Gene expression comparison of resistant and susceptible Atlantic salmon fry challenged with Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis virus reveals a marked contrast in immune response

Citation

Robledo D, Taggart J, Ireland J, McAndrew B, Starkey W, Haley CS, Hamilton A, Guy DR, Mota-Velasco JC, Gheyas AA, Tinch AE, Verner-Jeffreys DW, Paley RK, Rimmer GSE, Tew IJ, Bishop SC, Bron J & Houston RD (2016) Gene expression comparison of resistant and susceptible Atlantic salmon fry challenged with Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis virus reveals a marked contrast in immune response. BMC Genomics, 17, Art. No.: 279. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-016-2600-y

Abstract
Background  Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN) is a highly contagious birnavirus disease of farmed salmonid fish, which often causes high levels of morbidity and mortality. A large host genetic component to resistance has been previously described for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.), which mediates high mortality rates in some families and zero mortality in others. However, the molecular and immunological basis for this resistance is not yet fully known. This manuscript describes a global comparison of the gene expression profiles of resistant and susceptible Atlantic salmon fry following challenge with the IPN virus.  Results  Salmon fry from two IPNV-resistant and two IPNV-susceptible full sibling families were challenged with the virus and sampled at 1day, 7days and 20days post-challenge. Significant viral titre was observed in both resistant and susceptible fish at all timepoints, although generally at higher levels in susceptible fish. Gene expression profiles combined with gene ontology and pathway analyses demonstrated that while a clear immune response was observed in both resistant and susceptible fish, there were striking differences between the two phenotypes. The susceptible fish showed marked up-regulation of genes related to cytokine activity and inflammatory response that evidently failed to protect against the virus. In contrast, the resistant fish demonstrated a less pronounced immune response including up-regulation of genes relating to the M2 macrophage system.  Conclusions  While only the susceptible phenotype shows appreciable mortality levels, both resistant and susceptible fish can become infected with IPNV. Susceptible fish are characterized by a much larger, yet ineffective, immune response, largely related to cytokine and inflammatory systems. Resistant fish demonstrate a more moderate, putative macrophage-mediated inflammatory response, which may contribute to their survival. 

Keywords
Salmo salar; virus; transcriptome; infectious pancreatic necrosis; disease resistance; interferon; innate immunity; aquaculture

Journal
BMC Genomics: Volume 17

People

Professor James Bron

Professor, Institute of Aquaculture

Dr Almas Gheyas

Lecturer in Aquaculture Production Scien, Institute of Aquaculture

Mrs Jacquie Ireland

Lead Technical Specialist