Analysis of Gut Microbiota Associated with WSSV Resistance in Litopenaeus vannamei

Abstract

Microorganisms in the digestive tract regulate the metabolism of host cells as well as stimulate the immune system of the host. If the microbiota is in good balance, it will promote the good health of the host. In this study, using 16S rRNA sequencing, we analyzed the microbiota of three groups of shrimp: a group of normal shrimp (control group), shrimp that were killed by infection with the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) (susceptible group), and shrimp that survived WSSV infection (resistant group). The results showed that although the alpha diversity of the microbiota was barely affected by the WSSV, the bacterial communities in the three groups had different prevalences. The resistant group harbored significantly more bacteria than both the other groups. Remarkably, the resistant group had the greatest prevalence of the phylum Bacterioidetes, the families Rhodobacteraceae and Flavobacteriaceae, and the genus Nautella, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for shrimp resistance to WSSV infection. In addition, analysis of functional diversity in bacterial communities showed that the abundance of bacterial metagenomes in two groups infected with WSSV was mostly linked to metabolism and cellular processes. The susceptible WSSV group exhibited a significant reduction in amino acid metabolism. This result suggested that metabolism was the principal factor affecting the alteration in the microbiota after WSSV infection. This overview of the gut microbiota of shrimp infected with the WSSV offers crucial insights for aquaculture management and simplifies the use of control strategies in the future.

Keywords: Litopenaeus vannamei; 16S rRNA gene; Biomarkers; Microbiome; WSSV.