RNA-seq analysis of transcriptome response to VHS-V infection in two target tissues of resistant vs susceptible trout clonal lines

Abstract Text: Viral diseases constitute a major threat for aquaculture industry. The Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) is a rhabdovirusreported to cause economic losses in salmonid farms. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of viral resistance/susceptibility, we undertook a whole-genome transcriptome analysis of susceptible versus resistant trout clonal lines by RNA seq analysis. We investigated the gene expression in spleen and rayed fin, two critical tissues in the disease progress. In spleen, for susceptible fish, we identified 19,324 differentially expressed (DE) genes whereas for resistant fish, 593 genes were found differentially expressed. For fin, the number of DE genes was dramatically lower, with 47 DE genes in susceptible fish and 28 in resistant fish. The final aim of this study is to decipher the genetic mechanisms underlying the resistance/susceptibility to VHS virus in trout.

 Keywords:

RNA sequencing

Virus resistance

Fish Genetic