Gene expression profile of HIRRV G and N protein gene vaccinated Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus during HIRRV infection

The glycoprotein (G protein) gene, but not the nucleocapsid protein (N protein) gene, of the hirame rhabdovirus (HIRRV) was previously shown to be highly effective in inducing a protective immune response in Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) when used as a DNA vaccine. Our previous cDNA microarray analysis demonstrated that interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) were strongly induced by the HIRRV G protein gene (pHRV-G) but not by the N protein gene (pHRV-N). However, the molecular basis for the difference in protective immunity between pHRV-G- and pHRV-N-vaccinated fish during HIRRV infection is still unclear. In this study, we use a DNA microarray to analyze differences of gene expression in pHRV-G- and pHRV-N-vaccinated fish during HIRRV infection. Microarray analyses showed substantial difference in gene expression patterns during HIRRV infection between fish vaccinated with pHRV-G and pHRV-N. In addition, genes having homology to mammalian T cell activation-related genes were up-regulated in the HIRRV G protein-vaccinated group.