Dietary quercetin protects Cherax quadricarinatus against white spot syndrome virus infection

Jing Gong; Xiaoyi Pan; Xiujuan Zhou; Fei Zhu

doi:10.1016/j.jip.2023.107931

Dietary quercetin protects Cherax quadricarinatus against white spot syndrome virus infection

J Invertebr Pathol. 2023 Jun:198:107931. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.107931. Epub 2023 May 9.

Authors

Jing Gong¹, Xiaoyi Pan², Xiujuan Zhou¹, Fei Zhu³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China.
² Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Fish Health and Nutrition of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou 313001, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou 311300, China. Electronic address: zhufei@zafu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37169327
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.107931

Abstract

Quercetin is a plant flavonoid with a molecular formula C₁₅H₁₀O₇. It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-apoptotic effects in animals. We used red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) infected with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) to investigate quercetin's effects on innate immunity of crustaceans. Quercetin supplementation significantly reduced the mortality of crayfish caused by WSSV infection and the number of VP28 copies in WSSV-infected crayfish. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that dietary quercetin supplementation increased the expression of immune-related genes, like JAK, STAT and ALF. Quercetin supplementation affected the activity of six immune-related enzymes and increased the total number of hemocytes in crayfish. It also significantly reduced the rate of hemocyte apoptosis in both WSSV-infected and uninfected crayfish. These results demonstrate the potential for commercial use of quercetin for the prevention of WSSV disease in crustaceans.

Keywords: Cherax quadricarinatus; Innate immunity; Quercetin; WSSV.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Astacoidea*
Hemocytes
Immunity, Innate / genetics
Quercetin / metabolism
Quercetin / pharmacology
White spot syndrome virus 1*

Substances

Quercetin