Transcriptomic analysis reveals the role of Glycolysis pathway in Litopenaeus vannamei during DIV1 infection

In recent years, shrimp farming has experienced significant losses due to the emergence of DIV1 (Decapod iridescent virus 1), an infectious virus with a high fatality rate among shrimp. In this study, we conducted transcriptomic analyses on shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei hemocytes following DIV1 infection and focused on the function of genes in the Glycolysis pathway during DIV1 infection. A total of 2197 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, comprising 1506 up-regulated genes and 691 down-regulated genes. These genes were primarily associated with Phagosome, ECM-Receptor Interaction, Drug Metabolism-Other Enzymes, and the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the DEGs revealed a noteworthy correlation with metabolic pathways, with a specific focus on glucose metabolism. Specifically, the Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis pathway exhibited significant upregulation following DIV1 infection. In line with this, we observed an augmented accumulation of glycolytic-related metabolites in the hemolymph following DIV1 challenge along with upregulation of the relative mRNA expression of several glycolytic-related genes. Moreover, we found that the inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity through RNAi or the use of an inhibitor resulted in reduced lactate production, effectively safeguarding shrimp from DIV1 infection. These findings not only provide a comprehensive dataset for further investigation into DIV1 pathogenesis but also offer valuable insights into the immunometabolism mechanisms that govern shrimp responses to DIV1 infection.