Fish & shellfish immunology最新文献

{"title":"Grouper interleukin 15-like acts as a cytokine adjuvant in grouper iridovirus subunit vaccine","authors":"Jiaying Zheng ,&nbsp;Haotian Chen ,&nbsp;Qiting Liu ,&nbsp;Feifei Lin ,&nbsp;Xixi Guo ,&nbsp;Xiaohong Huang ,&nbsp;Qiwei Qin ,&nbsp;Youhua Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110475","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110475","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interleukin (IL) 15 and IL-15-like (IL-15L) are members of the cytokine receptor γ chain (γc) family proteins, which play critical roles in the growth, and differentiation of various cell lineages of the innate and adaptive immune systems. However, the functions of teleost IL-15L upon virus infection still remained unknown. In the current study, a homolog of IL-15L from grouper (<em>Epinephelus coioides)</em> was identified and characterized. Sequence analysis indicated that <em>EcIL-15L</em> contained a conserved IL-15 domain (aa 13–134). Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that the expression level of <em>EcIL-15L</em> was markedly increased upon Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) infection, indicating that EcIL-15L may be involved in the host's defense against infections by fish viruses. In addition, EcIL-15L mostly colocalized with endoplasmic reticulum, and partially colocalized with the Golgi apparatus. EcIL-15L overexpression significantly decreased SGIV replication, as demonstrated by a reduce in viral gene transcriptions and protein synthesis. In contrast, the replication of SGIV was promoted by the knockdown of EcIL-15L in grouper cells. Furthermore, compared to SGIV subunit vaccine alone, the combination of vaccine and EcIL-15L significantly improved the relative protective effect against SGIV. Meanwhile, the combination of EcIL-15L significantly increased the specific antibody titer in serum or the transcription levels of immune related genes <em>in vivo</em>, respectively. In conclusion, our findings indicated that EcIL-15L exerted antiviral function against SGIV, and acted as a cytokine adjuvant to improve protective effects induced by SGIV subunit vaccine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12127,"journal":{"name":"Fish & shellfish immunology","volume":"165 ","pages":"Article 110475"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144247177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of upwelling intensification on hemocyte stress and immunity in the scallop Argopecten purpuratus","authors":"Mauricio Peña-Jaña ,&nbsp;Germán Lira ,&nbsp;Ana Mercado ,&nbsp;Karina Farías-Araya ,&nbsp;Orlando Astudillo ,&nbsp;Laura Ramajo ,&nbsp;Lohrmann Karin B ,&nbsp;Roxana González ,&nbsp;Katherina Brokordt","doi":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The scallop <em>Argopecten purpuratus</em> is a valuable marine resource in coastal regions where climate change is intensifying upwelling events, potentially imposing physiological stress that compromises immune function. Hemocytes, the primary immune cells in scallops, may be particularly vulnerable to these stressors. This study evaluated hemocyte stress status and immune competence in scallops maintained for one year in suspended culture systems under naturally varying upwelling intensities, and in scallops exposed for 17 days to controlled conditions simulating intense and non-upwelling scenarios. Cellular stress was assessed via expression of antioxidant enzyme genes (<em>ApSOD</em>, <em>ApCAT</em>, <em>ApPrxV</em>), the stress protein <em>HSP70</em>, and oxidative damage (MDA levels). Immune function was evaluated under baseline and post-infection conditions (with <em>Vibrio crassostreae</em> in the laboratory), through analysis of hemocyte count, infiltration, viability, and antibacterial activity. Compared to moderate or weak upwelling in the field, and non-upwelling conditions in the laboratory, intense upwelling resulted in: (i) upregulation of stress-associated genes in the field and following infection in the laboratory; (ii) increased oxidative damage after bacterial challenge; (iii) reduced circulating and infiltrating hemocytes; (iv) elevated hemocyte mortality; and (v) decreased antibacterial activity. These findings suggest that intense upwelling induces oxidative stress and impairs hemocyte-mediated immune responses in <em>A. purpuratus</em>, potentially increasing susceptibility to pathogens. This study enhances our understanding of how climate change-driven upwelling affects scallop physiology and immune defense, with important implications for aquaculture sustainability and disease management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12127,"journal":{"name":"Fish & shellfish immunology","volume":"165 ","pages":"Article 110480"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144247178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel LRR domain-containing C-type lectin gene with immune regulatory functions protects Penaeus vannamei against Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection","authors":"Kejia Weng ,&nbsp;Ruoyu Liu ,&nbsp;Chengqi Xiong ,&nbsp;Yuxin Shi ,&nbsp;Wenqian Chen ,&nbsp;Chuanqi Wang ,&nbsp;Linwei Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110482","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110482","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>C-type lectins (CTLs), a vital group of soluble pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), are essential to the shrimp's innate immune system. However, little is known about the CTLs composed of a C-type lectin domain (CTLD) and another domain. In this study, a novel C-type lectin containing a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain, designated LRRCTL, was identified in <em>Penaeus vannamei</em> and found to exhibit immune regulatory functions. First, <em>LRRCTL</em> expression was highest in the hepatopancreas. The mRNA expression levels of <em>LRRCTL</em> showed a significant upregulation under the different stimuli, including <em>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</em>, <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Aspergillus niger</em>, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Second, knockdown of the expression of <em>LRRCTL</em> increased the bacterial load of <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em>, whereas injection of rLRRCTL or r△LRR-LRRCTL recombinant proteins enhanced the survival rate of <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em>-infected shrimp. Additionally, the knockdown of <em>LRRCTL</em> expression reduced the mRNA level of multiple immune-related genes, encompassing both immune signaling components and antimicrobial peptide genes, suggesting an important role in immune regulation. Our findings reveal that LRRCTL is essential for regulating humoral immune responses, particularly antimicrobial peptide production, against <em>V. parahaemolyticus</em> infection. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for further investigation into the functional mechanisms of composite CTLs in shrimp innate immunity and potential molecular targets for developing strategies to prevent and control shrimp diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12127,"journal":{"name":"Fish & shellfish immunology","volume":"165 ","pages":"Article 110482"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144247144","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural features, transcriptional profiles, and potential roles in antiviral immunity of interferon-stimulated 20-kDa exonuclease (ISG20) in red-spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara)","authors":"D.M.K.P. Sirisena ,&nbsp;R.I. Sandeepani ,&nbsp;J.D.H.E. Jayasinghe ,&nbsp;Jeganathan Tharshan Jeyakanesh ,&nbsp;E.M.T. Tharanga ,&nbsp;Yasara Kavindi Kodagoda ,&nbsp;Cheong Uk Park ,&nbsp;Hanchang Sohn ,&nbsp;Qiang Wan ,&nbsp;Jehee Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110481","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110481","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interferon-stimulated 20-kDa exonuclease (ISG20) is a fundamental antiviral gene that plays a critical role in the vertebrate innate immune system. However, its function in fish remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the structural and functional features of <em>Epinephelus akaara</em> ISG20 (EAISG20). EAISG20 exhibited the highest degree of association with its orthologs from <em>Epinephelus</em> species and clustered with teleostean ISG20s in the phylogenetic tree. Under normal physiological conditions, EAISG20 mRNA was the most highly expressed in the blood. The temporal expression analysis of <em>EAISG20</em> indicated significant transcriptional responses following stimulation with lipopolysaccharide, polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), and nervous necrosis virus (NNV) in the immune challenge experiment. The subcellular localization assay revealed that EAISG20 was predominantly localized in the cell nucleus. To examine its role in antiviral defense, EAISG20 was overexpressed in fish cells, and it resulted in a significant reduction in viral gene transcription and an increased cell survival following infection with viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) and NNV. Additionally, EAISG20 contributed substantially to apoptosis suppression by maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential during poly I:C stimulation. Overall, the present study highlighted the antiviral potential of EAISG20 against various viral stimuli, thereby providing remarkable insight into the innate immune response of ISG20 in teleosts and laying the groundwork for future research on its role in antiviral defense.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12127,"journal":{"name":"Fish & shellfish immunology","volume":"165 ","pages":"Article 110481"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144243119","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of the host-pathogen interactions between Pseudomonas plecoglossicida and Nocardia seriolea in a cell line derived from head kidney of yellow large croaker","authors":"Li-Yun Jin ,&nbsp;Shu-Ya Li ,&nbsp;Fei Yin ,&nbsp;Zhen Tao ,&nbsp;Xiao Xie ,&nbsp;Su-Ming Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110477","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110477","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Nocardia seriolae</em> and <em>Pseudomonas plecoglossicida</em> are two important pathogenic bacterial species in aquaculture, causing visceral granulomatous disease in large yellow croaker (<em>Larimichthys crocea</em>) and other economically important fish species. However, the difference of host-pathogen interactions between these two bacteria have not been well defined. In present study, ultrastructural changes, cell cytotoxicity, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, ferroptosis, and transcriptomic profiles induced by <em>P. plecoglossicida</em> and <em>N. seriolae</em> were evaluated in a head kidney originating cell line from yellow large croaker (LYC-hK). Transmission electron microscope showed that both <em>P. plecoglossicida</em> and <em>N. seriolae</em> were able to invade into and multiply intracellularly, but display different intracellular ultrastructural changes upon bacterial infection. Lactate dehydrogenase assay showed that both two bacteria had low cell cytotoxicity toward LYC-hK cell, compared to the cytotoxic positive bacterium, <em>Photobacterium damselae</em> subsp. <em>damselae</em>. Flow cytometry detection showed that <em>N. seriolae</em> had significant stronger ability to trigger ROS production and apoptosis in LYC-hK than that of <em>P. plecoglossicida</em>. Intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH), total glutathione (GSH + GSSG) and Fe²⁺ measurements showed that <em>N. seriolae</em> infection led to an extremely low GSH or GSH + GSSG level and significant higher Fe²⁺ level in LYC-hK. Moreover, comparative transcriptomes by RNA-sequencing revealed some same and different cellular and molecular responses in LYC-hK after <em>N. seriolae</em> or <em>P. plecoglossicida</em> infection. These findings will provide new insight into understanding the pathogenesis of fish visceral granulomatous disease caused by these two bacterial pathogens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12127,"journal":{"name":"Fish & shellfish immunology","volume":"165 ","pages":"Article 110477"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144247145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Ran GTPase inhibits SGIV and RGNNV infection by upregulating host immune response in grouper","authors":"Xiaozhi Wen ,&nbsp;Lingfeng Guan ,&nbsp;Liqun Wang ,&nbsp;Zihan Zhang ,&nbsp;Xinyan Wei ,&nbsp;Qiwei Qin ,&nbsp;Shaowen Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110479","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110479","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ran is a small G-protein that acts as a “molecular switch” in nucleoplasmic transport regulating cellular activities. However, the functions of Ran in grouper and their effects on the viral infections are still unclear. In this study, we identified and characterized Ran in <em>Epinephelus coioides</em> (EcRan). EcRan encodes a 215 amino acid polypeptide containing key conserved domains including G1-G5 box and C terminal domains. EcRan was widely expressed in different tissues of healthy groupers, and showed obvious nucleus localization. Upon infection of Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) or red spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV), EcRan transcript was significantly decreased. Moreover, overexpression of EcRan remarkably inhibited the replication of SGIV and RGNNV, whereas knockdown of EcRan notably promoted the replication of SGIV and RGNNV. In addition, overexpressed EcRan positively regulated the transcription of interferon (IFN)-related and inflammatory factors, including IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), myxovirus resistance gene 1 (MXI), laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 (LGP2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8). The transcription of these immune genes was down regulated when EcRan transcription was inhibited by siRNA. Taken together, EcRan showed the antiviral effects against SGIV and RGNNV infections by positively regulating innate immune response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12127,"journal":{"name":"Fish & shellfish immunology","volume":"165 ","pages":"Article 110479"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144233648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of SiIκB confirms the existence of a conserved IκB–NF-κB regulatory mechanism in sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius","authors":"Yifan Qu ,&nbsp;Yan Gao ,&nbsp;Jie Cui ,&nbsp;Haikun Zhang ,&nbsp;Fengchen Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaoxue Lin ,&nbsp;Zhongyi Chu ,&nbsp;Yaqiong Liu ,&nbsp;Yijing Han ,&nbsp;Baoyu Huang ,&nbsp;Xiaotong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110478","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110478","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The large-scale death of cultured sea urchins due to pathogenic infections has profoundly affected the aquaculture sector. However, the exact details of the innate immune mechanisms in these organisms are unclear and associated research remains limited. The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) plays a key role in the immune process of animals, thereby significantly influencing cellular regulation, development, and diverse biological functions. The inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB) protein interacts directly with the transcription factor to suppress its activity. However, this regulatory process has not been fully explored in sea urchins. In this study, a newly identified <em>IκB</em> gene (designated <em>SiIκB</em>) from the sea urchin <em>Strongylocentrotus intermedius</em> was extensively characterized. <em>SiIκB</em> comprises a 1140 bp open reading frame, producing a 379-amino-acid protein that contains six conserved ankyrin repeats. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that SiIκB grouped with IκB proteins from other echinoderms. The expression of <em>SiIκB</em> mRNA in various tissues was assessed using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, identifying the highest expression levels in the intestine and coelomocytes. Moreover, the SiIκB protein was located primarily in the cytoplasm of transfected eukaryotic cells. Lipopolysaccharide and polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid stimulation triggered a substantial increase in <em>SiIκB</em> gene expression, which showed a pattern of initial suppression followed by upregulation. The interaction between SiIκB and SiRel, part of the sea urchin NF-κB family, was verified through co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Furthermore, dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that SiIκB suppressed several SiRel-activated reporter genes (<em>AP-1</em>, <em>IFN-α/</em>γ, and <em>IL-6</em>) in a dose-dependent manner. These findings indicate that SiIκB is essential for regulating SiRel activity, therefore facilitating sea urchin innate immunity. This study advances our theoretical understanding of echinoderm immunity and provides a foundation for the development of disease-resistant sea urchins.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12127,"journal":{"name":"Fish & shellfish immunology","volume":"165 ","pages":"Article 110478"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144231970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptome analysis of the Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei post-WSSV infection","authors":"Xupeng Li ,&nbsp;Jingjing Wang ,&nbsp;Sheng Luan ,&nbsp;Kun Luo ,&nbsp;Jie Kong ,&nbsp;Xianhong Meng","doi":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110476","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110476","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Pacific white shrimp, <em>Penaeus vannamei</em>, is a globally significant aquaculture species, but it faces major threats from the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) due to the virus's broad host range and high lethality. Although various studies have explored the molecular mechanisms of <em>P</em>. <em>vannamei</em> resistance to WSSV, the role of epigenetics, particularly DNA methylation, remains underexplored. DNA methylation, a key epigenetic modification, can influence gene expression and immune response. This study conducted genome-wide DNA methylation and transcriptome analysis at different post-infection stages. The results showed a significant decrease in genome-wide DNA methylation post-WSSV infection, corresponding with the upregulation of many differentially expressed genes (DEGs), particularly in the CG context. Early in the infection, classic immune pathways like JAK-STAT and p53 were enriched in differentially methylated region (DMR) related DEGs. However, in the later stage, immune-related pathways declined, giving way to pathways involved in cellular and metabolic processes, suggesting an adaptation phase where the shrimp's immune system adjusts to prolonged infection by managing cellular processes and metabolic demands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12127,"journal":{"name":"Fish & shellfish immunology","volume":"165 ","pages":"Article 110476"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144212150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Discovery and characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus AHPND-responsive piRNAs in modulating shrimp immune response","authors":"Waruntorn Luangtrakul ,&nbsp;Phattarunda Jaree ,&nbsp;Kunlaya Somboonwiwat","doi":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110458","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110458","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) represent the largest class of small non-coding RNAs, typically ranging from 24 to 31 nucleotides in length. When complexed with PIWI protein, piRNAs suppress expression of transposons and protein-coding genes, acting at both the transcriptional or post-transcriptional levels. While a recent study suggest that piRNAs play a regulatory role in shrimp during viral infections, their involvement in antibacterial responses remains unexplored. This study aims to identify piRNAs in the hemocyte of <em>Penaeus vannamei</em> infected with <em>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</em> AHPND (VP_AHPND). By re-analyzing our previous small RNA data generated from the shrimp hemocytes of heat-shock-treated challenged with VP_AHPND, we identified a total of 150 piRNA homologs across all libraries, with six piRNAs showing significant dysregulation in response to VP_AHPND infection. The target genes of piRNAs were identified from our in-house <em>P. vannamei</em> transcriptome database. Expression profiling revealed a negative correlation between piRNAs and their predicted targets, suggesting a potential regulatory role. Among them, we further characterized piR-pva-29948104 which targets E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase RNF26-like (<em>PvRNF26</em>) —a STING ortholog involved in modulating shrimp immune responses via the STING-IKKβ-Relish pathway. Introducing of piR-pva-29948104 mimic suppressed <em>PvRNF26</em> expression resulting in the activation of downstream genes <em>PvVago5</em> and <em>PvPEN4</em> of the STING-IKKβ-Relish pathway. Correspondingly, <em>PvRNF26</em> knockdown enhanced immune gene activation, significantly reducing both shrimp mortality and bacterial load during VP_AHPND infection. In summary, the piRNA homologs were discovered in shrimp, <em>P. vannamei</em> and their potential roles were highlighted in regulating immune gene expression during VP_AHPND infection, offering new insights into shrimp immune response mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12127,"journal":{"name":"Fish & shellfish immunology","volume":"165 ","pages":"Article 110458"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144198634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genome-wide identification of ApeC domain-containing protein and revealing the function of ChACP-1.10 in oyster mucosal immunity","authors":"Tianxiang Lin ,&nbsp;Lu Liu ,&nbsp;Liang Zeng ,&nbsp;Congxin Zhao ,&nbsp;Shu Xiao ,&nbsp;Haitao Ma ,&nbsp;Jun Li ,&nbsp;Fan Mao ,&nbsp;Yanping Qin ,&nbsp;Yuehuan Zhang ,&nbsp;Yang Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhiming Xiang ,&nbsp;Ziniu Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110474","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110474","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Apextrin C-terminal (ApeC) domain-containing protein (ACP), a poorly studied gene family that is found exclusively in invertebrates, plays critical roles in mucosal immunity. However, the evolution and immunological mechanisms of ACP in oysters remain elusive. In this study, a total 148 ACP genes were identified in six oyster species genomes and were classified into five subgroups based on their domain architectures and phylogenetic analysis. Tandem duplications maybe play a crucial role in the expansion and diversification of the oyster ACP gene family. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that many CgACPs presented increased expression at 12 h and/or 24 h postinfection in the digestive gland upon exposure to <em>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</em>. qRT-PCR showed that <em>C. hongkongensis ChACP-1.</em>10 mRNA significantly increased 220-fold in the gills and modestly increased 2.6-fold in the hemolymph after 3 h post-<em>V. coralliilyticus</em> infection, respectively. These results suggest that ChACP-1.10 may play a potential role in oyster mucosal immunity. Structural analysis revealed that the ChACP-1.10-ApeC domain, a distinct β-tripod fold, is capable of binding three Ca²⁺ ions in three long Loop (DXEDX₄N). The recombinant protein ChACP-1.10 agglutinates and binds bacteria and fungi in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner. ChACP-1.10 functions not only as a PRR binding PGN, but also as an immune effector that enhances the mRNA expression of <em>ChDefensins</em> and <em>ChIL-17s</em>. Overall, this work provides insight into oyster mucosal immunity and health aquaculture as well as the function and evolution of the ACP gene family.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12127,"journal":{"name":"Fish & shellfish immunology","volume":"165 ","pages":"Article 110474"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144195815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}