ARS | Publication request: Transcriptional profiles of multiple genes in the anterior kidney of channel catfish vaccinated with an attenuated Aeromonas hydrophila

Submitted to: Fish and Shellfish Immunology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 6, 2011
Publication Date: December 1, 2011
Repository URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/56367
Citation: Mu, X., Wei Pridgeon, Y., Klesius, P.H. 2011. Transcriptional profiles of multiple genes in the anterior kidney of channel catfish vaccinated with an attenuated Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish and Shellfish Immunology. 31:1162-1172.

Interpretive Summary: A total of 22 genes were identified from channel catfish anterior kidney at 12h post vaccination with an attenuated vaccine of A. hydrophila AL09-71 N+R. Of the 22 genes, six were confirmed to be significantly induced by the vaccination. Of 88 channel catfish genes selected from literature, 14 were found to be significantly upregulated by the vaccination. The transcriptional levels of the total 20 genes induced by the vaccination were then compared to that induced by the virulent parent strain of A. hydrophila AL09-71 at different time points. At 3h post vaccination or infection, Na+/K+ ATPase subunit was upregulated the most. At 6 and 12 h, hepcidin and interleukin-1 were induced the highest. At 24 h, hepcidin was upregulated the most, followed by lysozyme c. At 48 h, lysozyme c and hepcidin were significantly induced. When vaccinated fish were challenged by AL09-71, relative percent of survival of vaccinated fish were 100% at 14 days post vaccination (dpv). Transcriptional levels of toll-like receptor 5 and hepcidin were significantly upregulated in vaccinated fish at 14 days post vaccination. Taken together, our results suggest that vaccination with attenuated A. hydrophila mimics infection by live bacteria, inducing multiple immune genes in channel catfish.

Technical Abstract: A total of 22 uniquely expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were identified from channel catfish anterior kidney subtractive cDNA library at 12h post vaccination with an attenuated A. hydrophila (AL09-71 N+R). Of the 22 ESTs, six were confirmed to be significantly (P<0.05) induced by the vaccination. Of 88 channel catfish genes selected from literature, 14 were found to be significantly (P<0.05) upregulated by the vaccination. The transcriptional levels of the total 20 genes induced by the vaccination were then compared to that induced by the virulent parent A. hydrophila (AL09-71) at different time points. At 3h post vaccination (hpv) or infection (hpi), Na+/K+ ATPase subunit was upregulated the most. At 6 and 12 hpv or hpi, hepcidin and interleukin-1 were induced the highest. At 24 hpv or hpi, hepcidin was upregulated the most, followed by lysozyme c. At 48 hpi, lysozyme c and hepcidin were significantly induced. When vaccinated fish were challenged by AL09-71, relative percent of survival of vaccinated fish were 100% at 14 days post vaccination (dpv). Transcriptional levels of toll-like receptor 5 and hepcidin were significantly upregulated in vaccinated fish at 14 dpv. Taken together, our results suggest that vaccination with attenuated A. hydrophila mimics infection by live bacteria, inducing multiple immune genes in channel catfish.