BIOTEK2021-Bioteknologi for verdiskaping

A further expansion of the Norwegian salmon aquaculture production of Atlantic salmon is depending on sustainable solutions to current problems with disease, escapees, smolt quality and sustainable feed supply. We and others have revealed that single SNPs in the genomes of salmonids can explain important traits such as time of maturity and disease resistance. Further studies need to aim at elucidating how small nucleotide changes can alter key traits, such as stress and disease resistance and in this context, be used in aquaculture. Currently such fine tuned genome editing has not been developed for farmed animals including salmon. In this proposal we therefore suggest to further develop gene editing in salmon with an ultimate aim to increase the robustness of salmon in aquaculture. So far, we have developed knock out by gene editing and recently we have been able to perform knock-in technology in salmon. We also want to explore whether we can use this technology to increase expression of genes, which in turn affects the physiology of the fish positively such as for example increased disease resistance. Results from this proposed project will significantly increase the possibilities to understand how genetic traits are regulated in the salmon genome and how these traits can be used in salmon farming to ensure a more sustainable production of fish. We will critically evaluate the technology and anticipate resulting aquaculture innovations and their societal sustainability in a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) framework.

A further expansion of the Norwegian salmon aquaculture production of Atlantic salmon is depending on sustainable solutions to current problems with disease, escapees, smolt quality and sustainable feed supply. We and others have revealed that single SNPs in the genomes of salmonids can explain important traits such as time of maturity and disease resistance. Further studies need to aim at elucidating how small nucleotide changes can alter key traits, such as stress and disease resistance and in this context, be used in aquaculture. Currently such fine tuned genome editing has not been developed for farmed animals including salmon. In this proposal we therefore suggest to further develop gene editing in salmon with an ultimate aim to increase the robustness of salmon in aquaculture. So far, we have developed knock out by gene editing and recently we have been able to perform knock-in technology in salmon. We also want to explore whether we can use this technology to increase expression of genes, which in turn affects the physiology of the fish positively such as for example increased disease resistance. The project will focus on viral defense associated with Mx genes which are important proteins in virus defense, also in salmon. We will use Mx genes as target for gene editing and with an aim to test for function against viral disease. Also we will edit a gene related to CMS-resistance to demonstrate for the first time that gene editing can alter the susceptibility to disease in salmon, and a parvb1 gene in trout as proof of principle. Results from this proposed project will significantly increase the possibilities to understand how genetic traits are regulated in the salmon genome and how these traits can be used in salmon farming to ensure a more sustainable production of fish we will critically evaluate the technology and anticipate resulting aquaculture innovations and their societal sustainability in a Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) framework.