A novel serine protease with clip domain from scallop Chlamys farreri

The serine proteases with clip domain are involved in various innate immune functions in invertebrate such as antimicrobial activity, cell adhesion, pattern recognition and regulation of the prophenoloxidase system. A serine protease with clip-domain cDNA (Cf SP) was obtained by Expressed sequence taggings (ESTs) method and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The Cf SP full-length cDNA was of 1,152 bp, including a 5'-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 63 bp, a 3'-terminal UTR of 81 bp with a canonical polyadenylation signal sequence AATAAA and a poly(A) tail, and an open reading frame of 1,008 bp encoding a polypeptide of 336 amino acids with a putative signal peptide of 19 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of Cf SP contained an amino-terminal clip domain with three disulfide bonds formed six conserved Cys residues, a carboxyl-terminal trypsin-like domain with the conserved His-Asp-Ser catalytic triad, and a low complexity linker sequence. The Cf SP was strongly expressed in hemocytes and the mRNA expression of Cf SP was up-regulated and increased 3.2-fold and 2.6-fold at 16 h after injection of Vibrio anguillarum and Micrococcus luteus. The results suggested that Cf SP gene might be involved in immune response of Gram-negative and Gram-positive microbial infection in scallop.

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression of a serine protease with clip-domain homologue from scallop Chlamys farreri

Serine proteases play critical roles in a variety of invertebrate immune defense responses, including hemolymph coagulation, antimicrobial peptide synthesis, and melanization. The first mollusk serine protease with clip-domain (designated CFSP1) cDNA was obtained from the scallop Chlamys farreri challenged with Vibrio anguillarum by randomly sequencing a whole tissue cDNA library and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA of the C. farreri serine protease was 1211 bp, consisting of a 5-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 72 bp, a 3'-terminal UTR of 77 bp with a canonical polyadenylation signal sequence AATAAA and a poly (A) tail, and an open reading frame of 1062 bp. The CFSP1 cDNA encoded a polypeptide of 354 amino acids with a putative signal peptide of 19 amino acids and a mature protein of 335 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of CFSP1 contained an amino-terminal clip domain, a low complexity region, and a carboxyl-terminal serine protease domain. CFSP1 mRNA was mainly expressed constitutively in the hemocytes and was up-regulated and increased 2.9- and 1.9-fold at 16 h after injury and injection of bacteria. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The cDNA cloning and mRNA expression of heat shock protein 70 gene in the haemocytes of bay scallop (Argopecten irradians, Lamarck 1819) responding to bacteria challenge and naphthalin stress

Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is an important member of the heat shock protein superfamily, and it plays a key role in the process of protecting cells, facilitating the folding of nascent peptides and responding to stress. The cDNA of bay scallop Argopecten irradians HSP70 (designated AIHSP70) was cloned by the techniques of homological cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE). The full length of AIHSP70 cDNA was 2651 bp in length, having a 5' untranslated region (UTR) of 96 bp, a 3' UTR of 575 bp, and an open reading frame (ORF) of 1980 bp encoding a polypeptide of 659 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 71.80 kDa and an estimated isoelectric point of 5.26. BLAST analysis revealed that the AIHSP70 gene shared high identity with other known HSP70 genes. Three classical HSP signature motifs were detected in AIHSP70 by InterPro, analysis. 3-D structural prediction of AIHSP70 showed that its N terminal ATPase activity domain and,C terminal substrate-binding domain shared high similarity with that in human heat shock protein 70. The results indicated that the AIHSP70 was a member of the heat shock protein 70 family. A semi-quantitive RT-PCR method was used to analyse the expression of AIHSP70 gene after the treatment of naphthalin which is one kind of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and the challenge of bacteria. mRNA expression of AIHSP70 in scallop was up-regulated significantly after the stimulation of naphthalin and increased with increasing naphthalin concentration. A clearly time-dependent expression pattern of AIHSP70 was observed after the scallops were infected by Vibrio anguillarum, and the mRNA expression reached a maximum level at 8 h and lasted to 16 h, and then dropped progressively. The results indicated that AIHSP70 could play an important role in mediating the environmental stress and immune response in scallop. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The first molluscan TCTP in Venerupis philippinarum: Molecular cloning and expression analysis

Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is one of the abundant and ubiquitously expressed proteins in metazoans In the present study, the first molluscan TCTP (denoted as VpTCTP) was identified from Venerupis philippinarum haemocytes by EST and RACE approaches The full-length cDNA of VpTCTP consisted of 1148 nucleotides with an open-reading frame of 555 bp encoding 184 amino acids The deduced amino acid sequence of VpTCTP shared high similarity with TCTPs from other species, indicating that VpTCTP should be a new member of TCTP family Several highly conserved motifs, including 5'terminal ologopyrimidine (5'TOP) starting sequence and rich AU and AUUT elements in 3'UTR, were also identified in VpTCTP The tissue and temporal expression of VpTCTP after Vi boo anguillarum challenge was recorded by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. VpTCTP transcript could be detected in all examined tissues with the highest expression level in haemocytes and the lowest in hepatopancreas Concerning the time-course expression in haemocytes, the relative expression of VpTCTP mRNA was down-regulated sharply from 6 h to 12 h post-infection. Then, the expression level was obviously up-regulated and reached 3.4-fold to that in the control group at 48 h post challenge As time progressed, the expression of VpTCTP recovered to the original level at 96 h. All these results indicated that VpTCTP was an acute-phase protein involved in the Immune response of V philippinarum (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression of a novel serine proteinase inhibitor gene in bay scallops (Argopecten irradians, Lamarck 1819)

Serine protease inhibitors, critical regulators of endogenous proteases, are found in all multicellular organisms and play crucial roles in host physiological and immunological effector mechanisms. The first mollusk serine proteinase inhibitor (designated AISPI) cDNA was obtained from the bay scallop Argopecten irradians by randomly sequencing a whole tissue cDNA library and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The full-length cDNA of the scallop serine protease inhibitor was 1020 bp, consisting of a 5'-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 39 bp, a 3'-terminal UTR of 147 bp with a canonical polyadenylation signal sequence AATAAA and a poly(A) tail, and an open reading frame of 834 bp. The AISPI cDNA encoded a polypeptide of 278 amino acids with a putative signal peptide of 22 amino acids and a mature protein of 256 amino acids. The deduced amino-acid sequence of AISPI contained six tandem and homologous domains similar to that of Kazal-type serine protease inhibitors, including the conserved sequence C-X(7)-C-X(6)-Y-X(3)-C-X(2,3)-C and six cysteine residues responsible for the formation of disulfide bridges, indicating that the AISPI protein from bay scallop should be a member of the Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor family. The temporal expression of AISPI was measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR after injury or bacterial challenge. After the adductor muscle was wounded or injected with Vibrio anguillarum, the expression of AISPI mRNA in hemolymph was up-regulated and reached the maximum level at 8 and 16 h, respectively, and then progressively dropped back to the original level. The results indicated that AISPI could play an important role in injury healing and immune response in mollusks as it could be induced by injury and bacterial challenge. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

鳗弧菌rpoS功能的研究

rpoS 基因编码RpoS因子（RNA聚合酶的σ亚基），能增强细菌细胞对外界不良环境的抗逆性和适应能力。我们从鳗弧菌（Vibrio anguillarum）M3 Fosmid 文库中得到rpoS 基因序列，全长999bp，同源分析发现与大肠杆菌（Escherichia coli）有71%的相似性，与霍乱弧菌（Vibrio cholerae ）有78%的相似性。为了研究rpoS在鳗弧菌中的作用，我们利用in-frame deletion技术构建了rpoS 基因的非极性缺失突变株，同时利用细菌的接合转移，以低拷贝克隆质粒pSUP202为载体，构建了突变株的互补株。 在TSB培养基中，rpoS 基因的缺失减缓了鳗弧菌对数期的生长，但是对稳定期的生长没有影响。对数期鳗弧菌在1M蔗糖（渗透压胁迫）和5%（v/v）乙醇中的生长减缓，而在18%(v/v)乙醇中的生长及42℃热击时的存活率相对于野生型没有变化。不同生长时期的鳗弧菌对15mM H2O2的反应有所不同，rpoS 的缺失使对数期的鳗弧菌对15mM H2O2的反应更加敏感。在rpoS基因互补株中，上述表型几乎恢复到野生型水平。 我们通过感染实验发现，rpoS 基因的缺失使鳗弧菌的LD50提高了20倍。 RpoS的突变对鳗弧菌的泳动和胞外酶的产生也有影响。突变株泳动圈直径是野生型的73.8%，在明胶平板和酪蛋白平板上的透明圈直径分别为野生型的61%和69%。通过azocaseion检测胞外产物ECP酶活发现，突变株的酶活是野生型的35.5%。 以上数据表明了RpoS在鳗弧菌对数期应对外界不良环境时起到了重要作用，同时参与了鳗弧菌的致病过程。

大型藻类在工程治理海水富营养化和抑制病原微生物中的作用

沿海工农业生产的快速发展和人类活动对近海生态系统产生了很大影响，大量化肥的使用和工业污水、生活污水的排放导致近海环境污染，海水富营养化，赤潮频发。另外，由于近海养殖活动的迅猛发展以及养殖的不规范和不科学性导致近海生态系统结构和功能改变，一方面加重了海水富营养化，另一方面养殖动植物病害经常发生，严重影响了海产品的质量和效益。 大型海藻是海区重要的初级生产者，生命周期长、生长快，能通过光合作用吸收固定水体的C、N、P等营养物质来合成自身，同时增加水体溶解氧。因此，大型海藻被称为海洋环境中的生物过滤器。另外，由于大型藻类自身营养成分的复杂性和与藻共生的微生物多样性，大型海藻还可对生态系统中的浮游生物和微生物产生直接和间接影响。 在海洋环境，尤其是海水养殖水体环境存在着两个主要问题：海水富营养化和病源微生物控制，本文针对海洋环境中存在的这两个问题进行了探索研究。 以大型经济藻种长心卡帕藻（Kappaphycus alvarezzi）作为实验材料，分别在实验室内、室外藻类处理系统和海湾养殖现场三种条件下，进行藻类去除海水氮磷的一次性实验、半连续实验和连续实验，研究了其对海水中无机氮、无机磷的吸收速率和去除能力，初步评估了其生态价值。 构建了一种半封闭海域富营养化治理模式，以长心卡帕藻为实验材料，研究了其去除海水富营养化的能力，主要结果如下： （1）室内实验研究发现，长心卡帕藻对氮、磷的吸收速率随底物浓度升高而升高。在氮磷比为10:1，温度28℃条件下，氮浓度为50μmol • L-1时，藻对氮、磷的吸收速率达到最大，分别为0.93µmol • g-1（FW）• h-1和0.072µmol • g-1（FW）• h-1。 （2）人工修建的藻类养殖系统中进行的长心卡帕藻去除氮、磷的半连续实验，结果表明该藻具有连续去除海水DIN、DIP的能力。只要保持足够的底物浓度，长心卡帕藻对无机氮、无机磷的吸收速率达到最大，分别为0.3µmol • g-1（FW） • h-1和0.03µmol • g-1（FW）• h-1。但是对氮磷的吸收速率较室内实验有所降低。 （3）自然条件下，通过调查黎安海湾水质情况发现，长心卡帕藻具有较大的生态效益。在整个海湾大面积养殖卡帕藻，通过收获藻体，每年大约可以从海水中带走33吨氮素，7.5吨磷素。由于在海湾长心卡帕藻的作用，全年海湾水质保持在1-2级国家海水质量标准，产生了明显的生态效益。 另外，我们对大型藻类浒苔（Ulva clathrata）吸收氮磷和抑制鳗弧菌（Vibrio anguillarum）的效果进行了初步探索，结果表明：浒苔不仅对培养系统内无机氮和磷具有明显的去除作用，而且在异养细菌总量没有降低的情况下，对鳗弧菌有显著抑制作用，该抑制作用还受到水体中氮磷营养盐浓度的影响。在10g • L-1海藻的条件下，鳗弧菌以105－107 cfu • mL-1接入2天后，无论是否添加外源氮磷，鳗弧菌密度降到10 cfu • mL-1以下，鳗弧菌去除率几乎达到100%。实验数据还显示，添加氮磷营养盐可以增强浒苔对鳗弧菌的抑制作用，但没有降低其中的异养菌群数量，系统内异养细菌总量均维持在较高水平。进一步研究表明，培养浒苔24h后的海水，也对鳗弧菌65#产生抑制作用，这说明浒苔代谢释放到水体中某种化学成分或与藻共栖的微生物对鳗弧菌生长产生了抑制。

中国明对虾免疫系统中抗氧化相关基因的克隆与表达分析

对虾病害在世界范围内的广泛传播，给水产养殖和沿海农村经济造成了重大损失。深入开展对虾免疫机制研究并在此基础上寻找对虾疾病防治的有效方法已成为当务之急。研究表明，当对虾等甲壳动物受到外界病原刺激时，其体内的吞噬细胞在吞噬活动中会激活磷酸己糖支路的代谢，引起呼吸爆发，产生多种活性氧分子。另外，受到病原侵染的对虾还会产生其他多种免疫反应，这些免疫反应将消耗大量的能量（ATP），产能的呼吸链会加速运转，由此也会引发大量活性氧的产生。这些活性氧分子可以杀灭入侵的病原微生物，但同时由于活性氧分子反应的非特异性，它们也会对宿主的细胞、组织和器官造成严重伤害，进而导致对虾生理机能的损伤和免疫系统的破坏。所以，消除对虾体内因过度免疫反应产生的过量氧自由基将能够增强其抵御病原侵染的能力，提高免疫力。本论文从中国明对虾体内克隆了线粒体型超氧化物歧化酶（mMnSOD）、胞质型超氧化物歧化酶（cMnSOD）、过氧化氢酶（Catalase）和过氧化物还原酶（Peroxiredoxin）等四种与免疫系统相关的抗氧化酶基因，分析了它们的分子结构特征，组织分布及应答不同病原刺激的表达变化模式，并对其中的mMnSOD基因和Peroxiredoxin基因进行了体外重组表达、分离纯化和酶活性分析。 采用RACE技术从中国明对虾血细胞中克隆了两个超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）基因，通过序列比对分析发现，其中一个为mMnSOD基因，另一个为cMnSOD基因。mMnSOD基因的cDNA全长为1185个碱基，其中开放阅读框为660个碱基，编码220个氨基酸，其中推测的信号肽为20个氨基酸。多序列比对结果显示中国明对虾mMnSOD基因的推导氨基酸序列与罗氏沼虾、蓝蟹的推导氨基酸序列同源性分别为88%和82%。Northern blot结果表明，该基因在对虾的肝胰脏、血细胞、淋巴器官、肠、卵巢、肌肉和鳃等组织中均有表达。半定量RT-PCR结果显示，对虾感染病毒3 h时，该基因在血细胞和肝胰脏中的转录水平显著升高。此外，通过构建原核表达载体，本研究对该基因进行了体外重组表达，并对纯化的重组蛋白进行了质谱鉴定和酶活分析。cMnSOD基因的cDNA全长为1284个碱基，其中开放阅读框为861个碱基，编码287个氨基酸。多序列比对结果显示中国明对虾cMnSOD基因的推导氨基酸序列与斑节对虾和凡纳滨对虾的同源性高达98%和94%。组织半定量结果显示，cMnSOD基因在对虾被检测的各个组织中均有表达。 另外，半定量RT-PCR结果表明，对虾感染病毒23h时，该基因在肝胰脏中的转录上升到正常水平的3.5倍；而感染后59 h时，该基因在血细胞中的转录上升到正常水平的2.5倍。 利用根据其他生物过氧化氢酶保守氨基酸序列设计的简并引物，结合RACE技术，从中国明对虾肝胰脏中克隆到了过氧化氢酶基因的部分片段，片段长1725个碱基。多序列比对结果发现目前所得中国明对虾Catalase基因部分片段的推导氨基酸序列与罗氏沼虾和皱纹盘鲍Catalase氨基酸序列的同源性分别达到95%和73%。通过实时荧光定量PCR技术对中国明对虾Catalase基因在各个组织中的分布情况及病毒感染后该基因在血细胞和肝胰脏中的转录变化进行了研究。结果发现，该基因在肝胰脏、鳃、肠和血细胞中表达水平较高，在卵巢、淋巴器官和肌肉中的表达水平相对较弱；感染病毒23 h和37 h时，对虾血细胞和肝胰脏中该基因mRNA的表达量分别出现显著性上升。 依据中国明对虾头胸部cDNA文库提供的部分片段信息，结合SMART-RACE技术，从中国明对虾肝胰脏中克隆到了过氧化物还原酶基因（Peroxiredoxin）， 该基因的cDNA全长为942个碱基，其中开放阅读框为594个碱基，编码198个氨基酸。中国明对虾Peroxiredoxin基因的推断氨基酸序列与伊蚊、文昌鱼和果蝇等Peroxiredoxin基因的推断氨基酸序列同源性分别为77%、76%和73%。其蛋白理论分子量为22041.17 Da，pI为5.17。Northern blot结果表明，Peroxiredoxin基因在对虾的肝胰脏、血细胞、淋巴器官、肠、卵巢、肌肉和鳃等组织中均有表达。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示，弧菌感染后，该基因在对虾血细胞和肝胰脏中的转录水平都有明显变化并且表达模式不同。另外，对该基因进行了体外重组表达，并对纯化的重组蛋白进行了质谱鉴定和酶活性分析。酶活性分析表明，复性后的重组蛋白能在DTT存在的条件下还原H2O2。

中国明对虾病原检测新方法及酚氧化酶通路相关基因的研究

对虾病害在世界范围内肆虐，给水产养殖和沿海农村经济造成了重大损失。在水产养殖的实践中快速检测水产动物的病害并及时采取隔离等措施对于控制病害尤为重要，其中关键的环节就是快速检测出病害，并在对虾免疫机制上寻找对虾疾病防治的有效方法。研究表明当对虾等甲壳动物受到外界病原刺激时，极微量的微生物多糖就可以激活proPO系统。激活过程中涉及和产生一系列活性物质，如黑色素、酚氧化酶原激活因子（PPA）、模式识别蛋白（BGBP、PGBP、LGBP、LBP）及其膜上受体和A2巨球蛋白等，它们可通过多种方式参与防御反应，包括提供调理素，促进血细胞吞噬作用，形成结节或包囊以及介导凝集和凝固，产生杀菌物质并且黑色素化。黑色素常常在节肢动物的体表形成黑色斑点，形成的色素沉着对机体起到保护作用。所以，酚氧化酶原激活的级联反应是节肢动物免疫的关键因素。本论文研究开发了以环等温介导技术（LAMP）为基础的检测对虾白斑病毒（WSSV）和鳗弧菌（V. anguillarum）的快速检测方法。并从对虾对病害的免疫机制为切入点，从中国明对虾体内克隆了酚氧化酶原（PrpPO）和丝氨酸蛋白酶FcSP3这两个免疫系统中重要的基因，分析了它们的分子结构特征，组织分布及应答鳗弧菌病原刺激的表达变化模式。 建立的对虾常见病害对虾白班病毒（WSSV）和鳗弧菌（V. anguillarum）的LAMP检测方法，经过实验比对和Blast检索，发现本研究中使用的引物，比已经报导的LAMP方法或者PCR方法具有更宽的检测范围（更低的假阴性）。检测WSSV的LAMP方法使用病毒的VP28基因设计引物，而鳗弧菌的检测方法使用empA基因设计引物。在方法中，首次提出加入UNG酶和dUTP的措施来预防污染，在实际检测中非常有效。LAMP方法与PCR检测方法的灵敏性比较也进行了研究，二者灵敏性相当。 依据中国明对虾血液cDNA文库提供的部分片段信息，结合SMART-RACE技术，克隆了酚氧化酶原（PrpPO）基因，通过序列比对分析发现，PrpPO基因cDNA全长为3040 bp，其中开放阅读框2061 bp，编码686个氨基酸，其中推测的信号肽为12个氨基酸。推测的序列与斑节对虾（P. monodon）同源性为93%,与短钩对虾（P. semisulcatus.）同源性为92%。real time RT-PCR实验结果表明， ProPO在血细胞中的相对表达量最高，肝胰脏中表达量最低。弧菌刺激实验中注射弧菌，刺激了血细胞和淋巴器官中的ProPO mRNA显著增加，说明在血细胞和淋巴器官中存在快速反应的ProPO通路。而ProPO mRNA量在淋巴器官中在时间上早于血液中升至最高，说明该动物在在病原刚开始入侵的时候先有淋巴器官发挥主要的免疫作用，随着时间推移血细胞便变成主要的免疫器官。 根据中国明对虾肝胰脏cDNA文库提供EST信息，经过SMART-RACE克隆了一个丝氨酸蛋白酶FcSP3基因，通过序列比对分析发现，该丝氨酸蛋白酶基因cDNA全长为1622 bp，其中开放阅读框1431 bp，编码477个氨基酸，其中推测的信号肽为22个氨基酸。推测的序列与疟蚊的丝氨酸蛋白酶（A. gambiae）同源性为33%,与丽蝇蛹集金小蜂的酚氧化酶原激活因子（N. vitripennis）同源性为32%，与东北大黑鳃金龟的酚氧化酶原激活因子（H. diomphalia）同源性为34%。淋巴器官中PPAⅡ表达量约为血液中表达量的47560倍，肝胰脏中的FCSP3表达量为血细胞表达量的6226倍。鳗弧菌注射对虾后，淋巴器官中刺激组和对照组FcSP3的mRNA量在刺激后6小时显著降低，但是刺激组的表达量明显高于对照组。刺激组的血细胞与肝胰脏中FcSP3 mRNA的相对表达量增高。而病原刺激后的血液与肝胰脏中的FcSP3 mRNA的增长趋势也在时间上先与ProPO mRNA。这说明FcSP3对ProPO有正调控的作用，但这个调控有一个时间差，并且在不同组织中有不同的调控效率。

中国明对虾Toll样受体基因的克隆与表达分析

对虾病害在世界范围内的广泛传播，给水产养殖和沿海农村经济造成了重大损失。自1993 年对虾白斑病暴发以来，中国明对虾的养殖一直一蹶不振。引起对虾大规模死亡的原因是多方面的，其主要原因是养殖环境恶化、对虾种质退化和抗病力下降。因此，深入开展对虾免疫机制研究，并在此基础上寻找对虾疾病防治的有效方法，改良种质和培育抗病品系，已成为对虾养殖业走可持续发展之路的当务之急。 Toll 样受体（Toll-like receptors, TLRs）家族是进化保守的哺乳动物模式识别蛋白（pattern recognition receptors, PRR），在先天免疫系统中起着非常重要的作用。本研究采用同源克隆和RACE（rapid amplification of cDNA ends）技术从中国明对虾中克隆到Toll 样受体同源基因，并将其命名为FcToll。它全长4115 bp，3’UTR 包含16 个poly A 尾巴，开放阅读框编码931 个氨基酸的多肽。预测的该多肽包含典型的Toll 样受体结构，分为胞外区、跨膜区和胞内区。其中胞外区有信号肽，有16 个富含亮氨酸的重复序列eucine-rich repeats, LRR），并含有2个LRR-C 末端基序和2 个LRR-N 末端基序；跨膜区是23 个氨基酸的一次跨膜结构域；胞内区是含有139 个氨基酸的TIR 结构域（Toll/Interleukin-1R）。克隆 发现FcToll 的基因组结构包含5 个外显子和4 个内含子。系统发生分析揭示FcToll归属于“昆虫型”的无脊椎动物Toll 样受体家族。组织分布研究发现FcToll 在中国明对虾中是组成型表达的，在淋巴器官中表达量较显著。分别利用不同病原体刺激健康的中国明对虾，Real-time PCR 发现该基因在刺激后表达水平呈现不同的表达谱：灭活鳗弧菌（Vibrio anguillarum）注射后5 小时，该基因表达显著 上调；而WSSV（white spot syndrome virus）注射后该基因表达则迅速下调，感染后23 小时内其表达水平均低于对应时间点的对照组。这就表明FcToll 可能参与中国明对虾的先天免疫防御，尤其可能参与入侵弧菌的免疫应答。

Cloning, characterization, and expression analysis of extracellular copper/zinc superoxide dismutase gene from bay scallop Argopecten irradians

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (ECSOD) is a major extracellular antioxidant enzyme that protects organs from damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS). We cloned a novel ECSOD from the bay scallop Argopecten irradians (AiECSOD) by 3' and 5' RACE. The full-length cDNA of AiECSOD was 893 bp with a 657 bp open reading frame encoding 218 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence contained a putative signal peptide of 20 amino acids, and sequence comparison showed that AiECSOD had low degree of homology to ECSODs of other organisms. The genomic length of the AiECSOD gene was about 5276 bp containing five exons and six introns. The promoter region contained many putative transcription factor binding sites such as c-Myb, Oct-1, Sp1, Kruppel-like, c-ETS, NF kappa B, GATA-1, AP-1, and Ubx binding sites. Furthermore, tissue-specific expressions of AiECSOD and temporal expressions of AiECSOD in haemocytes of bay scallops challenged with bacteria Vibrio anguillarum were quantified using qRT-PCR. High levels of expression were detected in haemocytes, but not in gonad and mantle. The expression of AiECSOD reached the highest level at 12 h post-injection with V. anguillarum and then returned to normal between 24 h and 48 h post-injection. These results indicated that AiECSOD was an inducible protein and that it may play an important role in the immune responses against V anguillarum. Crown Copyright (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Intracellular copper/zinc superoxide dismutase from bay scallop Argopecten irradians: Its gene structure, mRNA expression and recombinant protein

Superoxide dismutases are an ubiquitous family of enzymes that function to efficiently catalyze the dismutation of superoxide anions. Two unique and highly compartmentalized bay scallop Argopecten irradians superoxide dismutases: MnSOD and ecCuZnSOD, have been molecularly characterized in our previous study. To complete characterize the SOD family in A. irradians, a novel intracellular copper/zinc SOD from the A. irradians (Ai-icCuZnSOD) was obtained and characterized. The full-length cDNA of Ai-icCuZnSOD was 1047 bp with a 459 bp open reading frame encoding 152 amino acids. The genomic length of the Ai-icCuZnSOD gene was about 4279 bp containing 4 exons and 3 introns. The promoter region containing many putative transcription factor binding sites were analyzed. Furthermore, quantitative reverse transcriptase real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that the highest expression of the Ai-icCuZnSOD was detected in gill and the expression profiles in hemocytes of bay scallops challenged with bacteria Vibrio anguillarum and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were different. The result presented an increased expression after injection with LPS whereas no significant changes were observed after V. anguillarum injection. A fusion protein containing Ai-icCuZnSOD was produced in vitro. The rAi-icCuZnSOD is a stable enzyme, retaining more than 80% of its activity between 10 and 60 degrees C and keeping above 88% of its activity at pH values between 5.8 and 9. Ai-icCuZnSOD is more stable under alkaline than acidic conditions. Crown Copyright (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The manganese superoxide dismutase gene in bay scallop Argopecten irradians: Cloning, 3D modelling and mRNA expression

A novel manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) was cloned from bay scallop Argopecten irradians by 3' and 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. The full-length cDNA of MnSOD was of 1207 bp with a 678 bp open reading frame encoding 226 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence contained a putative signal peptide of 26 amino acids. Sequence comparison showed that the MnSOD of A. irradians shared high identity with MnSOD in invertebrates and vertebrates, such as MnSOD from abalone Haliotis discus discus (ABG88843) and frog Xenopus laevis (AAQ63483). Furthermore, the 3D structure of bay scallop MnSOD was predicted by SWISS-MODEL Protein Modelling Server and compared with those of other MnSODs. The overall structure of bay scallop MnSOD was similar to those of zebrafish Danio rerio, fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, Chinese shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis, human Homo sapiens, and had the highest similarity to scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis and abalone H. discus discus. A quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay was developed to detect the mRNA expression of MnSOD in different tissues and the temporal expression in haemocytes following challenge with the bacterium Vibrio anguillarum. A higher-level of mRNA expression of MnSOD was detected in gill and mantle. The expression of MnSOD reached the highest level at 3 h post-injection with V. anguillarum and then slightly recovered from 6 to 48 h. The results indicated that bay scallop MnSOD was a constitutive and inducible protein and thus could play an important role in the immune responses against V anguillarum infection. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cloning and expression analysis of a HSP70 gene from Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai)

Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), the primary member of HSPs that are responsive of thermal stress, is found in all multicellular organisms and functions mostly as molecular chaperon. The inducible HSP70 cDNA cloned from Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), was highly homologous to other HSP70 genes. The full-length cDNA of the Pacific abalone HSP70 was 2631 bp, consisting of a 5'-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 90 bp, a 3'-terminal UTR of 573 by with a canonical polyadenylation signal sequence AATAAA and a poly (A) tail, and an open reading frame of 1968 bp. The HSP70 cDNA encoded a polypeptide of 655 amino acids with an ATPase domain of 382 amino acids, the substrate peptide binding domain of 161 amino acids and a C-terminus domain of 112 amino acids. The temporal expression of HSP70 was measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR after heat shock and bacterial challenge. Challenge of Pacific abalone with heat shock or the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio anguillarum resulted in a dramatic increase in the expression of HSP70 mRNA level in muscle, followed by a recovery to normal level after 96 h. Unlike the muscle, the levels of HSP70 expression in gills reached the top at 12 h and maintained a relatively high level compared with the control after thermal and bacterial challenge. The upregulated mRNA expression of HSP70 in the abalone following heat shock and infection response indicates that the HSP70 gene is inducible and involved in immune response. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Studies on vibrio spp. in juveniles of penaeus indicus in culture systems

The present study is carried out to understand (i) the incidence and occurrence of species of Vibrio in different culture systems in and around Cochin, (ii) characteristics of vibrios isolates, their ecology including growth response to various hydrological parameters, sensitivity to about 40 antibiotics, and (iii) role of physico-chemical parameters in pathogenicity of vibrios, etc. and the results emerged from the investigations are important and encouraging for better understanding of the 'vibriosis' in the culture systems to develop remedial measures to control diseases. The Thesis begins with an “Introduction” followed by “A review of literature” on diseases of penaeid shrimps with particular reference to 'vibriosis' and “Material and methods” which details with the methods and procedures followed in the experiments and analyses of data. This Thesis consists of three chapters. Chapter Ideals with the incidence and ecology of Vibrio spp. in water, sediment and in juveniles of the Indian white prawn Penaeus indicus in the culture systems. In Chapter 2, characteristics of vibrio isolates including growth response to various levels oftemperature, salinity and pl 1, sensitivity to 40 antibiotics and minimal inhibitory concentration tests are detailed.e out-breaks. The Chapter 3 discusses the role of physico-chemical parameters in the incidence, seasonal abundance of Vibrio spp. and in 'vibriosis'. A summary of the whole work and list of references are also included at the end. This study gives a detailed information regarding the incidence and ecology of vibrios in the culture systems. their characteristics and pathogenicity