Host defense against DNA virus infection in shrimp is mediated by the siRNA pathway.
The RNA interference (RNAi) system of eukaryotes using siRNAs has been documented as an immune response against invasion by RNA viruses. However, whether the siRNA pathway can be triggered by the infection with DNA viruses in animals remains to be investigated. In the present study, we show that Marsupenaeus japonicus shrimp can generate an antiviral siRNA (vp28-siRNA) in response to infection by a double-stranded DNA virus, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). After challenging with WSSV, vp28-siRNA is detected in all the WSSV-infected organs and tissues of shrimp as early as 24 h postinfection (p.i.). The results indicate that the host Dicer2 and Ago2 proteins are required for the biogenesis and function of vp28-siRNA, respectively. We show further that vp28-siRNA predominates in the cytoplasm of shrimp hemocytes at 48 h p.i. Knockdown of Dicer2 by special siRNA or inhibition of vp28-siRNA with locked nucleic acid antisense oligonucleotides both lead to a significant increase in WSSV copy number at 24-48 h p.i. Our study highlights a novel aspect of the siRNA pathway in the immune response of animals against infection by DNA viruses.
Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Animal Virology of Ministry of Agriculture and College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, The People's Republic of China.
Tianzhi
T
Huang
Xiaobo
X
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001156:Artemia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology*; D007109:Immunity; D034622:RNA Interference / Q000276:immunology; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics*; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics; D046848:White spot syndrome virus 1 / Q000502:physiology*
D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C548473:VP28 protein, white spot syndrome virus; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D043244:Ribonuclease III