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In the present study, we studied the effect of β-glucan on the activation of antiviral immune responses against nervous necrosis virus (NNV) taking into consideration the role of innate immune training. Sevenband grouper primary macrophages showed an attenuated proinflammatory response and elevated antiviral response to NNV infection. In vitro, priming of β-glucan enhanced macrophage viability against NNV infection which is associated with the activation of sustained inflammatory cytokines gene expression. Observations were clear to understand that NLR Family CARD Domain Containing 3 (NLRC3) and caspase-1 activation and subsequent IL-1β production were reduced in β-glucan–primed macrophages. Subsequent markers for training including Lactate and abundance of HIF-1α were elevated in the cells following training. However, the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations remained stable among the β-glucan stimulated infected and uninfected groups suggesting similar macrophage health in both groups. In vivo, the NNV-infected fish primed with β-glucan had a higher survival rate (60%) than the control NNV-infected group (40%). Our findings demonstrate that β-glucan induced protective responses against NNV infection and studies are underway to harness its potential applicability for prime and boost vaccination strategies. • Macrophages showed an attenuated proinflammatory response and elevated antiviral response to NNV infection. • NLRC3 and caspase-1 activation and subsequent IL-1β production were reduced in β-glucan–primed macrophages. • Lactate and abundance of HIF-1α were elevated in the cells following glucan stimulation indicated immune training. • NNV-infected fish primed with β-glucan had a higher RPS (60%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NLRC3 is identified as a unique regulatory NLR involved in the modulation of cellular processes and inflammatory responses. In this study, a novel Nod like receptor C3 (NLRC3) was functionally characterized from seven band grouper in the context of nervous necrosis virus infection. The grouper NLRC3 is highly conserved and homologous with other vertebrate proteins with a NACHT domain and a C-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain and an N-terminal CARD domain. Quantitative gene expression analysis revealed the highest mRNA levels of NLRC3 were in the brain and gill followed by the spleen and kidney following NNV infection. Overexpression of NLRC3 augmented the NNV replication kinetics in primary grouper brain cells. NLRC3 attenuated the interferon responses in the cells following NNV infection by impacting the TRAF6/NF-κB activity and exhibited reduced IFN sensitivity, ISRE promoter activity, and IFN pathway gene expression. In contrast, NLRC3 expression positively regulated the inflammasome response and pro-inflammatory gene expression during NNV infection. NLRC3 negatively regulates the PI3K–mTOR axis and activated the cellular autophagic response. Delineating the complexity of NLRC3 regulation of immune response in the primary grouper brain cells following NNV infection suggests that the protein acts as a virally manipulated host factor that negatively regulated the antiviral immune response to augment the NNV replication. • Grouper NLRC3 is highly conserved and homologous with other vertebrate NLRC3. • Highest expression of NLRC3 were in the brain and gill following NNV infection. • NLRC3 augmented the NNV replication kinetics in primary grouper brain cells. • NLRC3 attenuated the interferon responses in the cells following NNV infection by impacting the TRAF6/NF-κB activity. • NLRC3 negatively regulates the PI3K–mTOR axis and activated the cellular autophagic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During viral infection, proper regulation of immune signaling is essential to ensure successful clearance of virus. Immunoproteasome is constitutively expressed and gets induced during viral infection by interferon signaling and contributes to regulate proinflammatory cytokine production and activation of the NF-κB pathway. In this study, we identified Hs-PSMB8, a member of the proteasome β-subunits (PSMB) family, as a negative regulator of NF-κB responses during NNV infection. The transient expression of Hs-PSMB8 delayed the appearance of cytopathic effect (CPE) and showed a higher viral load. The Hs-PSMB8 interacted with NNV which was confirmed using immunocolocalization and co-IP. Overexpression of Hs-PSMB8 diminished virus induced activation of the NF-κB promoters and downregulated the activation of IL-1β, TNFα, IL6, IL8, IFNγ expression upon NNV infection. Collectively, our results demonstrate that PSMB8 is an important regulator of NF-κB signaling during NNV infection in sevenband grouper. • NNV infection induced transcriptional upregulation of Hs-PSMB8 in sevenband grouper tissues. • The transient expression of Hs-PSMB8 delayed the appearance of cytopathic effect and showed a higher NNV load. • The Hs-PSMB8 interacted with NNV and diminishes virus induced activation of NF-κB responses. • The Hs-PSMB8 downregulated the activation IL-1β, TNFα, IL6, IL8, IFNγ expression upon NNV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]