Type I interferon-dependent response of zebrafish larvae during tilapia lake virus (TiLV) infection. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Widziolek, Magdalena; Janik, Klaudia; Mojzesz, Miriam; Pooranachandran, Niedharsan; Adamek, Mikolaj; Pecio, Anna; Surachetpong, Win; Levraud, Jean-Pierre; Boudinot, Pierre; Chadzinska, Magdalena; Rakus, Krzysztof
• Is Part Of: Developmental and comparative immunology. Volume 116(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Tilapia lake virus -- Zebrafish larvae -- Antiviral response -- Type I interferon; Immunology -- Periodicals; Developmental immunology -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103936
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-305X

Abstract

Abstract: Tilapia lake virus (TiLV; genus: Tilapinevirus, family: Amnoonviridae ) is a recently characterised enveloped virus with a linear, negative-sense single-stranded RNA genome, which causes high mortality in tilapia species. In the present study, we demonstrated that zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) larvae are susceptible to TiLV infection upon systemic injection. TiLV replicated in zebrafish larvae and caused their high mortality (of about 70%). Histopathological examination revealed that TiLV infection caused pathological abnormalities in zebrafish larvae that were well visible within the brain. Moreover, gene expression analysis revealed that TiLV infection induced up-regulation of the expression of the immune-related genes encoding pathogen recognition receptors involved in sensing of viral dsRNA ( rig-I (ddx58), tlr3, tlr22 ), transcription factors ( irf3, irf7 ), type I interferon ( infϕ1 ), antiviral protein ( mxa ), and pro-inflammatory cytokine ( il-1β ). We also demonstrated the protective role of the recombinant zebrafish IFNϕ1 on the survival of zebrafish larvae during TiLV infection. Our results show the importance of type I IFN response during TiLV infection in zebrafish larvae and demonstrate that zebrafish is a good model organism to study interactions between TiLV - a newly emerging in aquaculture virus, and fish host. Highlights: Zebrafish larvae are susceptible to TiLV infection upon systemic injection. TiLV replicates in zebrafish larvae and induces their high mortality. TiLV induces a high type I IFN response in zebrafish larvae. Recombinant zfIFNϕ1 decreases mortality of TiLV-infected zebrafish larvae.