VEGF信号通路在对虾抗病毒免疫中的功能研究

VEGF信号通路在宿主细胞和病毒互作过程中发挥了重要作用。 在高等动物中，病毒可以利用宿主的VEGF信号通路达到侵染宿主细胞和大量复制增殖的目的；在无脊椎动物- - 果蝇中，VEGF信号通路对先天免疫信号通路具有重要的调节作用。对虾作为具有重要经济价值的水产养殖无脊椎动物，病毒性病原特别是白斑综合征病毒（WSSV）的感染已经给对虾养殖产业造成了巨大损失，但是到目前为止尚没有有效的防治措施。对对虾抗病毒免疫机制的了解有助于开发有效的病害防治策略。本项目拟在前期研究的基础上，对对虾的VEGF信号通路的关键分子进行鉴定，研究其在WSSV感染对虾过程中的变化规律，并通过功能封阻等手段研究VEGF信号通路对宿主细胞WSSV复制增殖的影响，阐明该信号通路在对虾抗病毒免疫中的作用。不仅可以丰富对虾抗病毒免疫的理论知识，还可为对虾病毒病的防治提供依据。

VEGF signaling pathway plays important roles on the interaction of host cells and virus. Previous studies reveal that the host VEGF signaling pathway is utilized for virus infection and replication in mammals. VEGF signaling pathway can negtively regulate the innate immune signaling pathway in Drosophila, which indicates that VEGF signaling pathway is involved in the control of innate immune defense. Penaeid shrinp, as an invertebrate with econimic importance in aquacuture, the occurrence of WSSV disease lead to enormous loss to shrimp aquacuture, but no efficent prevent strategy to WSSV has been developed. Understanding the antiviral mechanism of shrimp is helpful to solve this problem. Based on our previous research, the present project will focus on the VEGF signaling pathway to identify the key genes in this pathway. Through investigating the expression pattern of these key genes during WSSV infection and functional blocking approach, the roles of VEGF signaling pathway on WSSV replication in the host cells will be clarified. This will not only enrich the fundamental theoretical knowledge on antiviral immunity of shrimp, but also possess the potential application value in shrimp aquaculture.