Comparative transcriptomic analysis of Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis infected with white spot syndrome virus

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is one of the most lethal viruses in shrimp aquaculture. Compared with other shrimp species, the Chinese shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis) is more susceptible to WSSV. The mortality of WSSV-infected F. chinensis can reach 100% within a week. No effective solution currently exists to solve the WSSV problem in F. chinensis aquaculture. After years of research, we found that individual F. chinensis from the same family can carry different viral load at the same time post-WSSV infection. To better understand the anti-WSSV mechanism of F. chinensis , we analysed the transcriptomic data from F. chinensis with high and low WSSV load at the same time post-WSSV infection and from healthy F. chinensis , in a WSSV-resistant group and a WSSV-susceptible group, respectively. We identified more differentially expressed genes in F. chinensis with high WSSV load than in those with low WSSV load at the same time post-WSSV infection. Many differentially expressed genes were enriched in Gene Ontology terms related to binding function and the extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway, which might play important roles in the anti-WSSV processes among F. chinensis.

Automated summary

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a lethal virus in shrimp aquaculture, with Chinese shrimp being more susceptible to infection. Currently, there is no effective solution to the WSSV problem in Chinese shrimp aquaculture. Research shows that different individuals from the same family can carry varying viral loads after WSSV infection. Transcriptomic analysis revealed differentially expressed genes related to binding function and the extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway, suggesting their importance in the anti-WSSV processes in Chinese shrimp.