Characterization of the interferon pathway in the teleost fish gonad against the vertically transmitted nervous necrosis virus
Author(s)
Date Issued
2015
Type
article
Volume
96
Issue
96
Start Page
2176
End Page
2187
ISSN
221317
Journal
Abstract
One of the most powerful innate immune responses against viruses is mediated by type I IFN.
In teleost fish, it is known that virus infection triggers the expression of ifn and many
IFN-stimulated genes, but the viral RNA sensors and mediators leading to IFN production are
scarcely known. Thus, we have searched for the presence of these genes in gilt-head sea
bream (Sparus aurata) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), and evaluated their
expression after infection with viral nervous necrosis virus (VNNV) in the brain, the main viral
target tissue, and the gonad, used to transmit the virus vertically. In sea bream, a fish
species resistant to the VNNV strain used, we found an upregulation of the genes encoding
MDA5 (melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5), TBK1 (TANK-binding kinase 1), IRF3
(IFN regulatory factor 3), IFN, Mx [myxovirus (influenza) resistance protein] and PKR
(dsRNA-dependent protein kinase receptor) proteins in the brain, which were unaltered in the
gonad and could favour the dissemination by gonad fluids or gametes. Strikingly, in European
sea bass, a very susceptible species, we also identified, transcripts coding for LGP2
(Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology 2), MAVS (mitochondrial antiviral signalling), TRAF3
(TNF receptor-associated factor 3), TANK (TRAF family member-associated NFkB activator)
and IRF7 (IFN regulatory factor 7), and found that all the genes analysed were upregulated in
the gonad, but only mda5, lgp2, irf3, mx and pkr were upregulated in the brain. These findings
supported the notion that the European sea bass brain innate immune response is unable to
clear the virus and pointed to the importance of gonad immunity to control the dissemination of
VNNV to the progeny – an aspect that is worth investigating in aquatic animals.
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Conference(s)
JOURNAL OF GENERAL VIROLOGY