High-throughput sequencing analysis of microRNAs in gills of red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii infected with white spot syndrome virus

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important posttranscriptional regulators. They play an important role in the antiviral innate immunity of invertebrates. In the present study, high-throughput small RNAs Illumina sequencing systems were carried out to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) in the gills of Procambarus clarkii, which was challenged with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Our results identified 11,617 known and 6 novel miRNAs in normal group (NG) and WSSV-challenged group (WG) small RNA libraries. Additionally, 27 DEMs were shown to participate in the antiviral innate immunity of P. clarkii and were significantly upregulated or downregulated. In addition, the results of the KEGG pathway prediction of the DEMs target genes showed that putative target genes of these 27 DEMs were related mainly to the RNA transport pathway, tight junction pathway, mRNA surveillance pathway, regulation actin cytoskeleton pathway, focal adhesion pathway, and MAPK signaling pathway. These results provide important information for future studies about the antiviral innate immunity of crustaceans.