Abstract
The effects of environmental changes, on non-target organisms may impact and bring consequences at the molecular level in marine organisms. There is a lack of data supporting the hypothesis according to which environmental stress modulates the immune system, leading to an increased susceptibility to infectious agents in shrimps. The present study was focused on changes occurring in cellular defense proteins in Litopenaeus vannamei infected by virus infection hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis (IHHNV) and white spot syndrome (WSSV). Western blot analysis was used to evaluate expression of protein Hsp70, in gill tissue. Up-regulation levels were supported by immune detection analysis, suggesting that IHHNV and WSSV-shrimp infection promotes changes in the expression of these proteins.