HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: vir.0.008912-0v1 90/6/1483    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Google Scholar Articles by He, F. Articles by Kwang, J. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by He, F. Articles by Kwang, J. Agricola Articles by He, F. Articles by Kwang, J.

Viral ubiquitin ligase WSSV222 is required for efficient white spot syndrome virus replication in shrimp

¹ Animal Health Biotechnology, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, 1 Research Link, Singapore 117604, Singapore
² OIE Reference Laboratory for WTD, Department of Zoology, C. Abdul Hakeem College, Melvisharam 632 509, Vellore Dist., Tamil Nadu, India
³ Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Block MD4, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117597, Singapore

Correspondence
Jimmy Kwang
kwang{at}tll.org.sg

The E3 ligase WSSV222 of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is involved in anti-apoptosis regulation by ubiquitin-mediated degradation of tumour suppressor-like protein (TSL), a shrimp tumour suppressor. In the present study, WSSV222 gene expression was silenced by using specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) in Sf9 and BHK cells. Based on the results of the in vitro silencing, WSSV-challenged shrimp were treated with anti-WSSV222 siRNA to knock down WSSV222 protein expression. The survival rate of shrimp and the efficiency of WSSV replication were assessed to evaluate the efficacy of anti-WSSV222 siRNA in regulating WSSV infection in shrimp. The anti-WSSV222 siRNA reduced the cumulative mortality in shrimp challenged with 10³ copies of WSSV and delayed the mean time to death in shrimp challenged with the higher dose of 10⁶ copies. The results of real-time quantitative PCR showed that virus replication was delayed and reduced in WSSV-challenged shrimp treated with anti-WSSV222 siRNA in comparison with challenged shrimp treated with random-control siRNA. Co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed that WSSV222 silencing inhibited the degradation of TSL in WSSV-challenged shrimp, indicating the requirement for WSSV222 for efficient replication of WSSV in shrimp.