Transcriptomic study of WSSV infection in Litopenaeus vannamei lymphoid organ via single nuclei RNA sequencing

by Alexandra Florea, Nick Wade, Sarah J. Salisbury, James Furniss, Clémence Fraslin, Ambre Chapuis, Kallen Sullivan, Robert Stewart, Diego Robledo, Tim P.

Bean Background Aquaculture is the fastest growing farmed food sector and is a key part of global food security. Crustacean aquaculture, while being one of the most profitable sectors, is threatened by pathogenic diseases such as white spot disease (WSD), which results in severe stock losses and threatens animal health and welfare.

In this study, we used novel techniques to study the impact of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), the causative agent of WSD, on Pacific whiteleg shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei ), and uncover additional information that may be used in creating WSSV-resistant shrimp stocks. Results We successfully developed a novel nuclei isolation protocol optimized for shrimp tissues to prepare our samples for single nuclei RNA-sequencing following a pathogen challenge comprising 32 adult whiteleg shrimp infected with WSSV either through their feed or by injection.