sf9 cells and a trypsin digestion analysis of the virion, we conclude that, contrary to topology software prediction, the C-terminal of this protein is in fact inside the virion. Yeast two-hybrid screening combined with co-immunoprecipitation assays found that VP11 directly interacted with at least 12 other WSSV structural proteins as well as itself. An oligomerization assay further showed that VP11 could form dimers. VP11 is also the first reported WSSV structural protein to interact with the major nucleocapsid protein VP664.

An immediate-early protein of white spot syndrome virus modulates the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase of shrimp

WSSV interacts with integrin during infection of shrimps and modulate the focal adhesion kinase which is known as a regulator of several downstream signaling pathways. Viral protein kinases are thought to be important for virus infection by regulating the host signaling pathways. WSV083 is an immediate-early gene of white spot syndrome virus that contains a Ser/Thr protein kinase domain. So, does WSSV modulate FAK phosphorylation via the WSV083 molecule? In this study, co-transfection of WSV083 and MjFAK genes proceeded in insect cells revealed that the MjFAK phosphorylation and cell adhesion activity could be inhibited by the expression of WSV083. Kinase domain mutants of WSV083 lost its ability of inhibiting FAK phosphorylation. Moreover, silencing of FAK gene through RNAi accelerated the shrimp death rate upon WSSV challenge. These results demonstrate for the first time that modulation of FAK phosphorylation by WSV083 plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of WSSV infection.

Viral serine/threonine protein kinases

Phosphorylation represents one the most abundant and important posttranslational modifications of proteins, including viral proteins. Virus-encoded serine/threonine protein kinases appear to be a feature that is unique to large DNA viruses. Although the importance of these kinases for virus replication in cell culture is variable, they invariably play important roles in virus virulence. The current review provides an overview of the different viral serine/threonine protein kinases of several large DNA viruses and discusses their function, importance, and potential as antiviral drug targets.

White spot syndrome virus: an overview on an emergent concern

Viruses are ubiquitous and extremely abundant in the marine environment. One of such marine viruses, the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), has emerged globally as one of the most prevalent, widespread and lethal for shrimp populations. However, at present there is no treatment available to interfere with the unrestrained occurrence and spread of the disease. The recent progress in molecular biology techniques has made it possible to obtain information on the factors, mechanisms and strategies used by this virus to infect and replicate in susceptible host cells. Yet, further research is still required to fully understand the basic nature of WSSV, its exact life cycle and mode of infection. This information will expand our knowledge and may contribute to developing effective prophylactic or therapeutic measures. This review provides a state-of-the-art overview of the topic, and emphasizes the current progress and future direction for the development of WSSV control strategies.

Polycistronic mRNAs and internal ribosome entry site elements (IRES) are widely used by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) structural protein genes

The genome of the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) Taiwan isolate has many structural and non-structural genes that are arranged in clusters. Screening with Northern blots showed that at least four of these clusters produce polycistronic mRNA, and one of these (vp31/vp39b/vp11) was studied in detail. The vp31/vp39b/vp11 cluster produces two transcripts, including a large 3.4-kb polycistronic transcript of all three genes. No monocistronic vp39b mRNA was detected. TNT and in vitro translation assays showed that vp39b translation was independent of vp31 translation, and that ribosomal reinitiation was not a possible mechanism for vp39b. An unusually located IRES (internal ribosome entry site) element was identified in the vp31/vp39b coding region, and this region was able to promote the expression of a downstream firefly luciferase reporter. We show that vp31/vp39b/vp11 is representative of many other WSSV structural/non-structural gene clusters, and argue that these are also likely to produce polycistronic mRNAs and that use an IRES mechanism to regulate their translation.

Characterization of white spot syndrome virus envelope protein VP51A and its interaction with viral tegument protein VP26

In this study, we characterize a novel white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) structural protein, VP51A (WSSV-TW open reading frame 294), identified from a previous mass spectrometry study. Temporal-transcription analysis showed that vp51A is expressed in the late stage of WSSV infection. Gene structure analysis showed that the transcription initiation site of vp51A was 135 bp upstream of the translation start codon. The poly(A) addition signal overlapped with the translation stop codon, TAA, and the poly(A) tail was 23 bp downstream of the TAA. Western blot analysis of viral protein fractions and immunoelectron microscopy both suggested that VP51A is a viral envelope protein. Western blotting of the total proteins extracted from WSSV virions detected a band that was close to the predicted 51-kDa mass, but the strongest signal was around 72 kDa. We concluded that this 72-kDa band was in fact the full-length VP51A protein. Membrane topology assays demonstrated that the VP51A 72-kDa protein is a type II transmembrane protein with a highly hydrophobic transmembrane domain on its N terminus and a C terminus that is exposed on the surface of the virion. Coimmunoprecipitation, colocalization, and yeast two-hybrid assays revealed that VP51A associated directly with VP26 and indirectly with VP28, with VP26 acting as a linker protein in the formation of a VP51A-VP26-VP28 complex.

In silico identification of putative promoter motifs of White Spot Syndrome Virus

Background

White Spot Syndrome Virus, a member of the virus family Nimaviridae, is a large dsDNA virus infecting shrimp and other crustacean species. Although limited information is available on the mode of transcription, previous data suggest that WSSV gene expression occurs in a coordinated and cascaded fashion. To search in silico for conserved promoter motifs (i) the abundance of all 4 through 8 nucleotide motifs in the upstream sequences of WSSV genes relative to the complete genome was determined, and (ii) a MEME search was performed in the upstream sequences of either early or late WSSV genes, as assigned by microarray analysis. Both methods were validated by alignments of empirically determined 5' ends of various WSSV mRNAs.

Results

The collective information shows that the upstream region of early WSSV genes, containing a TATA box and an initiator, is similar to Drosophila RNA polymerase II core promoter sequences, suggesting utilization of the cellular transcription machinery for generating early transcripts. The alignment of the 5' ends of known well-established late genes, including all major structural protein genes, identified a degenerate motif (ATNAC) which could be involved in WSSV late transcription. For these genes, only one contained a functional TATA box. However, almost half of the WSSV late genes, as previously assigned by microarray analysis, did contain a TATA box in their upstream region.

Conclusion

The data may suggest the presence of two separate classes of late WSSV genes, one exploiting the cellular RNA polymerase II system for mRNA synthesis and the other generating messengers by a new virus-induced transcription mechanism.

Identification and function of a shrimp white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) gene that encodes a dUTPase

The ORF wsv112 of shrimp white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) was predicted to encode a protein with five conserved motifs at its N-terminus characteristics of dUTPases. The transcription of the gene named as wdut was analyzed by RT-PCR and RACE. The C-terminal end of the putative WSSV dUTPase bore very low similarity to the reported dUTPases and any other known proteins. Therefore, the 5'-terminal region (528-bp) of wdut gene was expressed in E. coli. The recombinant WSSV dUTPase (WDUT) with a molecular mass of 23 kDa could catalyze the hydrolysis of dUTP into dUMP and was highly specific for dUTP with an apparent Km of 1.2 microM. Furthermore, gel filtration results revealed that this enzyme was a trimer.

Functional identification of the non-specific nuclease from white spot syndrome virus

The product encoded by the wsv191 gene from shrimp white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is homologous with non-specific nucleases (NSN) of other organisms. To functionally identify the protein, the wsv191 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein with 6His-tag at C-terminal. The fusion protein (termed as rWSSV-NSN) was purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography under denatured conditions, renatured and characterized by three methods. The results showed that rWSSV-NSN could hydrolyze both DNA and RNA. 5'-RACE result revealed that the transcription initiation site of the wsv191 gene was located at nucleotide residue G of the predicted ATG triplet. Therefore, we concluded that the next ATG should be the genuine translation initiation codon of the wsv191 gene. Western blot analysis revealed that the molecular mass of natural WSSV-NSN was 37 kDa.

Vp28 of shrimp white spot syndrome virus is involved in the attachment and penetration into shrimp cells

White spot disease (WSD) is caused by the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), which results in devastating losses to the shrimp farming industry around the world. However, the mechanism of virus entry and spread into the shrimp cells is unknown. A binding assay in vitro demonstrated VP28-EGFP (envelope protein VP28 fused with enhanced green fluorescence protein) binding to shrimp cells. This provides direct evidence that VP28-EGFP can bind to shrimp cells at pH 6.0 within 0.5 h. However, the protein was observed to enter the cytoplasm 3 h post-adsorption. Meanwhile, the plaque inhibition test showed that the polyclonal antibody against VP28 (a major envelope protein of WSSV) could neutralize the WSSV and block an infection with the virus. The result of competition ELISA further confirmed that the envelope protein VP28 could compete with WSSV to bind to shrimp cells. Overall, VP28 of the WSSV can bind to shrimp cells as an attachment protein, and can help the virus enter the cytoplasm.

Gene-expression profiling of White spot syndrome virus in vivo

White spot syndrome virus, type species of the genus Whispovirus in the family Nimaviridae, is a large, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus that infects crustaceans. The genome of the completely sequenced isolate WSSV-TH encodes 184 putative open reading frames (ORFs), the functions of which are largely unknown. To study the transcription of these ORFs, a DNA microarray was constructed, containing probes corresponding to nearly all putative WSSV-TH ORFs. Transcripts of 79 % of these ORFs could be detected in the gills of WSSV-infected shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Clustering of the transcription profiles of the individual genes during infection showed two major classes of genes: the first class reached maximal expression at 20 h post-infection (p.i.) (putative early) and the other class at 2 days p.i. (putative late). Nearly all major and minor structural virion-protein genes clustered in the latter group. These data provide evidence that, similar to other large, dsDNA viruses, the WSSV genes at large are expressed in a coordinated and cascaded fashion. Furthermore, the transcriptomes of the WSSV isolates WSSV-TH and TH-96-II, which have differential virulence, were compared at 2 days p.i. The TH-96-II genome encodes 10 ORFs that are not present in WSSV-TH, of which at least seven were expressed in P. monodon as well as in crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus), suggesting a functional but not essential role for these genes during infection. Expression levels of most other ORFs shared by both isolates were similar. Evaluation of transcription profiles by using a genome-wide approach provides a better understanding of WSSV transcription regulation and a new tool to study WSSV gene function.

Microarray and RT-PCR screening for white spot syndrome virus immediate-early genes in cycloheximide-treated shrimp

Here, we report for the first time the successful use of cycloheximide (CHX) as an inhibitor to block de novo viral protein synthesis during WSSV (white spot syndrome virus) infection. Sixty candidate IE (immediate-early) genes were identified using a global analysis microarray technique. RT-PCR showed that the genes corresponding to ORF126, ORF242 and ORF418 in the Taiwan isolate were consistently CHX-insensitive, and these genes were designated ie1, ie2 and ie3, respectively. The sequences for these IE genes also appear in the two other WSSV isolates that have been sequenced. Three corresponding ORFs were identified in the China WSSV isolate, but only an ORF corresponding to ie1 was predicted in the Thailand isolate. In a promoter activity assay in Sf9 insect cells using EGFP (enhanced green fluorescence protein) as a reporter, ie1 showed very strong promoter activity, producing higher EGFP signals than the insect Orgyia pseudotsugata multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV) ie2 promoter.

The unique stacked rings in the nucleocapsid of the white spot syndrome virus virion are formed by the major structural protein VP664, the largest viral structural protein ever found

One unique feature of the shrimp white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) genome is the presence of a giant open reading frame (ORF) of 18,234 nucleotides that encodes a long polypeptide of 6,077 amino acids with a hitherto unknown function. In the present study, by applying proteomic methodology to analyze the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profile of purified WSSV virions by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we found that this giant polypeptide, designated VP664, is one of the viral structural proteins. The existence of the corresponding 18-kb transcript was confirmed by sequencing analysis of reverse transcription-PCR products, which also showed that vp664 was intron-less. A time course analysis showed that this transcript was actively transcribed at the late stage, suggesting that this gene product should contribute primarily to the assembly and morphogenesis of the virion. Several polyclonal antisera against this giant protein were prepared, and one of them was successfully used for immunoelectron microscopy analysis to localize the protein in the virion. Immunoelectron microscopy with a gold-labeled secondary antibody showed that the gold particles were regularly distributed around the periphery of the nucleocapsid with a periodicity that matched the characteristic stacked ring subunits that appear as striations. From this and other evidence, we argue that this giant ORF in fact encodes the major WSSV nucleocapsid protein.

ORF390 of white spot syndrome virus genome is identified as a novel anti-apoptosis gene

Apoptosis serves as an important defense strategy employed by host cells against viral invasion. Many viruses contain the anti-apoptotic genes to block the defense-by-death response of host cells. In this study, we tried to identify the putative anti-apoptotic genes in white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) genome. We confirmed that actinomycin D could induce apoptosis of shrimp primary cells. However, the apoptosis triggered by actinomycin D was inhibited by WSSV infection. As mutants of Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), AcMNPVDelta35k/pol+ lacks a functional P35 gene undergoing apoptosis and its infection could induce Sf9 cell apoptosis. To identify the putative apoptotic suppressor gene of WSSV, overlapping cosmid clones representing the entire WSSV genome were individually cotransfected along with genome DNA of AcMNPVDeltaP35k/pol+. Using this marker rescue assay, a WSSV DNA fragment that was able to rescue AcMNPVDeltaP35k/pol+ infection in Sf9 cells was isolated. By further sequence analysis and rescue assay, the ORF390 was identified as a novel anti-apoptotic gene. The ORF displays two putative caspase9 cleavage sites LLVETDGPS, VKLEHDGSK, and a caspase3 cleavage site EEDEVDGVP. The ORF was cloned into the pIE1 vector and then the recombinant vector was transfected into Sf9 cells. The Sf9 cells did not show obvious characteristics of apoptosis when infected with AcMNPVDeltaP35k/pol+. And the transient expression of ORF390 allowed AcMNPVDeltaP35k/pol+ replication in Sf9 cells and resulted in the formation of polyhedra successfully. The results indicate that function of ORF390 in WSSV is a kind of apoptotic suppressor like P35 in AcMNPV.

Genomic and proteomic analysis of thirty-nine structural proteins of shrimp white spot syndrome virus

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) virions were purified from the hemolymph of experimentally infected crayfish Procambarus clarkii, and their proteins were separated by 8 to 18% gradient sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to give a protein profile. The visible bands were then excised from the gel, and following trypsin digestion of the reduced and alkylated WSSV proteins in the bands, the peptide sequence of each fragment was determined by liquid chromatography-nano-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-nanoESI-MS/MS) using a quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Comparison of the resulting peptide sequence data against the nonredundant database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information identified 33 WSSV structural genes, 20 of which are reported here for the first time. Since there were six other known WSSV structural proteins that could not be identified from the SDS-PAGE bands, there must therefore be a total of at least 39 (33 + 6) WSSV structural protein genes. Only 61.5% of the WSSV structural genes have a polyadenylation signal, and preliminary analysis by 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends suggested that some structural protein genes produced mRNA without a poly(A) tail. Microarray analysis showed that gene expression started at 2, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, and 36 hpi for 7, 1, 4, 12, 9, 5, and 1 of the genes, respectively. Based on similarities in their time course expression patterns, a clustering algorithm was used to group the WSSV structural genes into four clusters. Genes that putatively had common or similar roles in the viral infection cycle tended to appear in the same cluster.

Characterization of ORF89--a latency-related gene of white spot syndrome virus

Open reading frame 89 (ORF89) is one of the three genes that are believed to be involved in the latent infection of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Here, we report the structure and functional characterization of ORF89. cDNA sequencing, 5' RLM-RACE, and 3' RLM-RACE showed that ORF89 gene is transcribed into an unspliced mRNA of 4436 nucleotides, which is predicted to encode a protein of 1437 amino acids. ORF89 expressed an approximately 165-kDa protein in Sf9 cells that localized in the nucleus. Amino acids 678-683 were found to be essential for nuclear localization. Cotransfection assays demonstrated that ORF89 protein repressed its own promoter as well as those of a protein kinase and the thymidine-thymidylate kinase genes of WSSV. SYBR Green real-time PCR indicated that the repression occurred at the transcriptional level.

A phage-displayed peptide can inhibit infection by white spot syndrome virus of shrimp

White spot disease, caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), results in devastating losses to the shrimp farming industry around the world, and no effective treatments have been found. Control focuses on exclusion of the virus from culture ponds but, once introduced, spread is often rapid and uncontrollable. The purpose of this study was to select a phage-displayed peptide that might be able to prevent WSSV infection. A 10-mer phage display peptide library (titre 7.2 x 10(7)) was constructed and screened against immobilized WSSV. Selected peptides were assessed for specificity and efficiency of inhibition of virus infection. Of four peptides that specifically bound to WSSV one, designated 2E6, had a high specificity and blocked virus infection, with the possible critical motif for virus inhibition being VAVNNSY. The results suggest that peptide 2E6 has potential for exploitation as an antiviral peptide drug.

Transcriptional analysis of the white spot syndrome virus major virion protein genes

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a member of a new virus family (Nimaviridae) infecting crustaceans. The regulation of transcription of WSSV genes is largely unknown. Transcription of the major WSSV structural virion protein genes, vp28, vp26, vp24, vp19 and vp15, was studied to search for common promoter motifs for coordinate expression. The temporal expression of these genes and both 5' and 3' ends of the mRNA were determined, using infected crayfish gill tissue as a RNA source. RT-PCR showed that all five genes are expressed late in infection compared to the early ribonucleotide reductase large subunit gene. 5' RACE studies revealed a consensus late transcription initiation motif for only two of the five major virion protein genes. This motif was only found in one other upstream region of the putative translational start site of a gene with unknown function (ORF 158). No other conserved sequence motifs could be detected in the sequences surrounding the transcriptional start sites of the five major virion protein genes. All 5' ends were located about 25 nt downstream of an A/T rich sequence, including the consensus TATA-box sequence for vp15. The absence of a consensus motif is distinct from gene regulation of other large dsDNA viruses and suggests a unique regulation of WSSV transcription, in line with its unique taxonomic position.

Genomic instability of prawn white spot bacilliform virus (WSBV) and its association to virus virulence

Prawn White Spot Bacilliform Virus (WSBV) is a major pathogen that causes prawn diseases. In this study, we examined the sequence of WSBV genome DNA in the shrimp Penaeus japonicus, P. vannamei, P. Monodon, P. chinensis and Metapenaeus ensis through successive PCR amplification of the DNA fragments in the whole WSBV genome. We found a sequence deletion hotspot in the WSBV genome that is 305107 bp in length. The sizes of the deleted fragments were 4.6, 4.8 or 8.1 kbp depending on the species of prawn. Since the mortality of shrimp infected by the intact WSBV was always significantly higher than that of shrimp infected by DNA fragment-deleted WSBV, we suggest that this deletion be somehow linked to the virulence of the virus itself. This result may lead to the discovery of the molecular mechanism of the pathogenicity of WSBV in shrimps.

Transcriptional analysis of the DNA polymerase gene of shrimp white spot syndrome virus

The white spot syndrome virus DNA polymerase (DNA pol) gene (WSSV dnapol) has already been tentatively identified based on the presence of highly conserved motifs, but it shows low overall homology with other DNA pols and is also much larger (2351 amino acid residues vs 913-1244 aa). In the present study we perform a transcriptional analysis of the WSSV dnapol gene using the total RNA isolated from WSSV-infected shrimp at different times after infection. Northern blot analysis with a WSSV dnapol-specific riboprobe found a major transcript of 7.5 kb. 5'-RACE revealed that the major transcription start point is located 27 nucleotides downstream of the TATA box, at the nucleotide residue A within a CAGT motif, one of the initiator (Inr) motifs of arthropods. In a temporal expression analysis using differential RT-PCR, WSSV dnapol transcripts were detected at low levels at 2-4 h.p.i., increased at 6 h.p.i., and remained fairly constant thereafter. This is similar to the previously reported transcription patterns for genes encoding the key enzyme of nucleotide metabolism, ribonucleotide reductase. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the DNA pols from three different WSSV isolates form an extremely tight cluster. In addition, similar to an earlier phylogenetic analysis of WSSV protein kinase, the phylogenetic tree of viral DNA pols further supports the suggestion that WSSV is a distinct virus (likely at the family level) that does not belong to any of the virus families that are currently recognized.

Chimeric polypeptide of thymidine kinase and thymidylate kinase of shrimp white spot syndrome virus: thymidine kinase activity of the recombinant protein expressed in a baculovirus/insect cell system

The unique chimeric organization of the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) tk-tmk gene encodes a protein which has significant homology to both cellular-type thymidine kinase (TK) and cellular-type thymidylate kinase (TMK), but the functional activity of this protein has not been demonstrated. Because TK is usually expressed only at very low levels in host cells, in this study, the coding region of WSSV tk-tmk was expressed in an insect/baculovirus expression system. The His-tagged recombinant WSSV TK-TMK was purified by affinity chromatography, and its enzyme activity was characterized by steady-state kinetics. The recombinant WSSV TK-TMK catalyzed the phosphorylation of thymidine to form thymidine monophosphate (TMP), but we found no evidence that it was able to catalyze the further phosphorylation of TMP to form thymidine diphosphate (or thymidine triphosphate). This TK activity is sensitive to feedback inhibition by thymidine triphosphate. In addition to thymidine, of the nine other substrates tested, including acyclovir, ganciclovir, and 5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine, only 2'-deoxyuridine and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine could also serve as substrates. These data suggest that the enzymatic characteristics of the recombinant WSSV TK-TMK are similar to those of the eukaryotic cytosolic TKs. We also found that TK activity increased as infection advanced in the integument and gills of experimentally infected shrimp, suggesting its functional involvement during WSSV infection.

Identification of a nucleocapsid protein (VP35) gene of shrimp white spot syndrome virus and characterization of the motif important for targeting VP35 to the nuclei of transfected insect cells

To identify the protein encoded by a 687-bp open reading frame (ORF) of a salI genomic DNA fragment of shrimp white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), we expressed the ORF in a baculovirus/insect cell expression system. The apparent molecular mass of the recombinant protein on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was 35 kDa in insect cells. Antibody raised against bacterially synthesized protein of the ORF identified a nucleocapsid protein (VP35) in the extracts of both the purified WSSV virions and the nucleocapsids which comigrated with the 35-kDa baculovirus-expressed recombinant protein on SDS-PAGE. We also show by transient expression in insect cells (Sf9) that VP35 targets the nucleus. Two potential nuclear localization signals (NLSs) were characterized, but only one of them was important for targeting VP35 to the nuclei of transfected insect cells. Replacement of a cluster of four positively charged residues ((24)KRKR(27)) at the N terminus of the protein with AAAA resulted in mutant proteins that were distributed only in the cytoplasm, thus confirming that this sequence is a critical part of the functionally active NLS of VP35.