Cloning and Functional Characterization of Pcficolin1 and Pcficolin2 in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate attenuates immunotoxicity of florfenicol and enhances innate immunity in Procambarus clarkii.

Dietary creatine supplementation promoted growth performance, muscle growth and protein deposition in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) fed with all-plant-protein diets

Photoperiodic regulation of circadian gene expression, body coloration, chromatophore dynamics, and stress responses in the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

Environmental concentration of chlorantraniliprole induces dysbiosis of gut microbiota and metabolism in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

Rice–crayfish integrated farming potentially improves muscle quality of Procambarus clarkii by promoting diversity of intestinal microbiota

Underwater noise from human activities is an increasing concern due to its potential ecological impacts. While knowledge on its effects on aquatic species is growing, responses of juvenile invertebrates remain poorly understood. This study investigated behavioral, cellular, and molecular responses to noise (1-20kHz linear sweep) in juvenile Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852). Behavioral parameters (including movement, interactions, feeding, and tail flips) were recorded using overhead video and analyzed with BORIS software. Cellular assays measured esterase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, total protein (TP), peroxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and cytotoxicity. Additionally, gene expression of crustin, prophenoloxidase (proPO), Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), caspase, SOD and catalase (CAT) was assessed via real-time PCR. Specimens exposed to underwater noise exhibited increased interactions and feeding, but no significant changes in movement were observed. Results of cellular analysis revealed elevated protein content, hydrolase, and antioxidant activity, while glucose and cytotoxicity levels decreased. Molecular analyses showed upregulation of immune and stress-related genes (crustin, proPO, HSP70, HSP90, and caspase) and downregulation of SOD and CAT, indicating potential oxidative stress. These findings suggest that even early life stages of invertebrates are sensitive to underwater noise disturbance, affecting the specimens at multiple interconnected levels.

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) remains a persistent and significant threat to the global shrimp aquaculture industry. However, its pathogenic mechanisms remain incompletely understood, and no effective intervention strategies are currently available. In this study, we investigated the functional role of VP53B, an envelope structural protein of WSSV, using a combination of infection bioassays, protein structure prediction, protease inhibition assays and protein binding analyses. Our results demonstrate that VP53B is a critical determinant of per os (oral) infection in shrimp, including Procambarus clarkii (crayfish) and Litopenaeus vannamei (whiteleg shrimp). Functionally, VP53B acts as a trypsin inhibitor and interacts with host hemocyanin. We propose that through modulation of shrimp trypsin and hemocyanin, VP53B disrupts the prophenoloxidase-activating system, a key innate immune pathway, thereby facilitating successful WSSV infection. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying WSSV oral infectivity and highlights VP53B as a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

Acute heat stress frequently causes mass mortality in farmed red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), yet the mechanisms underlying immune collapse remain poorly understood. We established an acute heat stress model (37 °C, 6 h) and performed an integrative analysis combining hemocyte profiling, redox and immune assays, RNA-seq, and qRT-PCR. Heat stress significantly increased mortality and disrupted the hemocyte system, with a ~25% reduction in total hemocyte count and a selective decline in granular cells. This was associated with severe redox imbalance, evidenced by ROS/H2O2 accumulation, suppressed SOD and CAT activities, and lipid peroxidation damage. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1446 differentially expressed genes, indicating concurrent activation of ER stress and autophagy alongside suppression of energy metabolism. Key gene validation confirmed upregulation of pro-apoptotic factors (CASP3, P53) and ER stress markers (GRP78, XBP1), consistent with hemocyte depletion. These findings provide multi-level evidence that acute heat stress triggers a redox crisis ("oxidative burst-defense suppression"), which in turn activates ER stress and apoptosis, leading to selective loss of granular cells and systemic immune compromise. This study establishes a mechanistic framework for understanding heat-induced mortality in crustaceans and offers a theoretical basis for developing targeted interventions to enhance thermal resilience in crayfish aquaculture.

Transforming waste into worth: Procambarus clarkii carapace as a high-performance biosorbent for methyl red dye

Identification of Cdc42 in the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and its roles in phagocytosis and apoptosis.

WSSV promotes its replication by inhibiting Dorsal activation via CypA in crayfish.

NFIL3-dependent regulation of NF-κB pathway mediates alginic oligosaccharide alleviation of nitrite immunotoxicity in Procambarus clarkii.

Umifenovir protects Procambarus clarkii against white spot syndrome virus by suppressing viral replication and modulating innate immunity.

Effects of lysine supplementation in fishmeal-free feeds on growth performance, protein metabolism, and antioxidant capacity in Procambarus clarkii

Abstract To examine the gut microbial composition and functional attributes of red swamp crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii ) across different rearing environments, this experiment employed high‐throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of bacterial DNA isolated from the gut. Using an intensive monoculture system in ponds (NP) as the control, this research analyzed and compared the gut microbial communities of crayfish reared in integrated frameworks, including lotus and crayfish co‐culture (XH), rice and crayfish co‐culture (YZ), as well as polyculture systems involving crayfish and crabs (NG). The findings indicated that when examining phylum‐level taxonomy, the bacterial community structures in the gut remained relatively similar across the various cultivation modes; the most abundant phyla identified were Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes. In terms of genus‐level classification, Bacteroides and Citrobacter were identified as the dominant taxa. Correspondingly, when analyzed at the species level, Bacteroides neonati and Citrobacter freundii emerged as the most prevalent species. Significant differences in microbial diversity were observed among the farming systems. Compared with the intensive monoculture group, the lotus‐crayfish and rice‐crayfish systems showed higher gut microbial diversity, whereas the crayfish‐crab polyculture system exhibited lower diversity. Predictive functional analysis indicated that the dominant metabolic functions across all four systems were chemoheterotrophy, fermentation, and aerobic chemoheterotrophy. The genus‐level interaction network showed that the microbial network in the NG group had a relatively simple structure, while those in the XH and YZ groups displayed a more complex microbial structure. In summary, the gut microbial community of red swamp crayfish features a core profile primarily composed of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes, while its taxonomic diversity exhibits considerable variation across different rearing systems. These results deepen the comprehension of microbial ecology within the digestive tract of this species and offer important implications for the improvement of sustainable aquaculture strategies.

Low-fishmeal diets are widely adopted to improve sustainability in shrimp aquaculture, yet reduced palatability and metabolic stress frequently suppress feed intake and growth. We evaluated whether a crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) by-product protein hydrolysate (CBPH) could mitigate low-fishmeal-induced performance losses by modulating feeding-related metabolic signaling and gut microbiota features in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). In an 8-week feeding trial, 360 juveniles (initial body weight 0.46 g) were assigned to three diets (four replicates per diet): a commercial control (CON), a low-fishmeal diet (LFM), and LFM supplemented with 2% CBPH (CBPH). Growth, feed utilization, whole-body composition, hemolymph biochemical indices (TP, TG, GLU, AST, ALT), intestinal appetite-related gene expression (5-HTR, CART, CCK1R, D2-like, NPY), and intestinal microbiota profiles (full-length 16S rRNA sequencing, V1-V9, PacBio) were assessed. Compared with the LFM group, CBPH supplementation increased feed intake and improved feed conversion, restoring final body weight and growth rates to levels comparable to CON. CBPH also alleviated low-fishmeal-associated metabolic stress, including reduced AST and ALT activities and lower glucose levels. The LFM diet induced upregulation of anorexigenic genes (5-HTR, CART, D2-like) and downregulation of NPY in the shrimp intestine, whereas CBPH supplementation reversed these transcriptional changes. In addition, microbiota richness indices (ACE and Chao1) were elevated by CBPH relative to LFM, accompanied by compositional shifts at the phylum and genus levels. CBPH effectively alleviated low-fishmeal-induced reductions in feeding and growth, accompanied by coordinated changes in feeding-related gene expression, systemic biochemical markers, and gut microbiota composition, supporting its potential as a functional ingredient to stabilize metabolic responses in low-fishmeal shrimp feeds.

Soil degradation poses a serious threat to the sustainability of global agricultural development, endangering the foundation and environment of human survival. Therefore, elucidating the effects of different agricultural production patterns on the quality and health of paddy soils is of great significance. To investigate the impact of the integrated rice-red swamp crayfish farming on paddy soil health, this paper systematically analyzed the differences in 19 soil physicochemical indicators and bacterial and eukaryotic microbial communities between the traditional rice monoculture (TRM) and integrated rice-red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) farming (IRPF), and it features a comprehensive quantitative assessment of paddy soil health status through Principal Component Analysis based on a minimum dataset. The experimental results showed that IRPF significantly increased the soil aggregate mean weight diameter, total phosphorus, available potassium, cation exchange capacity, pH, available zinc, and available silicon contents. Meanwhile, IRPF exerted marked effects on the beta diversity and composition of both bacterial and eukaryotic microbial communities, markedly enhancing the relative abundances of Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta in the paddy soil. The integrated analysis of 19 soil physicochemical indicators along with bacterial and eukaryotic microbial community parameters revealed that the Soil Health Index under IRPF was obviously higher than that under the rice monoculture. In conclusion, the integrated rice-red swamp crayfish farming system markedly impacted the soil fertility, effectively improved soil aggregate structure and enhanced the overall paddy soil health status, representing a promising and sustainable agricultural production pattern within a single production cycle.

The globalization of trade, aquaculture, and the ornamental pet industry has accelerated the transboundary movement of nonnative crayfish species, with significant ecological consequences. Türkiye, a biodiversity-rich country bridging Europe and Asia, has increasingly become a point of concern due to the rising presence of alien crayfish taxa introduced primarily via the aquarium trade and scientific research. This study investigates the presence records of nonnative crayfish species in Türkiye, identifies their likely introduction pathways, and outlines potential future outspread routes across the major freshwater basins of the country. Species such as Procambarus clarkii, Cherax quadricarinatus, C. albertisii, and Cambarellus patzcuarensis have been detected in commercial trade and research institutions in İzmir, İstanbul, Ankara, and Adana. While established wild populations have not yet been confirmed, the continued import, sale, and handling of high-risk species without adequate regulation suggests a high likelihood of future invasions. T he ecological characteristics of these crayfish, including high reproductive rates, broad environmental tolerances, and disease carrying potential, make them particularly dangerous once released into natural ecosystems. Our analysis identifies Western Anatolia, particularly İzmir, as a key introduction hub, with plausible spread routes extending northwest to the Marmara Region, east to Central Anatolia, and south toward the Mediterranean watershed. The review emphasizes the need for immediate preventive action, including the development of species-specific legislation, enhanced surveillance through molecular tools, public education campaigns, and stricter control over the pet and aquaculture trades. Without such measures, Türkiye risks replicating the ecological and economic disruptions experienced by other European nations affected by invasive crayfish. The review also highlights that Türkiye’s geographical location, coupled with its commercial fishery ties to Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia, increases the risk of invasive alien crayfish species spreading beyond Türkiye’s borders due to their presence in urban areas and widespread online ornamental trade, posing a broader threat to global freshwater ecosystems.

Genome-wide Association Study Identifies SNPs and Candidate Genes Associated with Abdominal Meat Weight and Meat Yield of red Swamp Crayfish Procambarus clarkii.