The promoter of the white spot syndrome virus immediate-early gene WSSV108 is activated by the cellular KLF transcription factor.

•WSSV108 has high expression levels throughout the WSSV infection cycle.•WSSV108 is likely to act as a transcriptional factor.•WSSV108 promoter has a Krüppel-like factor (KLF) binding site.•Shrimp KLF plays a major role in WSSV108 promoter activity.•Silencing of KLF in L. vannamei reduces WSSV108 expression and WSSV replication.