Transcriptome comparison for identification of pigmentation-related genes in different color varieties of Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens.

Transcriptome comparison was performed to identify genes expressed in skin, muscle and tails of mono-color (Red, Blue, Black, White and Yellow), bi-color (Cambodian) and multi-color (Marble) varieties of Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens. In total, 163,140 unigenes covering 26.348 Gb were found.

Assessing Genetic Diversity of Wild Populations and Different Color Varieties for Genetic Improvement of Siamese Fighting Fish Betta splendens in Thailand.

To establish sustainable resources and founder populations for genetic improvement of the Siamese fighting fish Betta splendens, genetic diversity in wild and hatchery stocks was examined using mitochondrial (mt) DNA genes cytochrome b (cytb), 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA), and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), and eight microsatellite loci. Based on mtDNA sequences, restrictive levels of polymorphism (0, 3, and 1 substitutions) were observed in this study. For analysis of microsatellites, fluorescent multiplex PCR was developed, and subsequently identifying moderate levels of observed (H = 0.

Heat shock protein 70 from Litopenaeus vannamei (LvHSP70) is involved in the innate immune response against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection.

White spot syndrome (WSS) caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a severe infectious disease in shrimp aquaculture. To find effective therapeutics to control WSSV, it is indispensable to understand the innate immune responses of shrimp to WSSV infection. Previous report demonstrated that the Litopenaeus vannamei heat shock protein 70 (LvHSP70) could induce shrimp innate immunity against bacterial infection.

Shrimp humoral responses against pathogens: antimicrobial peptides and melanization.

Diseases have caused tremendous economic losses and become the major problem threatening the sustainable development of shrimp aquaculture. The knowledge of host defense mechanisms against invading pathogens is essential for the implementation of efficient strategies to prevent disease outbreaks. Like other invertebrates, shrimp rely on the innate immune system to defend themselves against a range of microbes by recognizing and destroying them through cellular and humoral immune responses.

YHV-responsive gene expression under the influence of PmRelish regulation.

In animals, infection by Gram-negative bacteria and certain viruses activates the Imd signaling pathway wherein the a NF-κB transcription factor, Relish, is a key regulatory protein for the synthesis of antimicrobial proteins. Infection by yellow head virus (YHV) activates the Imd pathway. To investigate the expression of genes involved in YHV infection and under the influence of PmRelish regulation, RNA interference and suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) are employed.

Type I and type II crustins from Penaeus monodon, genetic variation and antimicrobial activity of the most abundant crustinPm4.

An antimicrobial protein, crustin, is involved in the innate immunity of crustacean by defending the host directly against the microbial pathogens. By data mining the Penaeus monodon EST database, two type I crustins, carcininPm1 and 2, and ten type II crustins, crustinPm1-10, were identified. The abundant crustins were crustinPm1, 4 and 7, each with variation in the length of Gly-rich repeat among its members.

Discovery of immune molecules and their crucial functions in shrimp immunity.

Several immune-related molecules in penaeid shrimps have been discovered, most of these via the analysis of expressed sequence tag libraries, microarray studies and proteomic approaches. These immune molecules include antimicrobial peptides, serine proteinases and inhibitors, phenoloxidases, oxidative enzymes, clottable protein, pattern recognition proteins, lectins, Toll receptors, and other humoral factors that might participate in the innate immune system of shrimps. These molecules have mainly been found in the hemolymph and hemocytes, which are the main sites where immune reactions take place, while some are found in other immune organs/tissues, such as the lymphoid organs, gills and intestines.

A cDNA microarray approach for analyzing transcriptional changes in Penaeus monodon after infection by pathogens.

A cDNA microarray comprised of 9990 different ESTs obtained from the Penaeus monodon EST project (http://pmonodon.biotec.or.

Differentially expressed genes in Penaeus monodon hemocytes following infection with yellow head virus.

A cDNA microarray composed of 2,028 different ESTs from two shrimp species, Penaeus monodon and Masupenaeus japonicus, was employed to identify yellow head virus (YHV)-responsive genes in hemocytes of P. monodon. A total of 105 differentially expressed genes were identified and grouped into five different clusters according to their expression patterns.

Abundantly expressed transcripts in the lymphoid organ of the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, and their implication in immune function.

The lymphoid organ of penaeid shrimps is proposed to play an important role in the innate immune system. To investigate the potential immune function of the lymphoid organ, we analyzed the expressed genes from the lymphoid organ of normal and Vibrio harveyi-infected Penaeus monodon using an expressed sequence tag (EST) approach. Sequence analysis of the EST clones derived from the two lymphoid organ cDNA libraries (408 clones from the normal and 625 clones from the infected libraries), revealed a high redundancy of specific transcripts.

Cloning, expression and antimicrobial activity of crustinPm1, a major isoform of crustin, from the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon.

Crustin antibacterial homologues, containing a whey acidic protein (WAP) domain, have been identified from the haemocyte library of the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Sequence analysis of these cDNAs indicates the presence of several isoforms of crustin in P. monodon.

Penaeus monodon gene discovery project: the generation of an EST collection and establishment of a database.

A large-scale expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing project was undertaken for the purpose of gene discovery in the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. Initially, 15 cDNA libraries were constructed from different tissues (eyestalk, hepatopancrease, haematopoietic tissue, haemocyte, lymphoid organ, and ovary) of shrimp, reared under normal or stress conditions, to identify tissue-specific genes and genes responding to infection and heat stress. A total of 10,100 clones were analyzed by single-pass sequencing from the 5' end.

Genetic heterogeneity of the tropical abalone (Haliotis asinina) revealed by RAPD and microsatellite analyses.

Genetic heterogeneity of the tropical abalone, Haliotis asinina was examined using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and microsatellite analyses. One hundred and thirteen polymorphic RAPD fragments were generated. The percentage of polymorphic bands of H.