title: Expression of penaeidin antimicrobial peptides in early larval stages of the shrimp Penaeus vannamei.
abstract: Penaeidins are a family of antimicrobial peptides constitutively produced and stored in the hemocytes of penaeid shrimps. We have determined the expression and the localization of penaeidins in the first early larval stages (Nauplius V, Zoea I, II, III and Mysis II) and in post-larvae (1 and 8) of the shrimp Penaeus vannamei. Using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses, we localized penaeidin transcripts and peptides in a few hemocytes of larvae from Mysis II stage. However, RT-PCR analyses showed that penaeidin mRNAs are already present in the early stage of Nauplius V. In addition, penaeidin expression could not be detected in other cells than hemocytes. Our observations highlight the potential involvement of penaeidins during larval development and the ontogeny of immune system through hemocytes during this period of life, where shrimps are particularly susceptible to infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: IFREMER/CNRS/Université de Montpellier 2, UMR 5098, Défense et Résistance chez les Invertébrés Marins, CC 80, 2 place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vandenbulcke
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gueguen
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bachère
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D033364:Decapoda / Q000276:immunology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007814:Larva / Q000276:immunology; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C109158:penaeidin 3