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Molecular Characterization and Gene Expression Profiling ... - CUSAT

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Chapter 6<br />

it is clear that ALF transcription, although tissue specific, occurs in multiple<br />

organs <strong>and</strong> could thereby provide systemic protection against pathogens.<br />

In the present study, though a down-regulation of crustins in the<br />

tissues could be observed on Bacillus administration pre-challenge WSSV,<br />

ALF <strong>and</strong> penaeidins were found to be up-regulated. This may be because of<br />

the fact that, probiotic administration, in effect, mimics a microbial challenge<br />

in shrimps <strong>and</strong> a further WSSV challenge would have resulted in an<br />

increasing number of ALF <strong>and</strong> penaeidin positive haemocytes. Together, the<br />

results suggested that haemocytes left the circulation <strong>and</strong> migrated into<br />

shrimp tissues, presumably in order to control <strong>and</strong> prevent the spreading of<br />

the pathogen. A similar observation was seen in the expression of penaeidin<br />

in L. vannamei (Munoz et al., 2004; Somboonwiwat et al., 2008).<br />

On WSSV challenge, the probiotic (Bacillus) treated group displayed<br />

higher up-regulation of all the AMP genes especially crustins <strong>and</strong><br />

penaeidins. Maximum up-regulation was found to be in the gills <strong>and</strong><br />

intestine of the treated group of shrimps. Previous studies on penaeidin<br />

expression has shown the expression levels of penaeidins to be higher in the<br />

haemocytes, gill, heart, <strong>and</strong> intestine since haemocytes infiltration are more<br />

in these tissues (Kang et al., 2004; Liu et al., 2005).<br />

Bacillus administration was found to support maximum up-regulation<br />

of penaeidins than other AMPs under both pre- <strong>and</strong> post-challenge<br />

conditions. This might be because of the fact that penaeidins are up-<br />

regulated in the presence of bacteria (Bachere et al., 2000a; Cuthbertson et al.,<br />

2004; Chiou et al., 2005), showing its potential antibacterial activity. Up-<br />

regulation of penaeidins on WSSV challenge also seems to be pointing to its<br />

possible mode of antiviral defense. This up-regulation was very high on<br />

Bacillus administration, which shows that administration of probiotic<br />

bacteria could enhance the production of AMPs which in turn could result in<br />

better protection against WSSV infection.<br />

<strong>Molecular</strong> <strong>Characterization</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Gene</strong> <strong>Expression</strong> <strong>Profiling</strong> of Antimicrobial Peptides in Penaeid Shrimps<br />

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