Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) is a significant pathogen that has notably hindered the advancement of cyprinid aquaculture in recent years. Infections caused by SVCV are often associated with substantial economic losses due to the absence of effective treatment options. Previous reports indicated that N-(4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl) benzenesulfonamide (N6) exhibits inhibitory effects on SVCV proliferation. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the anti-SVCV effects of N6 using healthy young carp as the experimental model. The research investigates the antiviral activity of this compound in vivo, the immune response of interferon (IFN)-related genes, its impact on the horizontal transmission of SVCV, and histopathological changes. The results indicate that N6 significantly inhibits SVCV infectivity and apoptosis in EPC cells in vitro. Furthermore, while N6 reduced horizontal transmission of SVCV in a static cohabitation challenge model, the N6-treated SVCV-infected group showed a nearly 3-fold decrease in viral load compared to the control group, it did not completely prevent transmission at established antiviral dosages. Histopathological analysis of the affected fish revealed that N6 effectively mitigated tissue damage induced by SVCV. Additionally, the up-regulation of six IFN-related genes suggests that N6 may indirectly activate IFNs to facilitate the clearance of SVCV in the kidney and spleen, as demonstrated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). These findings provide a foundation for further investigations into the mechanisms by which N6 acts against SVCV and may aid in the development of novel anti-SVCV therapeutics.

Nocardia seriolae infection poses a serious threat to largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) aquaculture, owing to the lack of effective control strategies. This study investigated the antibacterial effects and underlying mechanisms of Macleaya cordata alkaloids—sanguinarine (SE) and chelerythrine (CHE)—against N. seriolae through integrated physiological and transcriptomic approaches. Results showed SE and CHE exhibited strong in vitro antibacterial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 62.5 and 7.8 μg/mL, respectively. In vivo trials revealed that dietary supplementation with either alkaloid significantly enhanced the survival of infected fish, yielding relative percent survival (RPS) values of 34.5% for SE and 40.0% for CHE. Concurrently, both treatments reduced bacterial load and alleviated granulomatous pathology in multiple organs, including the liver, spleen, and kidney. Physiological analyses revealed severe damage to the cell envelope, as evidenced by increased membrane permeability and structural disintegration observed under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Transcriptomic profiling identified 3708 and 5095 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the SE- and CHE-treated groups, respectively, with notable downregulation of key genes involved in peptidoglycan biosynthesis, the citrate cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, and the pentose phosphate pathways. These findings demonstrate that SE and CHE inhibit N. seriolae through a multi-target mechanism simultaneously disrupting cell envelope integrity and energy production, laying the groundwork for their development as eco-friendly aquaculture therapeutics.

During the breeding process of Macrobrachium rosenbergii, a male-to-female ratio of 1:3 or higher is typically adopted, so as a result, the quality of the male broodstock significantly influences the quality of the offspring. We observed that overused males exhibited notable changes in body color, particularly in the tail fan region, which turned orange or red due to the excessive accumulation of astaxanthin in the muscles and exoskeleton. Frequent mating also led to a significant decrease in male body weight, with histological analysis revealing disorganized muscle fiber patterns and increased tissue damage. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying these physiological changes, we performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of muscle tissues. A total of 1069 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 540 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), and 385 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified. Pathway analysis revealed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways related to energy metabolism and degenerative diseases, while the DEMs were notably associated with cancer metabolism, signal transduction, substance transport, energy metabolism, nucleic acid metabolism, neurotransmission, immune response, and metabolic diseases. Proteome analysis showed that proteins and lipids were involved in muscle energy supply. These findings suggest that male M. rosenbergii upregulate energy metabolism in muscles to cope with frequent mating stress, but this adaptation leads to physiological damage. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing male broodstock selection and mating frequency in M. rosenbergii breeding practices.