Differential gene expression profile in spleen of mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi infected with ISKNV, derived from suppression subtractive hybridization.

To study the interaction between an invading virus and its host, we investigated differential gene expression in mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi experimentally infected with infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV). Subtractive cDNA libraries were constructed by suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) from spleens of mock- and ISKNV-infected fish. Both forward- and reverse-subtracted libraries were generated. In the forward library, genes of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway, defense-related genes, a cytoskeletal protein gene, an apoptosis-related gene encoding inhibitor of apoptosis protein and JFC/EBPb cDNA for CAAT/Enhancer binding protein beta were up-regulated after infection. In the reverse library, genes that encoded CD59/neurotoxin/Ly-6-like protein, carboxypeptidase A2, and goose-type lysozyme were down-regulated. Some of these genes were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to confirm their differential expression as a result of virus infection. The results of this study may contribute to our understanding of fish innate immune response to ISKNV.