The effect of virus infection on expression of interferon-induced proteins in Atlantic salmon

Studies of how viruses interact with the non-specific defence of fish are important for a better understanding of fish virus pathogenicity mechanisms and host resistance mechanisms. The knowledge produced may be used to identify molecular markers for viru s infection in fish, to avoid conditions that predispose the fish for virus infection and in future breeding programs. Our research is focused on the role of interferon (IFN) system of Atlantic salmon in the defence against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) and infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV). Our previous in vitro studies have shown that IFN induces expression of Mx-proteins in salmon cells and protects the cells against IPN-virus, but not against ISA-virus; and that ISAV but not IPNV i nduce Mx protein in the cells. In the present dr.scient project it will be studied how ISAV and IPNV infection influences the expression of interferon-induced genes in organs of Atlantaic salmon in vivo and in machrophages in vitro. The study will include the expression of three genes, encoding Mx protein, ubiquitin-like protein (UBLP) and guanylate-binding protein (GBP), respectively. Finally, we want to determine whether induction of Mx protein in Atlantic salmon will protect the f ish against IPNV infection.