Molecular Characterization and Expression Analysis of SKIV Infection of Interferon-Induced Protein with Tetratricopeptide Repeats 1 (IFIT1) in Epinephelus lanceolatus

Interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1 (IFIT1), also known as interferon-induced protein 56 (IFI56) or Interferon-stimulated protein 56 (ISG56), was originally identified as a protein induced upon treatment with interferon and inhibited by viral replication and translational initiation. In this study, Epinephelus lanceolatus IFIT1 (ELIFIT1) gene was cloned for the first time. The complete cDNA of ElIFIT1 gene includes 2921 nucleotides, and encodes a 437-amino acid (AA) protein. The putative ELIFIT1 protein has 9 TRP domains and is highly similar with IFIT1 proteins in other teleosts. In healthy fish, ELIFIT1 gene was highly expressed in the blood, which indicate its specific function in the peripheral immune system. Its expression was also observed in various immunity-related tissues including spleen, intestine, and kidney, Inducted with spotted knifejaw iridovirus (SKIV), ELIFIT1 gene expression was upregulated in the spleen, kidney, and liver 24 h after induction and reached its peak at 72 h, indicating that ELIFIT1 may play an important role in antivirus. These findings contribute to the understanding of the antiviral regulation of ELIFIT1 gene in teleost.

Automated summary

ELIFIT1 gene plays an important antiviral role in Epinephelus lanceolatus, with high expression in blood and immunity-related tissues. Upon viral infection, its expression is significantly upregulated and reaches peak levels within a specific timeframe.