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FUGE-Funksjonell genomforskn.i Norg

Identification of key antiviral and inflammatory modulators in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.)

Awarded: NOK 5.3 mill.

Atlantic cod has recently been introduced into aquaculture in Norway and is expected to constitute a major part of Norwegian fish farming within few years. Expansion of this industry faces many challenges, including disease problems. From farming of salmo nids we know that vaccination has been a key to successful disease prophylaxis, however, there is a significant gap in basic knowledge concerning the biology of the immune system of cod. This project aims at developing fundamental immunological tools at t he molecular level for cod and use these tools to understand interactions between viral pathogens and cod. This will be obtained by identification of immune related genes by sequencing of a normalised cDNA library (genomics). Methods to analyse gene and p rotein expression will be established. To understand interactions between viral pathogens and cod expression analysis of selected immune related genes will be performed at gene and protein level during infection with infectious pancreatic necrosis virus ( IPNV) and nodavirus (NV). This will contribute to an understanding of factors that may affect the outcome of a viral infection and establish tools to study mechanisms of disease resistance and vaccine efficacy.

Funding scheme:

FUGE-Funksjonell genomforskn.i Norg