Pathogenicity and transcriptomic exploration of Vibrio fortis in Penaeus monodon

Abstract

In this study, a strain (recorded as Y6) was isolated from the biofloc pool, its DNA was extracted for 16S rDNA sequencing and compared in the NCBI database, and it was identified as Vibrio fortis. The V. fortis was activated, cultured, and artificially injected into Penaeus monodon to observe the symptoms and calculate the semi-lethal concentration (LC₅₀). It was found that the symptoms of the red leg, an empty stomach, and enlarged hepatopancreas of P. monodon after infection with V. fortis. The LC₅₀ was 4.00 × 10⁷, 2.24 × 10⁷, 1.82 × 10⁷, 1.41 × 10⁷, 7.52 × 10⁶ and 3.31 × 10⁶ CFU/mL at 16, 24, 32, 48, 128, and 144 hpi, respectively. The K-B disk method was used to detect the sensitivity of V. fortis to various antibiotic drugs. V. fortis resisted Ampicillin, Piperacillin, Cefazolin, Cephalothin and Cefoxitin. Highly sensitive to Polymyxin B, Tobramycin, Gentamicin, Cefepime, Cefoperazone and Streptomycin. To explore the molecular response mechanism of V. fortis infection in P. monodon, the hepatopancreas of P. monodon infected with V. fortis at 24 and 48 hpi by transcriptome sequencing, and a total of 347 DEGs were obtained (214 up-regulated DEGs and 133 down-regulated DEGs). In the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs, significant changes were found in genes and signaling pathways related to immune system and substance metabolism, including NOD-like receptor signaling pathways, Toll and Imd signaling pathways, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathways and pyruvate metabolism. This study initially revealed the immune response of P. monodon to V. fortis infection from the molecular level and provided a reference for further understanding of the study and control of the vibriosis of shrimp.

Keywords: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing; Medial lethal concentration; Penaeus monodon; Transcriptomic analysis; Vibrio fortis.