Identification of a Double-β-Defensin with Multiple Antimicrobial Activities in a Marine Invertebrate

Abstract β-Defensins are a family of cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides that are generally monodomain. Interestingly, the avian β-defensin 11 (AvBD11) is unique, with two β-defensin motifs with a broad range of antimicrobial activities. However, a double-sized β-defensin has not been identified and functionally characterized in invertebrates. In this study, we cloned and identified a double-β-defensin in shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (named LvDBD) and explored its potential roles during infection with shrimp pathogens Vibrio parahaemolyticus and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). LvDBD is an atypical double-sized defensin, which is predicted to possess two motifs related to β-defensin and six disulfide bridges. The RNA interference–mediated knockdown of LvDBD in vivo results in phenotypes with increased bacterial loads, rendering the shrimp more susceptible to V. parahaemolyticus infection, which could be rescued by the injection of recombinant LvDBD protein. In vitro, rLvDBD could destroy bacterial membranes and enhance hemocyte phagocytosis, possibly attributable to its affinity to the bacterial wall components LPS and peptidoglycan. In addition, LvDBD could interact with several viral envelope proteins to inhibit WSSV proliferation. Finally, the NF-κB transcription factors (Dorsal and Relish) participated in the regulation of LvDBD expression. Taken together, these results extend the functional understanding of a double-β-defensin to an invertebrate and suggest that LvDBD may be an alternative agent for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by V. parahaemolyticus and WSSV in shrimp.