Immunological Responses to Grass Carp Reovirus Infections

Grass carp reovirus (GCRV) constitutes a major pathogen in freshwater aquaculture, provoking severe haemorrhagic disease that undermines fish health and industry productivity. The host’s defence against GCRV is orchestrated through a complex interplay of innate and adaptive mechanisms. Initial recognition of viral components by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as toll-like receptors and RIG-I-like receptors triggers signalling cascades culminating in type I interferon production and induction of interferon-stimulated genes. Concurrent activation of complement and coagulation pathways contributes to viral clearance but may also exacerbate vascular damage, leading to tissue haemorrhage. Transcriptome-level studies have revealed stage-specific expression changes in genes governing endocytosis, lysosomal trafficking, apoptosis and inflammatory mediators. Alternative splicing further refines antiviral responses, generating isoforms of cytokines and receptors with distinct regulatory roles. Temperature and host physiology modulate these defences, influencing viral entry through heat shock proteins and cytokine-driven signalling axes. Together, these insights inform strategies for immunoprophylaxis, selective breeding for disease resistance and targeted therapeutics to mitigate GCRV outbreaks.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Comprehensive transcriptomic profiling of head-kidney and spleen in resistant versus susceptible grass carp has uncovered a pivotal role for alternative splicing in antiviral immunity. Differentially expressed transcripts of interleukin-12p40 and interleukin-1 receptor type 1 modulate downstream cytokine signalling and immune cell recruitment, highlighting tissue-specific splicing as a mechanism for tailoring host responses. This work established a catalogue of unigenes responsive to GCRV challenge and demonstrated that the spleen exhibits a more vigorous transcriptional response than the head-kidney. The study illuminates how post-transcriptional regulation amplifies or dampens antiviral programmes and suggests alternative splicing as a promising target for enhancing disease resistance through genetic or pharmacological means.

Immunological Responses to Grass Carp Reovirus Infections publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in immunological responses to grass carp reovirus infections across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs): Host sensors that detect conserved viral structures and initiate innate immune signalling.

Interferon-Stimulated Genes (ISGs): A set of antiviral effectors induced by type I interferon signalling to inhibit viral replication.

Alternative Splicing: Post-transcriptional modulation of pre-mRNA that generates multiple protein isoforms with distinct functions.

Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis: A cellular uptake pathway whereby viruses exploit clathrin-coated pits to enter host cells in a pH-dependent manner.

Transcriptome Sequencing: High-throughput profiling of all expressed RNA transcripts to reveal dynamic gene expression changes during infection.

References

1. An aquatic virus exploits the IL6-STAT3-HSP90 signaling axis to promote viral entry. PLOS Pathogens (2023).
2. Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis Revealed Potential Differential Mechanisms of Grass Carp Reovirus Pathogenicity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
3. Insights into the Antiviral Immunity against Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) Reovirus (GCRV) in Grass Carp. Journal of Immunology Research (2015).
4. Transcriptome analysis provides insights into the regulatory function of alternative splicing in antiviral immunity in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Scientific Reports (2015).
5. Transcriptomics Sequencing Provides Insights into Understanding the Mechanism of Grass Carp Reovirus Infection. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2018).