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Transcriptional response of immune-related genes in Litopenaeus vannamei post-larvae cultured in recirculating aquaculture systems with and without biofloc

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Abstract

In the present study, quantitative real-time RT-PCR was used to monitor the transcriptional responses of seven key genes related to some innate immune pathways in shrimp postlarvae after being placed in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with or without biofloc (BF or no-BF). Each system consisted of the main tank with 400 L of seawater and six glass aquariums (50 L each). Besides, the nucleotide sequences of myosin light chain (LvMyo) from Litopenaeus vannamei related to the phagocytosis pathway were described. The sequence analysis indicated that LvMyo is a conserved protein among crustaceans and is present in other arthropods. The transcriptional response to the treatments showed several expression patterns. The prophenoloxidase gene was up-regulated in both systems (P < 0.05) and was higher in BF than in no-BF (P < 0.01). Phagocytosis-related genes depicted differential expressions. LvMyo, Ras-associated binding 6, and Ras-related nuclear protein expressions were higher in BF than in no-BF (P < 0.05). Regarding antioxidant genes, glutathione peroxidase was up-regulated only in BF (P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase expression was lower in BF at 12 h (P < 0.05), but higher at 24 h (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that biofloc modulates the transcription of genes related to the immune response in shrimp as an early response or at the mid-term. Besides, the biological filter in a RAS without biofloc seems to be able to maintain a bacterial population that promotes a lower but similar response to that induced in the biofloc system.

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Abbreviations

RAS:

Recirculating aquaculture system

BF:

Treatment with biofloc

no-BF:

Treatment without biofloc

LvMyo:

Litopenaeus vannamei myosine light chain

ProPO:

Prophenoloxidase

Rab6:

Ras-associated binding 6

Ran:

Ras-related nuclear protein

Gpx:

Glutathione peroxidase

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

PAP:

Phagocytosis-activating protein

PL:

Postlarvae

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Acknowledgements

We thank CONACyT for the scholarship (166929) to Jorge Soto Alcalá.

Funding

This study was funded by the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (SIP20151682 and SIP20160089).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional-Unidad Sinaloa, Juan de Dios Bátiz Paredes #250, Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico

    Jorge Soto-Alcalá, Píndaro Álvarez-Ruiz, H. M. Esparza-Leal, A. Luna-González, C. Gámez-Jiménez & G. Diarte-Plata

  2. Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico

    Jorge Soto-Alcalá, J. M. Audelo-Naranjo, I. E. Luis-Villaseñor & J. A. Estrada-Godínez

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  1. Jorge Soto-Alcalá
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  2. Píndaro Álvarez-Ruiz
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  3. J. M. Audelo-Naranjo
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  4. H. M. Esparza-Leal
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  5. I. E. Luis-Villaseñor
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  6. J. A. Estrada-Godínez
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  7. A. Luna-González
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  8. C. Gámez-Jiménez
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  9. G. Diarte-Plata
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Píndaro Álvarez-Ruiz.

Ethics declarations

This study complies with the Mexican official Standard NOM-0062-ZOO-1999, technical specifications for the production, care and use of laboratory animals.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Soto-Alcalá, J., Álvarez-Ruiz, P., Audelo-Naranjo, J.M. et al. Transcriptional response of immune-related genes in Litopenaeus vannamei post-larvae cultured in recirculating aquaculture systems with and without biofloc. Aquacult Int 27, 209–225 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-018-0317-4

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