NA Developm of a Renibacterium salmoninarum-host model to increase understanding of immunity to- and virulence of- an intracellular pathogen

This project proposes the use of Renibacterium salmoninarum as a model for infection strategies of intracellular bacterial fish pathogens and will be relevant for other important fish pathogens including piscichlamydia salmonis (epitheliocystis agent), pi scirickettsia salmonis and the newly discovered Francisella sp. in Atlantic cod (see www.vetinst.no). It is proposed that a research grant application (as basically outlined above) will be finalised between: The National veterinary Institute, Oslo Norwa y, principal investigator: Dr Ole Bendik Dale Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, principal investigator: Dr Mark Strom National Centre for Cool and Cold water Aquaculture, West Virginia, principal investigat or: Dr Greg Wiens It is proposed that a series of meetings involving delegates from each institution (and other invited institutions) be arranged in Norway and the USA to allow completion of complementary applications to relevant funding authorities