Zebrafish as a Model for Studying Virus-Host Interactions.

Abstract

During the long evolutionary process, viruses and hosts have engaged in a game of immune escape and viral clearance, resulting in an exquisite model of virus-host interaction. An appropriate animal model can help unravel the mysteries of this process. Owing to their susceptibility to multiple viruses, small size, high fecundity, low cost, ease of visualization, and efficient gene editing, zebrafish (Danio rerio) have recently emerged as a powerful vertebrate model system for studying virus-host interactions. In this chapter, we describe in detail the experimental protocols for analyzing virus-host interactions in a zebrafish model in which spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) is used as an example. These protocols include the generation of knockout zebrafish via CRISPR/Cas9 technology, methods for viral infection of zebrafish larvae or adults, analysis of in vivo viral resistance of host genes, analysis of host and viral gene expression in zebrafish larvae via qRT-PCR and Western blotting, and detection of host protein binding to viral proteins via immunoprecipitation. These experimental protocols provide an effective reference for studying virus-host interactions in a zebrafish model.