Molecular characterization of nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-2, analysis of its inductive expression and down-stream signaling following ligands exposure and bacterial infection in rohu ( Labeo rohita)

► Full length cDNA of NOD-2 gene was cloned and characterized in rohu ( Labeo rohita). ► NOD-2 gene expression in embryonic developmental stages was analysed showing its constitutive expression in ontogenesis. ► In healthy rohu, NOD-2 gene was widely expressed in various organs suggesting its role in immunosurveillance. ► NOD-2 expression in various tissues was modulated by ligands exposure, bacterial infections and poly I:C treatment. ► In vitro and in vivo NOD-2 induction resulted in enhanced expression of RICK and IFN-γ. Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-2 is a cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptor (PRR) and is a member of NOD like receptor (NLR) family. It senses a wide range of bacteria and viruses or their products and is involved in innate immune responses. In this report, NOD-2 gene was cloned and characterized from rohu ( Labeo rohita) which is highly commercially important fish species in the Indian subcontinent. The full length rohu NOD-2 (rNOD-2) cDNA comprised of 3176 bp with a single open reading frame (ORF) of 2949 bp encoding a polypeptide of 982 amino acids (aa) with an estimated molecular mass of 109.65 kDa. The rNOD-2 comprised two N-terminal CARD domains (at 4–91 aa and 111–200 aa), one NACHT domain (at 271–441 aa) and seven C-terminal leucine rich repeat (LRR) regions. Phylogenetically, rNOD-2 was closely related to grass carp NOD-2 (gcNOD2) and exhibited significant similarity (94.2%) and identity (88.6%) in their amino acids. Ontogeny analysis of rNOD-2 showed its constitutive expression across the developmental stages, and highlighted the embryonic innate defense system in fish. Tissue specific analysis of rNOD-2 by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed its wide distribution; highest expression was in liver followed by blood. In response to PGN and LTA stimulation, Aeromonas hydrophila and Edwardsiella tarda infection, and poly I:C treatment, expression of rNOD-2 and its associated downstream molecules RICK and IFN-γ were significantly enhanced in the treated fish compared to control. These findings suggested the key role of NOD-2 in augmenting innate immunity in fish in response to bacterial and viral infection. This study may be helpful for the development of preventive measures against infectious diseases in fish.