Cloning and characterization of Vshppd, a gene inducing haemolysis and immune response of Apostichopus japonicus

V. splendidus is an important opportunistic pathogen that can infect a broad range of aquatic animals including A. japonicus, but little was known about its pathogenic mechanism. Our study firstly showed that Vshppd conferred the haemolytic activity of V. splendidus, involved in the interaction between V. splendidus and host, and contributed to the stimulatory effect on immune response.