Publication: Discovery and partial characterization of a non- LTR retrotransposon that may be associated with abdominal segment deformity disease (ASDD) in the whiteleg shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei
6
5
Issued Date
2013
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Veterinary Research. Vol. 9, (2013), 189
Suggested Citation
Waraporn Sakaew, Benjamart Pratoomthai, Pattira Pongtippatee, Flegel, Timothy W., Boonsirm Withyachumnarnkul Discovery and partial characterization of a non- LTR retrotransposon that may be associated with abdominal segment deformity disease (ASDD) in the whiteleg shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei. BMC Veterinary Research. Vol. 9, (2013), 189. doi:10.1186/1746-6148-9-189 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/2729
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
Discovery and partial characterization of a non- LTR retrotransposon that may be associated with abdominal segment deformity disease (ASDD) in the whiteleg shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Background: Abdominal segment deformity disease (ASDD) of cultivated whiteleg shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus)
vannamei causes economic loss of approximately 10% in affected specimens because of the unsightliness of
distorted abdominal muscles. It is associated with the presence of viral-like particles seen by electron microscopy in
the ventral nerve cords of affected shrimp. Thus, shotgun cloning was carried out to seek viral-like sequences in
affected shrimp.
Results: A new retrovirus-like element of 5052 bp (named abdominal segment deformity element or ASDE) was
compiled by shotgun cloning and 3′ and 5′ RACE using RNA and DNA extracted from ventral nerve cords of ASDD
shrimp. ASDE contained 7 putative open reading frames (ORF). One ORF (called the PENS sub-domain), had a
deduced amino acid (aa) sequence homologous to the GIY-YIG endonuclease domain of penelope-like
retrotransposons while two others were homologous to the reverse transcriptase (RT) and RNaseH domains of the
pol gene of non-long terminal repeat (non-LTR) retrotransposons (called the NLRS sub-domain). No single amplicon
of 5 kb containing both these elements was obtained by PCR or RT-PCR from ASDD shrimp. Subsequent analysis
indicated that PENS and NLRS were not contiguous and that NLRS was a host genetic element. In situ hybridization
using a dioxygenin-labeled NLRS probe revealed that NLRS gave positive reactions in abdominal-ganglion neurons
of ASDD shrimp but not normal shrimp. Preliminary analysis indicated that long-term use of female broodstock after
eyestalk ablation in the hatchery increased the intensity of RT-PCR amplicons for NLRS and also the prevalence of
ASDD in mysis 3 offspring of the broodstock. The deformities persist upon further cultivation until shrimp harvest
but do not increase in prevalence and do not affect growth or survival.
Conclusions: Our results suggested that NLRS is a shrimp genetic element associated with ASDD and that
immediate preventative measures could include shorter-term use of broodstock after eyestalk ablation and/or
discard of broodstock that give strong RT-PCR reactions for NLRS. In the longer term, it is recommended, if possible,
that currently used, domesticated shrimp lines be selected for freedom from NLRS. The molecular tools developed
in this work will facilitate the management and further study of ASDD.