Uncovering host transcriptional responses to tilapia lake virus (TiLV) through De novo RNA-seq assembly in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus.

Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) has emerged as an important pathogen that negatively impacts tilapia farming globally. Using RNA sequencing technology, this study investigated the liver transcriptomic profile of apparently healthy and TiLV-infected Oreochromis niloticus from wild. RNA sequence libraries generated 3,356 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 1,726 genes that were upregulated. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis identified 680 different pathways with differential regulation of the metabolic and immune-related pathways indicating that TiLV may interfere in host metabolism and replicate to establish the infection. This study provides transcriptomic insights into the liver responses of naturally TiLV-infected wild O. niloticus and highlights key immune and metabolic pathways associated with viral infection.