IU: CRISPR/Cas9 editing to test and control genes implicated in influencing Aeromonas disease resistance in carp and salmon

Carp are by far the most highly produced species in aquaculture around the world and rohu carp is an important source of nutrition in India. Zebrafish are suitable model species to use for carp genetic research as they belong to the same family. Atlantic salmon production is an important source of jobs and income for Norway. But bacterial diseases have severe effects on the bio-economy of aquaculture in India and Norway. The objective of this project is to develop methods and knowledge that can be used to effectively boost the disease resistance to the most economically significant bacterial disease challenge affecting rohu carp in India. A closely related bacterial disease exists in Norway and vaccination of Atlantic salmon has reduced the problem. Both Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas salmonicida affect fish health and cause mortality. The partners in the project have already collaborated to identify genes that putatively influence the disease resistance of rohu carp to A. hydrophila causing aeromoniasis. This project will test whether the expression of these genes influences the resistance of rohu carp to the disease. We will also begin work to determine whether the same genes are associated with disease resistance of Atlantic salmon to A. salmonicida which causes furunculosis. The proposed research will use gene editing technology to regulate the expression of the genes of interest to test whether they influence the resistance of rohu carp and Atlantic salmon to Aeromonas sp. infection and to aeromoniasis or furunculosis. In doing so the project will generate knowledge that can be applied to boost selective breeding efforts or could be used to directly steer the disease resistance phenotype of particular individuals. The project will also fill a gap in our knowledge about how to most effectively implement such genomic and gene editing technologies in selective breeding to have the greatest impact on the blue bioeconomy of both countries.

Carp are by far the most highly produced species in aquaculture around the world and rohu carp is an important source of nutrition in India. Zebrafish are a suitable model species to use for carp genetic research as they belong to the same family. Atlantic salmon production is an important source of jobs and income for Norway. But bacterial diseases have severe effects on the bio-economy of aquaculture in India and Norway. The objective of this project is to develop methods and knowledge that can be used to effectively boost the disease resistance to the most economically significant bacterial disease challenges affecting rohu carp in India and Atlantic salmon in Norway, Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas salmonicida. The partners in the project have already collaborated to identify genes (including perforin and mucin) that putatively influence the disease resistance of rohu carp to A. hydrophila causing aeromoniasis. This project will test whether the expression of these genes influences the resistance of rohu carp to the disease. We will also begin work to determine whether the same genes are associated with disease resistance of Atlantic salmon to A. salmonicida which causes furunculosis. The proposed research will use the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology to regulate the expression of perforin and mucin genes to test whether these genes influence the resistance of rohu carp and Atlantic salmon to Aeromonas sp. infection and to determine whether this can make fish more or less susceptible or resistant to aeromoniasis or furunculosis. In doing so the project will generate knowledge that can be applied to boost selective breeding efforts or could be used to directly steer the disease resistance phenotype of particular individuals. The project will also fill a gap in our knowledge about how to most effectively implement such genomic and gene editing technologies in selective breeding to have the greatest impact on the blue bioeconomy of both countries.