To further confirm that AMPK can directly activate mTORC2-AKT signaling to promote viral proliferation in shrimp infected by WSSV, we injected Dorsomorphin 2HCl or AICAR into shrimp to observe changes of the level of phosphorylated AKT after WSSV infection using a human anti-p-AKT (Ser473) antibody (the phosphorylation site of shrimp AKT is Ser486) (Supplementary Fig. 6), which is a hallmark of mTORC2 activation46. Here, PRKAB1 is linked to infection.