Cloning of rpl10 in spotted knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus) and expression pattern analysis after iridovirus infection

Iridoviridae is an important virus family in aquaculture that is characterized by its wide spectrum of infection in aquatic animals. Recently, spotted knifejaw iridovirus (SKIV) has attracted particular attention because it causes a high death rate and severe economic loss. The ribosomal protein L10 gene (rpl10) is widely reported to participate in the antiviral process in animals and plants. To illustrate its immune roles in spotted knifejaw, we cloned rpl10 and studied its expression patterns in this study. The 3,463 bp rpl10 genomic sequence consisted of 6 exons and 5 introns, with a 1,473 bp transcript encoding a 215 amino acid protein. Tissue expression analysis revealed a wide distribution of rpl10, while higher expression was observed in immune-related tissues (liver and kidney). Time-course expression patterns were further examined in three tissues (spleen, liver and kidney) after SKIV infection. Significant upregulation was observed in the spleen and liver at 4 days post infection, while in the kidney, the upregulation occurred at 6 hr post infection. This study would facilitate further investigation into the functionality of rpl10 in the antiviral defence of spotted knifejaw.