White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) modulates lipid metabolism in white shrimp

Investigation into the lipid metabolism shifts occurring in shrimp infected with white spot syndrome virus provides insight into how this virus modulates host metabolism in a way that creates a favorable environment for its replication. In addition to the Warburg effect, which increases the availability of energy and biosynthetic building blocks in WSSV-infected shrimp, WSSV also induces both lipolysis at the viral genome replication stage (12 hpi) to provide material and energy for the virus replication, and lipogenesis at the viral late stage (24 hpi) to complete virus morphogenesis by supplying particular species of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs). Here, we further show that WSSV causes a reduction in lipid droplets (LDs) in hemocytes at the viral genome replication stage, and an increase in LDs in the nuclei of WSSV-infected hemocytes at the viral late stage. In the hepatopancreas, lipolysis is triggered by WSSV infection, and this leads to fatty acids being released into the hemolymph. beta-oxidation inhibition experiment reveals that the fatty acids generated by WSSV-induced lipolysis can be diverted into beta-oxidation for energy production. At the viral late stage, WSSV infection leads to lipogenesis in both the stomach and hepatopancreas, suggesting that fatty acids are in high demand at this stage for virion morphogenesis. Our results demonstrate that WSSV modulates lipid metabolism specifically at different stages to facilitate its replication.

Automated summary

Investigation into lipid metabolism shifts in shrimp infected with white spot syndrome virus shows how the virus controls host metabolism to create favorable conditions for its replication. The virus induces lipolysis during its replication stage to provide material and energy, and triggers lipogenesis during the late stage to facilitate virion morphogenesis. The study also reveals changes in lipid droplets and fatty acid release in infected cells. This research demonstrates that white spot syndrome virus modulates lipid metabolism at different stages to support replication.