DAO prepress abstract - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03754
Brome mosaic virus (BMV) capsid protein virus-like particle-delivering dsRNA targeting VP28 gene of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) through feed reduced Penaeus vannamei shrimp mortality from WSSV infection
Elena Andrea Ruiz Guerrero, Ivone Giffard Mena*, María Teresa Viana, Santiago Ramos Carreño, Samuel Sánchez Serrano
ABSTRACT: Numerous strategies have been investigated to combat viral infections in shrimp, specifically targeting the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) that has caused outbreaks worldwide since the 90s. One effective treatment involves intramuscular application of double-stranded RNA-(dsRNA) mediated interference (RNAi) against VP28, the viral capsid. However, this approach presents challenges in terms of individual shrimp management, limiting its application on a large scale. To address this, our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oral delivery of protected dsRNA using chitosan nanoparticles or Virus-Like Particles (VLP) synthesized in Brome mosaic virus (BMV). These delivery systems were administrated before, during, and after WSSV infection to assess their therapeutic potential. Our findings indicate that BMV-derived VLPs demonstrated superior efficiency as nanocontainers for dsRNA delivery. Notably, the treatment involving VP28 dsRNA mixed in the feed and administered simultaneously to shrimp already infected with WSSV (W-VMS) exhibited the highest survival rate (48%), while, the infected group (WSSV IM) had a survival rate of zero, suggesting the potential efficacy of this prophylactic approach in commercial shrimp farms.