Identification and Functional Study of Long Non-coding RNA Involved in White Spot Syndrome Virus Infection in White Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei

Abstract

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a promising class of regulators that plays a significant role in various biological processes, such as immune regulation, repro duction, and development. Despite extensive viral transcriptome studies across various organisms, the role of lncRNAs in shrimp's viral responses remains uncertain. This study aims to uncover potential lncRNAs and their role in white shrimp's response to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection. The WSSV-infected hepatopancreas transcriptome revealed 44,539 putative lncRNAs from 221,347 unigenes. Among them, 32 displayed differential expression between WSSV-infected and control shrimp. To validate the findings, five candidate lncRNAs were selected and assessed their expression levels in response to WSSV infection, and in tissues of the shrimp. We investigated the role of a specific lncRNA, lnc164, in the response of L. vannamei to WSSV infection. Knockdown of lnc164 led to increased survival of infected shrimp, suggesting its involvement in shrimp immunity. However, lnc164 did not directly influence total hemocyte count or viral loads in the shrimp's hemolymph. To explore a set of lnc164-regulated genes, RNA sequencing was perform and revealed 251 differentially expressed transcripts, then 6 immune-related genes were validated. The study provided valuable information about lncRNA profiles in response to WSSV infection and paved the way for understanding lnc164's role in the shrimp's antiviral response.