Mina Baharloei - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Behrooz Heidari - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Hojjatolah Zamani - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Hossein Ghafouri - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Mahvash Hadavi - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) as stress-related factors play a fundamental role in innate and adaptive immune responses in fish, which can be considered as strong candidates for the development of new methods for fish disease prevention. It has been proven that Pro-Tex® as a heat shock protein inducer (HSPi) reduces harmful effects of cellular stress by increasing the Hsp۷۰ protein production. We evaluated the effects of Pro-Tex® as an HSPi in a Persian sturgeon, (Acipenser persicus) exposed to a pathogenic bacterium. Therefore, A. persicus fries were pre-treated with ۲۵.۰۰, ۵۰.۰۰ and ۱۰۰ mg L-۱ of Pro-Tex® and then, injected with Streptococcus iniae ATCC۲۹۱۷۸. The Hsp۷۰ gene expressions were determined in various organs including liver, gill and intestine and lysozyme (LYZ) activities along with supplemental levels of complement component ۳ (C۳) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were also determined in sturgeon blood in days ۳ and ۷ after infection. Expression of Hsp۷۰ gene was increased during the first three days of infection and then, it was found to be down-regulated during the infection process. Also, levels of LYZ activity, C۳ and IgM increased in a concentration-dependent manner; but these parameters decreased after ۷ days. Our data suggest that induction of Hsp۷۰ is a promising approach in modulation of immune response in A. persicus and it might be employed to confer protection in fish against bacterial infections.

Acipenser persicus, Heat shock protein ۷۰, immune parameters, Pro-Tex®, Streptococcus iniae