Oral administration of recombinant epinecidin-1 protected grouper (Epinephelus coioides) and zebrafish (Danio rerio) from Vibrio vulnificus infection and enhanced immune-related gene expressions

Immunostimulatory effects of the oral administration of the recombinant epinecidin-1 protein from BL21 Escherichia coli (containing the pET28a-epinecidin-1-dsRed plasmid) were studied in grouper (Epinephelus coioides) and zebrafish (Danio rerio). For this purpose, fish were fed diets for 30 days containing the recombinant epinecidin-1 protein from BL21 E. coli (containing the pET28a-epinecidin-1-dsRed plasmid) at different bacterial numbers (10(4), 10(6), 10(8), and 10(10) colony-forming units (cfu) of BL21 E. coli in 50 ml of LB medium) mixed with 50 g of eel powder as fodder. After 30 days of feeding, immune-related gene expressions for bacterial-infection responses and disease resistance against Vibrio vulnificus (204) were determined. The V vulnificus (204) injected into the fish abdominal cavity mimicked gram-negative bacterial infections in culture ponds. Experimental results assessed whether the recombinant epinecidin-1 protein from BL21 E. coli (containing the pET28a-epinecidin-1-dsRed plasmid) has up- (or down-) regulation immune-related genes expression. Results indicated that the recombinant epinecidin-1 protein from BL21 E. coli administered as a feed supplement significantly enhanced expressions several immune-related genes such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-1 in grouper and Toll-like receptor (TLR)4, interleukin (1L)-1 beta, nitric oxide synthase (NOS)2, and nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B in zebrafish. After being challenged with V vulnificus (204) for 24, 48, 72, or 96 h, the percentage mortality was significantly reduced in treated fish, which indicated that the recombinant epinecidin-1 protein from BL21 E. coli administered as a feed supplement could bring about downregulation of TNF-1 expression and functioned like an antagonist for binding TLR4, which reduced the signal transduction pathway for inhibiting TNF and IL-1 beta expressions while reducing binding of the transcription factor, NF-kappa B, to TNF and the IL-1 beta promoter region. The experimental results indicated that dietary intake of the recombinant epinecidin-1 protein from BL21 E. coli modulated immune-related gene expressions and disease resistance of grouper and zebrafish after a V. vulnificus (204) infection. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.