Alteration of the haemocyte parameters,expression of immune‐related and neurohormone bursicon genes of giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) in the response to salinity stress and ammonia stress

We examined the effects of salinity stress and ammonia stress on alteration of the haemocyte count, phenoloxidase activity, expressions of immune‐related genes including prophenoloxidase (proPO), crustin, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and expressions of stress‐responsive neurohormone (Bur‐α and Bur‐β) in the thoracic and abdominal ganglia of giant river prawn Macrobrachium. These parameters of prawn that subjected to salinity stress (transferred from 0‰ to 5‰ and 10‰), and subjected to ammonia‐nitrogen (ammonia‐N) stress (transferred from 0 to 0.262 mg/L and 0.786 mg/L) were examined after 0, 3, 6, 24, 72 and 168 hr respectively. During the initial period of 3, 6 and 24 hr, granulocyte haemocyte (granular and semi‐granular hemocyte) count and PO activity significantly decreased, while expressions of Bur‐α and Bur‐β significantly increased. After 24 hr, granulocyte haemocyte count and PO activity significantly increased, whereas expressions of Bur‐α and Bur‐β significantly decreased. The expressions of proPO, crustin and HSP70 were significantly downregulated in the prawn that subjected to salinity stress and ammonia‐N stress at all time periods of 3–168 hr. In conclusion, changes in the granulocyte haemocyte count of M. rosenbergii following salinity stress and ammonia‐N stress are closely associated with the changes of Bur‐α and Bur‐β expressions.     

Biochemical characterization and physiological role of cortical rods in black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon

Cortical rods (CRs), precursors of egg jelly investment in many penaeoid shrimp, are composed of different proportions of proteins and carbohydrates, the physiological role of which still requires extensive investigation. In this study, we demonstrated the biochemical properties of the CRs and their role in the induction of the acrosome reaction (AR). Profiles of the isolated CRs revealed a number of major protein bands ranging from 35 to 230 kDa. These CR proteins were extensively glycosylated and sulfated. Lectin-based carbohydrate analysis further revealed the highest reactivity of concanavalin A (Con A) among other lectins used. In addition, the selective interference of Con A binding with mannose but not glucose indicated that CR glycoproteins were of high-mannose type. Using immunoblotting with anti-CR antibody, we further demonstrated that part of egg water (EW, a natural AR inducer) was derived from miscible components of the CRs. Physiological tests of water-soluble CR (wsCR) revealed its high AR inducing competency comparable to that of EW, which was far superior to that of acid-urea treated CR (auCR). Furthermore, the wsCR-induced AR was selectively inhibited by Con A, suggesting the significance of the exposing mannose residues in regulating P. monodon sperm AR response.     

Mortality from scale drop disease in farmed Lates calcarifer in Southeast Asia

In Southeast Asia, a new disease called scale drop disease (SDD) caused by a novel Megalocytivirus (SDDV) has emerged in farmed Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer) in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. We received samples from an Eastern Thai province that also showed gross signs of SDD (loss of scales). Clinical samples of 0.2–1.1 kg L. calcarifer collected between 2016 and 2018 were examined for evidence of SDDV infection. Histopathology was similar to that in the first report of SDDV from Singapore including necrosis, inflammation and nuclear pyknosis and karyorrhexis in the multiple organs. Intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were also observed in the muscle tissue. In a density‐gradient fraction from muscle extracts, TEM revealed enveloped, hexagonal megalocytiviral‐like particles (~100–180 nm). By PCR using primers derived from the Singaporean SDDV genome sequence, four different genes were amplified and sequenced from the Thai isolate revealing 98.7%–99.9% identity between the two isolates. Since viral inclusions were rarely observed, clinical signs and histopathology could not be used to easily distinguish between SDD caused by bacteria or SDDV. We therefore recommend that PCR screening be used to monitor broodstock, fry and grow‐out fish to estimate the current impact of SDDV in Southeast Asia and to prevent its spread.     

Cytotoxicity of Streptococcus agalactiae secretory protein on tilapia cultured cells

Streptococcus agalactiae secrete virulence factors believed to be able of killing host tissues, especially under elevated water temperature. A direct effect of S. agalactiae secretory products on tilapia cells was tested on the tilapia kidney (TK-1) cell culture. The bacteria were cultured under four different temperature levels: 22, 29, 32 and 37°C; the cell-free portion was processed through SDS-PAGE; and distinct bands were identified by LC-MS/MS. At least, three virulence factors were identified, Bsp, PcsB and CAMP factor, with increasing levels as the cultured temperature rose. Expressions of bsp, pcsB and cfb were also up-regulated with the rising of the temperature in S. agalactiae culture. The supernatant from the bacteria cultured under specified temperatures was added into TK-1 cell-cultured wells. Morphological damage and mortality of the cultured cells, as determined by MTT method, were increased progressively from the supernatant treatment according to the rise of temperature in S. agalactiae culture. This study suggests that the production of the three virulence factors of S. agalactiae reported herein is temperature-dependent, and it is likely that CAMP factor directly kills the TK-1 cells since the other two types of protein are involved in S. agalactiae cell division and the bacterial adherence to host tissues.     

Acrosome reaction in the sperm of the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon (Decapoda, Penaeidae)

Owing to the problem of male infertility in the domesticated shrimp Penaeus monodon, this study was conducted to reveal the morphological events of an acrosome reaction (AR) of sperm of this highly valuable species. The AR observed in an in vitro incubation of sperm with egg water (EW) and that during actual spawning was compared. Under transmission and scanning electron microscopy, sperm taken from the female thelycum was composed of a posterior main body, a central cap and an anterior single spike. Upon contact with EW, the sperm underwent two phases of AR: acrosomal exocytosis and spherical mass formation. The former was composed of a degeneration of the spike, swelling of the cap region and rupture of the acrosomal pouch. The latter began with polymerization of materials within the subacrosomal region and ended with re‐configuration of the subacrosomal region into an electron‐dense spherical mass. The AR of the sperm observed during spawning revealed similar morphological events, with degeneration of the spike upon contact with the vitelline envelope and formation of the spherical mass while penetrating into jelly material produced by protruding cortical rods. The results suggest the presence of AR inducers derived from the vitelline envelope and cortical rods of the egg. This study forms the basis for an evaluation of infertility regarding to AR in the domesticated P. monodon male.     

Modeling effects of soil,climate, and silviculture on growth ring specific gravity of Douglas-fir on a drought-prone site in Western Washington

Because wood specific gravity (SG), also known as relative or basic density, is correlated with many physical and mechanical properties it is a widely used indicator of wood quality. Furthermore, because SG measures dry weight per unit green volume and dry wood contains about 49% carbon and 20 MJ/kg energy, SG is useful for converting tree volume to carbon and energy content equivalents. Although many studies have investigated variables affecting SG, few have developed models to predict SG at the local level from age, silvicultural treatment, and growing environment variables. This study developed a four-parameter logistic model with mixed effects to predict the specific gravity of annual growth rings (RSG) from forty six 76-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii, Mirb. Franco) trees sampled from a thinning and biosolids fertilization experiment on a drought-prone site in Western Washington. RSG for up to sixty rings per tree was measured with X-ray densitometry on strips taken from disks removed from the top of the first 5 m log. Inter-annual RSG was modeled using treatment variables; local temperature, precipitation, and soil moisture deficit as growing environment variables; and ring number, area, width, and radius to the ring as tree variables. Ring age, ring area, March to May mean temperature, July soil moisture deficit, and whether or not biosolids had been applied were important predictors of RSG on this site. The equation for RSG can be easily converted to carbon or energy content equations by multiplying by the dry wood carbon and energy content factors.