Gold nanoparticle-based detection of pirAvp toxin gene causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND)

Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) caused by Vibrio species is one of the most common bacterial diseases carrying the plasmid encoding pirA^vp and pirB^vp toxin genes that cause lethargic and anorexic effect on infected shrimps due to induced necrosis in the hepatopancreas. This study demonstrates the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coupled with specific thiol probe for the detection of pirA^vp toxin gene causing AHPND. Detection of pirA^vp toxin gene using thiol probe was validated using colorimetric assay. The validation results showed that the developed Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-based AuNPs detection was specific and highly sensitive to detect the pirA^vp toxin gene at 20 fg/ul of shrimp genomic DNA. This nanotech-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification-free protocol can serve as a new means of diagnostic strategy for AHPND detection in aquaculture industry. Furthermore, the method provides accurate and timely detection on field setting which can help to reduce mass mortality and drastic economic losses on aquaculture.