title: White spot syndrome virus strains of different virulence induce distinct immune response in Cherax quadricarinatus.
abstract: In this study, we identified three white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) strains (WSSV-CN01, WSSV-CN02 and WSSV-CN03) with significant differences in virulence. Among them, WSSV-CN01 caused significant higher and earlier mortality in redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus, thus was determined as high-virulent, while WSSV-CN02 and WSSV-CN03 were moderate-virulent and low-virulent. By investigating the total number of the circulating haemocytes and the activity of immune relative enzymes, we demonstrated that the different virulent WSSV strains induced distinct immune response in the host. Notably, a dramatic reduction of circulating haemocytes was observed in the crayfish infected with WSSV-CN01 and WSSV-CN02 but not WSSV-CN03. Further analysis revealed that cell death induced by WSSV-CN01 and WSSV-CN02 might be responsible for the decrease of circulating haemocytes.
authors.affiliation: College of Ocean and Earth Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China; State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of State Oceanic Administration & Fujian, Third Institute of Oceanography, Xiamen 361005, PR China.
authors.forename: Meiling
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of State Oceanic Administration & Fujian, Third Institute of Oceanography, Xiamen 361005, PR China. Electronic address: lifang_87@163.com.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources of State Oceanic Administration & Fujian, Third Institute of Oceanography, Xiamen 361005, PR China.
authors.forename: Limei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: College of the Environment & Ecology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China. Electronic address: zxm@xmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003400:Astacoidea / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D004798:Enzymes / Q000097:blood; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D046848:White spot syndrome virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D004798:Enzymes
keywords: Immune response; Virulence; White spot syndrome virus