The crosstalk between acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) and the Vibrio quorum sensing (QS) system: A review

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) is a disease that has caused significant losses to shrimp farming since 2009. The primary mechanism of this disease involves the binary toxins PirAvp and PirBvp, which are produced by specific strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and which lead to significant damage to the hepatopancreatic cells of shrimps. Recent studies on the pathology of AHPND have also highlighted the role of the Vibrio quorum sensing (QS) system, which affects growth, virulence, and biofilm regulation in Vibrio species. For example, deletion of the qseC gene reduces the virulence of the AHPND-causative V. parahaemolyticus. Most importantly, the QS regulators LuxOvp and AphBvp have been implicated as they control the growth-phase-dependent expression of the pirAvp/pirBvp genes. Additionally, given the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, this article reviews several alternative control strategies targeting the QS system, including QS inhibition using natural products, biofloc technology, and the development of small-molecule inhibitors against AphBvp. Finally, we also discussed the potential of using probiotics to enhance shrimp disease resistance through QS inhibition, highlighting the feasibility of targeting the QS system for AHPND control.