No abstract

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is one of the major viral pathogens affecting shrimp aquaculture. Four proteins, WSSV199, WSSV 222, WSSV 249 and WSSV 403, from WSSV are predicted to encode a RING-H2 domain, which in presence of ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (E2) in shrimp can function as viral E3 ligase and modulate the host ubiquitin proteasome pathway. Modulation of host ubiquitin proteasome pathway by viral proteins is implicated in viral pathogenesis. In the present study, a time course expression profile analysis of WSSV Open Reading Frame (ORF) 199 and Penaeus monodon ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (PmUbc) was carried out at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h post WSSV challenge by semi-quantitative RT-PCR as well as Real Time PCR. EF1α was used as reference control to normalize the expression levels. A significant increase in PmUbc expression at 24 h post infection (h.p.i) was observed followed by a decline till 72 h.p.i. Expression of WSSV199 was observed at 24 h.p.i in WSSV infected P. monodon. Since the up-regulation of PmUbc was observed at 24 h.p.i where WSSV199 expression was detected, it can be speculated that these proteins might interact with host ubiquitination pathway for viral pathogenesis. However, further studies need to be carried out to unfold the molecular mechanism of interaction between host and virus to devise efficient control strategies for this chaos in the shrimp culture industry.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Pangasius (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) is a commercially important candidate species in freshwater aquaculture and it is important to understand the immune system of pangasius against infectious disease. The present study was aimed at the purification, characterization and quantification of serum IgM in pangasius (P. hypophthalmus). Serum IgM was purified by diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose based ion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of native immunoglobulin was found to be 798 kDa. Heavy (H) and light chains were found to possess molecular weight of 70.1 and 26 kDa respectively. A 248 bp segment of IgM H chain gene of pangasius was amplified and sequenced (partial). The antisera raised against pangasius immunoglobulin cross-reacted with the immunoglobulin H chain of catfish such as Clarias gariepinus and Clarias batrachus, but not with their light chain indicating epitope sharing among IgM H chains in these catfish. The produced polyclonal antisera were used to develop an enzyme linked immuosorbent assay to quantify IgM levels in pangasius. In conclusion, the present study provides its future implications for epidemiology and immunology studies in pangasius.