The transcription of atypical protein kinase C in hemocytes of the giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, during the molt stage and injection of pathogen-associated compounds.

Protein kinase C (PKC), which is involved in cell signaling pathways, comprises a family of serine/threonine kinases ubiquitously present in animals and its members are grouped on the basis of structural and activation characteristics into novel, classical, and atypical PKC forms. In this study, an atypical PKC of Macrobrachium rosenbergii, designated MraPKC, was successfully cloned, and its protein comprised structural domains similar to those of atypical PKC homologues, including the Phox and Bem1 (PB1) domain, a zinc finger phorbol-ester/DAG-type signature, protein kinase signatures, and a cAMP-dependent, cGMP-dependent, and PKC (AGC) kinase C-terminal domain. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a close evolutionary relationship between MraPKC and aPKCs of insects.

Dietary administration of sodium alginate ameliorated stress and promoted immune resistance of grouper Epinephelus coioides under cold stress.

Grouper, Epinephelus coioides, fed a diet containing sodium alginate at 0 (control, named C) and 1.0 g kg (named S) at a temperature of 28 °C for 12 days, were then further individually transferred to 28 (two groups named C-28 and S-28) or 20 °C (two groups named C-20 and S-20), and immune parameters and stress indexes were measured at the beginning and after 6, 12, 24 and 48 h of exposure. Examination of immune parameters revealed that the alternative complement activity (ACH), lysozyme activity, phagocytic activity, superoxide dismutase, and respiratory bursts significantly increased in groupers fed the sodium alginate-containing diet for 12 days, and were higher in the S-28 than those of the C-28 and S-20 groups, which were higher than those of the C-20 group from 6 to 48 h except for ACH at 48 h, respiratory bursts at 48 h, and lysozymes at 6 h.

The hot-water extract of leaves of noni, Morinda citrifolia, promotes the immunocompetence of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

The hot-water Morinda citrifolia leaf extract (HMLE) was prepared for in vitro assessment on phenoloxidase (PO) activity, respiratory bursts (RBs), and phagocytic activity (PA). Furthermore, the HMLE was administrated in the diet at 0.6, 3, and 6 g (kg diet) for Macrobrachium rosenbergii, and the potential effects on the immunocompetence of prawns were evaluated.

Norepinephrine regulates prophenoloxidase system-related parameters and gene expressions via α- and β-adrenergic receptors in Litopenaeus vannamei.

The total (THC) and differential haemocyte counts (DHC), phenoloxidase (PO) activity, and prophenoloxidase (proPO) system-related genes were investigated in haemocytes of Litopenaeus vannamei that received saline, norepinephrine (NE), and NE co-treated with various adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonists both in vivo and in vitro. Results showed that semi-granular and granular cells of shrimp which received NE, NE + phentolamine (Phe), NE + prazosin (Pra), NE + propanolol (Pro) and NE + metoprolol (Met) significantly decreased, while the PO activity of the shrimp received NE + Phe in vivo was significant higher than all the other treatments. PO activities of haemocytes exposed to saline, Pra + NE, and Met + NE were significantly higher than those of haemocytes exposed to NE, Phe + NE, and Pro + NE in vitro.

Molecular cloning and characterisation of peroxinectin, a cell adhesion molecule, from the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

Expression of peroxinectin cDNA was determined from haemocytes of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii using oligonucleotide primers and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) based on the peroxinectin sequence of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon, and freshwater crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus. The peroxinectin of M. rosenbergii was constitutively expressed.

Trichlorfon, an organophosphorus insecticide, depresses the immune responses and resistance to Lactococcus garvieae of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

The total haemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase activity, respiratory bursts (release of superoxide anions), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and phagocytic activity and clearance efficiency to the pathogen Lactococcus garvieae were measured when freshwater giant prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii (18.2+/-2.1 g) were individually reared in water containing concentrations of trichlorfon of 0, 0.

Dopamine depresses the immune ability and increases susceptibility to Lactococcus garvieae in the freshwater giant prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

The total haemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase activity, respiratory burst (release of superoxide anion), superoxide dismutase activity, and phagocytic activity and clearance efficiency to the pathogen Lactococcus garvieae were measured when freshwater giant prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii (16.2 +/- 2.1 g) were individually injected with saline, or dopamine at 0.