| Summary: | Amphibians, including <i>Andrias davidianus</i>, are declining worldwide partly due to infectious diseases. The Myxovirus resistance (<i>Mx</i>) gene is a typical interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene (ISG) involved in the antiviral immunity. Therefore, knowledge regarding the antiviral immunity of <i>A</i><i>. davidianus</i> can be used for improved reproduction in captivity and protection in the wild. In this study, we amplified and characterized four different <i>A. davidianus</i> <i>Mx</i> genes (<i>adMx</i>) and generated temporal mRNA expression profiles in healthy and Chinese giant salamander iridovirus (GSIV) infected <i>A. davidianus</i> by qualitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The four <i>adMx</i> genes ranged in length from 2008 to 2840 bp. The sequences revealed conserved protein domains including the dynamin superfamily signature motif and the tripartite guanosine-5-triphosphate (GTP)-binding motif. Gene and deduced amino acid sequence alignment revealed relatively high sequence identity with the <i>Mx</i> genes and proteins of other vertebrates. In phylogenetic analysis, the <i>adMx</i> genes clustered together, but also clustered closely with those of fish species. The four <i>adMx</i> genes were broadly expressed in healthy <i>A. davidianus</i>, but were differentially expressed in the spleen during the GSIV infection. Our results show that the <i>adMx</i> genes share major structural features with their homologs, suggesting similar functions to those in other species.
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