Hormonal regulation changes in shrimp infected with Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei : a transcriptomic analysis

Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) is a fungal pathogen that causes hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis (HPM) in shrimp, resulting in significant economic losses for the shrimp culture industry. Although the impact of EHP on hormonal regulation in shrimp has been seldom examined, it remains a crucial area of study. In this paper, we analyzed the transcriptomic data of the hepatopancreas of EHP-infected and uninfected shrimp to explore the effect of EHP on hormonal regulation. Our results identified 157 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 32 genes were upregulated and 125 were downregulated. Through gene ontology (GO) and KEGG analyses of hormone regulation-related DEGs, we identified eight genes, six of which were associated with the regulation of molting and growth, one with immunity, and one with osmotic pressure regulation. The up- and downregulated pathways were mostly related to molting and growth regulation, including EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, thyroid hormone signaling pathway, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Ten genes were selected randomly for qRT-PCR, and results confirmed the findings of transcriptome sequencing. This study provides essential insights into the molecular mechanisms through which EHP affects hormonal regulation in shrimp and serves as a basis for further research to control HPM.