Molecular Identification and Hemocyanin Gene (HMC) Characterization of the Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei Infected by Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND)

Hemocyanin is a crucial non-specific innate immune defense molecule, exhibiting phenoloxidase, antiviral, antibacterial, hemolytic, and antitumor activities. In this study, the expression profile of hemocyanin (HMC) from the shrimp L. vannamei was isolated and characterized to better understand the mechanisms of functional diversity, particularly in recognizing various pathogens and enhancing immune responses. The study focused on identifying HMC gene characteristics from L. vannamei to serve as a source of resistance genes in shrimp. The research involved sampling L. vannamei from Gresik Regency and Situbondo Regency in East Java, Indonesia. RNA isolation from the hepatopancreatic organs was achieved, followed by reverse transcription to obtain cDNA. This was followed by cDNA amplification through PCR and subsequent electrophoresis. The results indicated strong HMC expression in healthy shrimp compared to those infected with AHPND. These data confirm that the HMC gene plays a significant role in the resistance of L. vannamei.