In order to design the most effective diets or functional feeds, we have to understand the mechanism controlling nutrients uptake, microbiota composition and how do they affect the gut immunity. Intestinal immunology constitutes one of the leading research fields in which future fish immunology should focus. The Project includes the implementation of new screening tools, using cutting-edge technology to evaluate the effect of different substances with potential use as an immunostimulant. This project entails the initiation of collaborative foundations between Norway and Chile that will pursue and explore the possibilities of receiving funding for the study of mucosal immunity in fish. The laboratories have different experimental and technical expertise that will be mutually beneficial to share and explore. This project will contribute to knowledge on the mucosal adaptive immune responses in fish, essential components that have not been yet reported in teleost fish. This knowledge will help to the development of new vaccines and immunostimulants to improve fish health, topics that are in the sights for more sustainable aquaculture in Norway, Chile and worldwide.
The main results of the project are:
? Isolation and characterization of leukocytes from the gastrointestinal tract of salmon.
? Detection and quantification of cytokines on the intestine of salmon fed different diets
? Characterization of mucins proteins present on the intestine and skin mucus of salmon.
? Production and validation of antibodies against mucin, lysozyme and cell markers. These new tools will be used to assess mucosal immunity under different diets.
? Part of the results have been already published and three manuscripts are under preparation.
? The successful collaboration between Chile and Norway led to the acquisition of a new grant, Resilient Salmon (294821).
The project allowed as to have two visiting Researchers. The results produced by them gave one published paper and three in preparation.
The project also established a successful collaboration with both groups in Chile, which allowed us to apply for new grants as "Resilient Salmon" granted in December 2018.
I was granted Support for International Collaboration Project, which have been very fruitful. However, recently we got very interesting results regarding identification of new immune cells on the intestine of salmon, a topic very relevant within the HAVBRUK Call. These results were obtained last week (RNAseq results), we would like to send those samples to proteomic and RNAseq, but it will not be possible before 31th December, that is when the project end. Last week also we had the visit of one of our Chilean collaboration, but our second partner will not be able to travel before February 2019. If we get an extension for six more months (until summer 2019) we will be able to write this manuscript, which will be the base for our future application for a Research Project (see report below). The project have fulfilled the objective, including mobility, conference, establishment of new method, etc. Therefore, these extra six month when we can make use of the rest of the Money to straight Our results, woudl be very benefical for all the parts.
