Immune responses of Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer Bloch, against an inactivated betanodavirus vaccine

Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), exhibited strong immune responses against a single injection of the formalin-inactivated red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV), a betanodavirus originally isolated in Japan. Fish produced neutralizing antibodies at high titre levels from days 10 (mean titre 1:480) to 116 (1:1280), with the highest titre at day 60 post-vaccination (1:4480). When fish were challenged with the homologous RGNNV at day 54 post-vaccination, there were no mortalities in both the vaccinated and unvaccinated control fish. However, a rapid clearance of the virus was observed in the brains and kidneys of vaccinated fish, followed by a significant increase in neutralizing-antibody titres. Furthermore, the vaccine-induced antibodies potently neutralized Philippine betanodavirus isolates (RGNNV) in a cross-neutralization assay. The present results indicate the potential of the formalin-inactivated RGNNV vaccine against viral nervous necrosis (VNN) of Asian seabass.     

Protection conferred against viral nervous necrosis by simultaneous inoculation of aquabirnavirus and inactivated betanodavirus in the sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus (Thunberg)

An aquabirnavirus (ABV) and a formalin-inactivated betanodavirus [redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV)] were investigated for their potential to prevent RGNNV-induced viral nervous necrosis (VNN) in the sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus (Thunberg). Three groups of fish were injected intramuscularly with ABV, intraperitoneally with inactivated RGNNV (iRGNNV) or with both ABV and iRGNNV. At 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-injection (p.i.), fish were challenged by intramuscular injection of RGNNV. Control fish, which received neither ABV nor iRGNNV, showed high mortalities in all RGNNV challenges. Fish that received only ABV exhibited relative percent survival (RPS) of >60 against RGNNV challenges at 3, 7, 14 and 21 days p.i., but not at 28 days p.i., while fish that received only iRGNNV showed significantly higher protection against RGNNV challenges only at 21 and 28 days p.i. In contrast, fish that received both ABV and iRGNNV showed 60 or higher RPS against all RGNNV challenges. Fish inoculated with iRGNNV with or without ABV exhibited similar high titres of neutralizing antibodies to RGNNV at 14, 21 and 28 days p.i. These results indicate that combined inoculation with iRGNNV and ABV conferred both rapid non-specific and delayed specific protection against VNN.     

Histopathological studies on viral nervous necrosis of sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus Thunberg, at the grow-out stage

Abstract Viral nervous necrosis caused by sevenband grouper nervous necrosis virus (SGNNV) has occurred in grow-out stages (0-3 years old) of sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus, since the 1980s. In the present study, based on histopathological features of the central nervous system (CNS) in naturally diseased fish, pernasal infection experiments using grow-out fish were performed and pernasal infection was established as a putative invasion route of SGNNV. The definite SGNNV-targeted cells were determined by histopathological studies including indirect fluorescent antibody test and electron microscopy. Nerve cells in the olfactory lobe were most extensively necrotized with vacuolation followed by infiltration of microglia and macrophages. Purkinje cells and Golgi cells were extensively infected in the cerebellum. Megalocells and small nerve cell nuclei were also infected in the preoptic area, thalamus, medulla oblongata and spinal cord. Only a few small nerve cells were infected in the olfactory bulb and optic tectum. The retina of some diseased fish displayed vacuolated bipolar cells of the inner nuclear layer and in the ganglion cell layer. These SGNNV-infected nerve cells displayed viroplasmic inclusions containing virions, vacuoles and myelin-like structures. Based on observed histopathological changes, the lesion of the CNS was characterized by encephalitis but not encephalopathy.     

High prevalence of betanodavirus barfin flounder nervous necrosis virus as well as red‐spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus genotype in shellfish

Using two serially executed PCRs, the discriminative multiplex two‐step RT‐PCR (DMT‐2 RT‐PCR) following the detection seminested two‐step RT‐PCR (DSN‐2 RT‐PCR), we found a high frequency presence of BFNNV genotype as well as RGNNV in various domestic and imported shellfish. This was definitely different from the previous reports of outbreaks and asymptomatic infection only by the RGNNV genotype in cultured finfish in Korea. Cultivation of NNV entrapped in shellfish was performed successfully by a blind passage. Thus, in an attempt to elucidate the epidemiology of betanodavirus, experiments conducted on 969 shellfish samples concluded that (i) distribution of NNV genotype, especially BFNNV, in shellfish is clearly different from that found in finfish of the world; (ii) unlike RGNNV, which showed a high rate in summer, BFNNV showed no seasonal variation and this result suggests BFNNVs in the marine environment remain fairly constant throughout the year; and (iii) the entrapped virus in shellfish was alive and culturable in vitro. These results are the first report of high level prevalence of in vitro culturable NNV in shellfish, for both BFNNV and RGNNV, which may present a potential risk in transmitting nodaviruses to host species in a marine environment.     

Complete sequencing of Tunisian redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus betanodavirus capsid gene and RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase gene

Finfish nodaviruses (betanodaviruses) can cause highly destructive infections in numerous species of farmed marine fish larvae and juveniles worldwide. The betanodavirus genome consists of two single‐stranded positive‐sense RNA molecules (RNA1 and RNA2). The virus can be classified into four genotypes based on the partial sequences of the coat protein (CP) gene (T2 and T4 regions). Currently, genomic sequence information for RNA1 regions of RNA2 outside of T2 and T4 is less well documented. This study reports on the characterization of the full RNA2 sequence of a Tunisian betanodavirus with a length of 1433 nt, containing a 339 amino acid open‐reading frame encoding the CP, and typing to the redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus Ia genotype following phylogenetic analysis. The homology of the capsid protein to other betanodaviruses or alphanodaviruses was compared. In addition, a full length RNA1 sequence of 3104 nt encoding a 982 amino acid RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase was obtained.     

Betanodavirus infections of teleost fish: a review

In the last decade betanodavirus infections have emerged as major constraints on the culture of marine fish in all parts of the world with the exception of the African continent. The occurrence of these infections appears to be a function of the number of species cultured and the intensity of culture. This has been further complicated by the promiscuous translocation of stock within and between countries. Great strides have been made in defining these agents and producing diagnostic techniques but much more remains to be done. Lack of knowledge of the epidemiology of the diseases caused by nodaviruses, except for vertical transmission of the pathogen in some species, has impeded the development of control measures but, even so, the measures identified to date have not been adequately implemented by producers with the result that catastrophic losses still occur on a regular basis.     

Detection of betanodavirus in juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), by antigen capture ELISA

Betanodavirus infection of fish has been responsible for mass mortalities in aquaculture hatcheries worldwide. Betanodaviruses possess a bipartite single-stranded RNA genome consisting of the 3.1 kb RNA1 encoding an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the B2 protein, while the 1.4 kb RNA2 encodes the viral nucleocapsid protein, alpha. A panel of six monoclonal antibodies against the alpha protein of greasy grouper nervous necrosis virus (GGNNV) was developed for use in diagnostics. All antibodies reacted with native and recombinant alpha in immunoblot and indirect immunofluorescence assays. Each of the monoclonal antibodies reacted against discrete regions of the alpha protein, though none reacted with the extreme C-terminal region of the protein. One of the monoclonal antibodies, specific for the K151-T246 region of alpha, was used for the development of an antigen capture ELISA. In this assay we could detect 10(3)-10(4) TCID(50) units of virus derived from infected tissue culture supernatants. Head tissue extracts prepared from experimentally infected barramundi, Lates calcarifer, juveniles were assayed for GGNNV using the antigen capture assay and a clear increase in alpha antigen was detected from 5 to 15 days post-challenge. The assay thus represents a useful method for field-based detection of betanodavirus in fish hatcheries.     

鱼病毒性神经坏死病病毒（VNNV）不同基因型鉴别方法的建立及在VNN检疫和监测中的应用

从GenBank中查找出乙型野田村病毒组中海水鱼类各病毒的序列,并用Sequencher多重序列比较软件将其分到条纹踢神经坏死病毒(striped jack nervous necrosis virus,SJNNV)组、条纹星鲽神经坏死病毒(barfin flounder nervous necrosis virus,BFNNV)组、红点石斑鱼神经坏死病毒(redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus,RGNNV)组和虎斑东方纯神经坏死病毒(tiger puffer nervous necrosis virus,TPNNV)组4个基因型的组别中。用DNAsis序列比较软件比较同一基因型各基因序列之间的同源性,均在815％以上;不同基因型之间序列的同源性,均在66％以下。结合Premier引物设计软件和Sequencher序列多重比较软件,设计了4对引物,采用逆转录聚合酶链式反应(RT—PCR)来鉴别这4个不同的基因型。对从深圳口岸进境的产地为台湾的海水鱼苗和广东、福建两省养殖的主要海水鱼类进行检疫和监测,结果在进境的海水鱼苗中检出有RGNNV基因型的VNNV,在福建和广东省养殖的石斑鱼成鱼和鱼苗的病鱼体内均检测到RGNNV基因型的VNNV,对上述扩增产物基因序列进行比较,相似性均在96．5％以上,推导出的氨基酸序列与玛拉巴石斑鱼神经坏死病毒(MNNV)序列相似性均为100％。     

Fishpathogens.eu/noda: a free and handy online platform for Betanodavirus targeted research and data sharing

Viral nervous necrosis (VNN) is a severe neuropathological disease affecting a broad variety of finfish species worldwide. The causative agents of VNN are small viruses with a bi‐segmented RNA genome known as betanodaviruses. At least four species with distinct but yet insufficiently characterized epidemiological features are recognized. The spread of VNN to an increasing number of host species, its wide geographic extent and its economical and ecological impacts justify the importance of collating as much molecular data as possible for tracing the origin of viral isolates and highlight the need for a freely accessible tool for epidemiological and molecular data sharing and consultation. For this purpose, we established a web‐based specific database using the www.fishpathogens.eu platform, with the aim of collecting molecular and epidemiological information on VNN viruses, with relevance to their control, management and research studies.     

Genetic characterization of a betanodavirus isolated from a clinical disease outbreak in farm‐raised tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) in Thailand

Betanodavirus infection was diagnosed in larvae of farm‐raised tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.), in central Thailand. Extensive vacuolar degeneration and neuronal necrosis were observed in histological sections with positive immunohistochemical staining for betanodavirus. Molecular phylogenetic analysis was performed based on the nucleotide sequences (1333 bases) of the capsid protein gene. The virus strain was highly homologous (93.07–93.88%) and closely related to red‐spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV).     

Susceptibility of cultured juveniles of several marine fish to the sevenband grouper nervous necrosis virus

Piscine nodaviruses (betanodaviruses) have been tentatively divided into four genotypes (SJNNV, RGNNV, TPNNV and BFNNV) and it is suggested that host specificity is different among these genotypes. In the present study, a betanodavirus [sevenband grouper nervous necrosis virus (SGNNV)] belonging to the redspotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) genotype, to which most betanodaviruses from warm water fish are identified, was evaluated for its pathogenicity to hatchery-reared juveniles of several marine fish species. When challenged with the virus by a bath method (10(5.1) TCID50 mL(-1)), sevenband grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus, Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, and tiger puffer, Takifugu rubripes, displayed behavioural abnormalities and mortalities with distinct histopathological signs of viral nervous necrosis and heavily immunostained cells were observed in the central nervous tissues and retina. Bath-challenged rock fish, Sebastiscus marmoratus, and a hybrid of sevenband grouper and kelp grouper, E. moara, did not display any behavioural abnormality or mortality during the experimental period, although many fish showed slight signs of viral infection in nerve cells. Kelp grouper and red sea bream, Pagrus major, showed no behavioural abnormality, mortality or immunohistopathological changes after the virus challenge. These results are, in part, consistent with the natural host range of RGNNV, indicating the complexity in the host specificity of betanodaviruses.     

Emergence of pathogenic betanodaviruses belonging to the SJNNV genogroup in farmed fish species from the Iberian Peninsula

Betanodaviruses are the causative agents of viral nervous necrosis (VNN) or viral encephalopathy and retinopathy (VER) in cultured marine fish. Based on the RNA2 gene fish nodaviruses have been traditionally classified into four different genotypes and recently a fifth genotype has been proposed. This study presents sequencing data of 24 new nodaviruses obtained from three different fish species: sea bass, Dicentrarchux labrax (L.), sea bream, Sparus aurata L., and Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis Kaup, cultured in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Sequence analysis was performed on the T4 region (388 nt) of the coat protein gene. In addition, phylogenetic analysis, according to maximum parsimony and neighbour-joining methods, was performed using these sequences and other nucleotide sequences available in the databases or in the literature. Results obtained indicate that all these new nodaviruses should be classified into the striped jack nervous necrosis virus (SJNNV) genotype. This finding suggests that SJNNV genotype is emerging in the Iberian Peninsula and could easily spread throughout the Mediterranean, representing a serious threat to the fish farming industry.     

鱼类神经坏死病毒研究进展与发展趋势

神经坏死病毒(nervous necrosis virus,NNV)是一种世界范围内流行、严重危害多种海水和淡水鱼类的传染性病原。NNV为单一正链、2节段RNA病毒,基因组由RNA1(3.1 kb)和RNA2(1.4 kb)组成。在病毒复制过程中,会合成亚基因组RNA3。RNA1编码RNA聚合酶。RNA2编码衣壳蛋白,为病毒的唯一结构蛋白。RNA3编码B1和B2两种非结构蛋白。根据病毒衣壳蛋白的基因序列,神经坏死病毒可以分成4种基因型,分别为拟鲹、红鳍东方鲀、条斑星鲽和赤点石斑神经坏死病毒基因型。但是,目前只发现A、B、C三种病毒血清型,A对应拟鲹神经坏死病毒基因型,B对应红鳍东方鲀神经坏死病毒基因型、C对应条斑星鲽神经坏死病毒和赤点石斑神经坏死病毒基因型。病毒存在垂直和水平两种传播途径,而且广泛分布于养殖和野生鱼类中。阻断病毒在野生与养殖鱼类之间的传播和开展新型鱼类疫苗研发是将来研究趋势。     

Susceptibility of betanodavirus in a newly established vertebra-derived cell line from Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

In the present study, a new cell line from the vertebra of mosquitofish Gambusia affinis was successfully established and characterized. The cell line is named as bone Gambusia affinis (BGA) and subcultured for more than 55 passages in Leibovitz's/L15 medium supplemented with 15% FBS at 28°C. The cell line has a modal chromosome number of 48. Molecular characterization of the partial sequence of the coi gene confirmed the origin of the BGA cell line from mosquitofish. These cells exhibited epithelial morphology confirmed by the cytokeratin marker. The BGA cells showed mineralization of their extracellular matrix when stained with alizarin red and von Kossa stain. BGA cells were found to be susceptible to RGNNV and SJNNV strains of betanodavirus (NNV) showing cytopathic effect with multiple vacuolations in the cells. The RT-PCR confirmed the betanodavirus infections in BGA cells. The SEM micrograph showed the morphological changes observed in the cell during virus infection. The in vivo challenge experiment also showed the viral replicating efficiency in the Gambusia affinis with increasing viral titre. Thus, our present results show that the BGA cell line is a useful tool for isolating betanodavirus and could be used to investigate bone cell differentiation and extracellular matrix mineralization.     

黄带拟鲹线粒体基因组测序及鲹科鱼类系统发育分析

摘要: 为深入开展黄带拟鲹种质鉴定、分类及遗传进化等研究,通过二代高通量测序与生物信息学分析,揭示了黄带拟鲹(Pseudocaranx dentex)线粒体基因组全序列基因结构及鲹科鱼类系统发育特征。结果显示,黄带拟鰺线粒体基因组为典型的环状DNA结构,序列全长为16 570 bp,碱基组成分别为A(27.2 %)、G(17.18%)、C(30.24%)和T(25.38%),包括13种蛋白编码基因,22个tRNA基因,2个rRNA基因,除ND6、tRNAGln、tRNAAla、tRNAAsn、tRNACys、tRNATyr、tRNASer、tRNAGlu、tRNAPro外,其余基因均在H链上编码,且基因组存在多处重叠区域。除CO Ⅰ和ND5的起始密码子分别为ATC和ATA外,其余11个蛋白编码基因的起始密码子均为ATG,以典型的TAA和TAG为终止密码子,在Cyt b中存在不完全终止密码子T;黄带拟鲹线粒体基因组全序列与蛋白编码基因的A+T含量分别为52.58%和51.55%,非编码控制区(D-loop)A+T富含61.69%,具有明显的AT偏好性。除tRNASer-(GCT)外,其余21个tRNA均含典型三叶草二级结构。为进一步研究黄带拟鲹系统进化特性,通过与18种鲹科鱼类线粒体基因组全序列及16S rRNA基因构建系统进化树显示,黄带拟鲹与高体若鲹同属一个分支,亲缘关系最近。结果可为黄带拟鲹物种鉴别、遗传多样性评价与保护提供技术依据。