Molecular Characterization and Gene Expression Profiling ... - CUSAT

Contents
Title Page Nos.
1 General Introduction 1-94
1.1 Introduction 1-2
1.2 Major groups of shrimps cultured worldwide 2-6
1.2.1 Penaeus monodon – Giant tiger shrimp 3-5
1.2.2 Fenneropenaeus indicus– Indian white shrimp 5-6
1.3 Major constraints in aquaculture 6-9
1.4 WSSV 9-18
1.5 Approaches for the control of diseases in shrimp aquaculture 18-22
1.6 Crustacean immune system 22-36
1.6.1 Haemocytes 27
1.6.2 Haematopoiesis 27-29
1.6.3 Cellular immune response 29-30
1.6.4 Humoral immune responses 30-36
1.7 Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) 37-92
1.7.1 Background of the AMPs 37-39
1.7.2 Terminology 39
1.7.3 The Nature of AMPs 39-40
1.7.4 Distribution of AMPs 40-44
1.7.5 Biological activity 45-46
1.7.6 Diversity of AMPs 46-58
1.7.7 Induction and regulation of AMP expression 58-60
1.7.8 Regulation of synthesis and release of AMPs 60-61
1.7.9 Localization of AMPs 61-62
1.7.10 Mechanism of action 62-80
1.7.11 Mechanisms of selective toxicity 80-82
1.7.12 Characteristics that affect antimicrobial activity and specificity 82-85
1.7.13 Potential applications of AMPs 85-92
1.8 Relevance of the present study 92-93
1.9 Objectives 94
1.10 Outline of the thesis 94
2 Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of
antimicrobial peptides in Penaeus monodon 95-185
2.1 Introduction 95-113
2.1.1 Anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (ALF) 97-99
2.1.2 Crustins 99-105
2.1.3 Penaeidins 105-113
2.2 Materials and Methods 114-120
2.2.1 Experimental animals 114
2.2.2 RNase control 114-115
2.2.3 Haemolymph collection 115
2.2.4 RNA isolation 115-116
2.2.5 Determination of the quantity and quality of RNA 116
2.2.6 Reverse transcription 116
2.2.7 PCR amplification 116-117
2.2.8 Agarose gel electrophoresis 117