Iridovirus is a causative agent of epizootics among cultured rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) in Korea. Here, we report the complete genomic sequence of rock bream iridovirus (RBIV). The genome of RBIV was 112080 bp long and contained at least 118 putative open reading frames (ORFs), and its genome organization was similar to that of infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV). Of the RBIV's 118 ORFs, 85 ORFs showed 60-99% amino acid identity to those of ISKNV. Phylogenetic analysis of major capsid protein (MCP), DNA repair protein RAD2, and DNA polymerase type-B family indicated that RBIV is closely related to red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV), Grouper sleepy disease iridovirus (GSDIV), Dwarf gourami iridovirus (DGIV), and ISKNV. The genome sequence provides useful information concerning the evolution and divergence of iridoviruses in cultured fish.
To investigate the causes of emaciation in cultured olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in Korea. We performed histological examinations and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with a new primer set. In most cases, the most severe emaciation was observed in the abdominal area Using PCR on extracted livers, kidneys, spleens, gills, brains, and intestines, we found that areas around the kidneys and intestines were as almost always positive. In significantly emaciated fish, PCR was positive in all internal organs except the gills. In addition, the homology of 812-bp nucleotide sequences of the 28S rRNA gene was more than 99% in emaciated fish. Partial homology with Myxobolus spp. and Cystodiscus axonis, whose data were obtained from GenBank was 86% and 88%, respectively. Histological examinations detected spores in kidneys and intestines but not in other organs. We also performed cohabitation experiments to determine whether infections could be exchanged among species or only within species. Uninfected olive flounder and red sea bream, Pagrus major, cohabitating with emaciated olive flounder showed 100% and 0% cumulative mortality, respectively. Thus the cause of emaciation in cultured olive flounder of Korea is likely due to a new parasite.
In 2009, a systemic megalocytivirus infection associated with high mortality was detected for the first time in cultured starry flounder Platichthys stellatus in Korea. Diseased starry flounder had pale bodies and gill coloring and enlarged spleens. Histopathological examinations revealed basophilic enlarged cells in various organs of diseased starry flounder. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on tissue samples using three published primer sets developed for the red sea bream iridovirus. PCR products were detected for all primer sets, except 1-F/1-R, which are registered by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). The part of the gene corresponding to the full open reading frame encoding the viral major capsid protein (MCP) was amplified by PCR. PCR products of approximately 1,581 bp were cloned, and the nucleotide sequences were analyzed phylogenetically. The MCP gene of the starry flounder iridovirus, designated SFIV0909, was identical to that of the turbot reddish body iridovirus (AB166788).
BackgroundParasite peptidases have been actively studied as vaccine candidates or drug targets for prevention or treatment of parasitic diseases because of their important roles for survival and/or invasion in the host. Like other parasites, the facultative histophagous ciliate Miamiensis avidus would possess peptidases that are closely associated with the invasion into the host tissue and survival in the host.ResultsThe 17 genes encoding peptidases, including seven cathepsin-like cysteine peptidases, four serine carboxypeptidases, a eukaryotic aspartyl protease family protein, an ATP-dependent metalloprotease FtsH family protein, three leishmanolysin family proteins and a peptidase family M49 protein were identified from a Miamiensis avidus cDNA library by BLAST X search. Expression of genes encoding two cysteine peptidases, three leishmanolysin-like peptidases and a peptidase family M49 protein was up-regulated in the cell-fed ciliates compared to the starved ciliates. Especially, one cysteine peptidase (MaPro 4) and one leishmanolysin-like peptidase (MaPro 14) were transcribed more than 100-folds in the cell-fed ciliates.ConclusionsThe genetic information and transcriptional characteristics of the peptidases in the present results would be helpful to elucidate the role of peptidases in the invasion of scuticociliates into their hosts.
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