Expression and function of disease related genes in Atlantic salmon

We have gathered the main national competence on molecular fish immunology, also including compentence on viral fish pathogens. This joint effort aims at exploiting existing Norwegian competence in fish immunology and virology to study the expression and function of disease related genes in Atlantic salmon. The nation-wide network will enable exploitation of all regional competence, resources and platforms. The groups participating in this proposal are drawn from Norwegian scientists that have been actively involved in successful salmon research programmes the last decade, including the characterisation of salmon immune genes and the infectious salmon anaemi a virus (ISAV) genes. This proposal has the ambition to co-ordinate research activities on disease mechanisms and immune response in fish to increase national competence and maintain Norway's position at the fish disease research forefront. Sub-goals: Viral interactions with both the specific, including humoral and cellular response, as well as the innate immune system will be explored. The individual sub-tasks are: 1) Study expression and function of innate host immune respone during viral infection 2) Study expression and function of humoral immune response during viral infection 3) Study expression and function of cellular immune response during viral infection 4) Study expression and function of viral genes during infection 5) Isolate and characterise new immune genes involved in viral infection 6) Establish new techniques and tools aimed at advancing functional studies