HtrA which is characterized by the combination of a trypsin-like catalytic domain with at least one C-terminal PDZ domain is a highly conserved family of serine proteases found in a wide range of organisms. However the identified HtrA family numbers varies among spesies, for example the number of mammalian, Eschericia coli, fruit fly-HtrA family are 4, 3 and 1 gene respectively. One gene is predicted exist in zebrafish. Since no complete information available on zebrafish HtrA, in this paper zebrafish HtrA (zHtrA) gene was analyzed. The zHtrA is belonged to HtrA1 member and predicted encodes 478 amino acids with a signal peptide, a IGF binding domain, a Kazal-type inhibitor domain in the up stream of HtrA-bacterial homolog. At the amino acid sequence the zHtrA1 showed the 69%, 69%, 68%, 54% and 54% with the rat HtrA1, mouse HtrA1, human HtrA1, human HtrA3 and mouse HtrA4 respectively. The zHtrA1 is firstly expressed at 60 hpf and mainly in the vertebral rudiments in the tail region.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a devastating viral disease in shrimp aquaculture. Infection of WSSV in penaeid shrimps affects immune defense and changes gene expression. PmVRP15 has been reported as a part of the WSSV propagation pathway that is highly up-regulated in hemocytes at the acute phase of WSSV infection. This study analyzed the expression of PmVRP15 in local populations of giant tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) to be associated with susceptibility to WSSV. Tested populations consisted of an inbreeding population (G 8 ) and outbreeding population (G 8iA ) from Jepara, Indonesia. Susceptibility was determined by cumulative mortality, median lethal time (LT 50 ), and severity of infection at time of death. Though all populations were susceptible to WSSV, the first mortality in G 8 occurred at 18 hours post-infection (hpi) with mild infection, while first mortality of G 8iA occurred at 30 hpi with severe infection. The LT 50 of G 8 was significantly lower than that of G 8iA , indicating that G 8iA was less susceptible to WSSV than G 8 . Relative PmVRP15 transcripts of G 8iA were insignificantly down-regulated, whereas relative PmVRP15 transcripts of G 8 were insignificantly upregulated. Although it's still not conclusive, the results of this study suggest that PmVRP15 has weak potential as a WSSV susceptibility marker in G 8 and G 8iA broodstock selection.

Highlight ResearchThe most significant morphological variation was the snout length and caudal peduncleT. lepturus from the coast of Pati and Cirebon have a high morphometric character resemblance and possibly are members of the same populationT. lepturus in Demak waters formed a separate population group from T. lepturus from the coast of Pati and Cirebon, however still in the same species AbstractHairtails (Trichiurus spp.) are economically important fisheries resources and have become an export commodity. In Indonesia, there are several hairtail species; however, each species distribution is not yet certainly known. This study aimed to identify and determine the morphometric and meristic character of the hairtail from the northern coast of Java, Indonesia. Fish specimens were obtained from fishermen catches in the north coast of Pati and Demak (Central Java) and the northern coast Cirebon (West Java), which captures the fish in less than one-week fishing operation. Fish samples were grouped based on morphological similarities identified in previously published works. After that, 22 morphometric and four meristic characters were measured and counted. Principal Component Analysis and Discriminant Analysis were used to analyze morphometric data, while the meristic data were compared to the available published works. The hairtail caught at the northern coast of Java was long, flat, silvery in color, and had a sagittal crest, with the fin formula being D.III.125-134, P.I.10, and A.I.98-104. According to the morphological and meristic characters, the hairtail caught at Java’s northern coast was identified as Trichiurus lepturus. The most significant morphological variation was the snout length and caudal peduncle. The PCA and scattergram analyses showed that T. lepturus from the coast of Pati and Cirebon have a high morphometric character resemblance and possibly are members of the same population.  T. lepturus in Demak waters formed a separate population group from T. lepturus from the coast of Pati and Cirebon, however still in the same species.