New platform technologies for development of a vaccine against CMS – NoVATion (New Vaccine Technology Platform)

Smittsomme sykdommer er en viktig trussel for fremtidig bærekraftig vekst innen akvakultur. Innovasjoner som forebygger sykdom er derfor essensielt. Effektive vaksiner har vært avgjørende for utviklingen av norsk havbruk og har redusert bruken av antibiotika dramatisk og fremmet god fiskehelse. Fremdeles opplever industrien en dødelighet på 10-15%, hovedsakelig relatert til lakselus og virussykdommer. De fleste vaksiner som brukes til fisk i dag er basert på inaktiverte eller drepte patogener. Dette er imidlertid ikke en mulig løsning for alle patogener. Det er derfor behov for nye alternative tilnærminger for å få fram effektive vaksiner. Med økende industrialisering av havbruk over hele verden står industrien kontinuerlig overfor nye sykdomsutfordringer. Basert på neste generasjon vaksineteknologi kan nye generiske vaksineplattformer effektivisere vaksineutvikling og dermed forkorte tid til markedet. NoVATion vil fokusere på å etablere ny plattformteknologi for akvakultur. Prosjektet har identifisert flere lovende kandidater og har etablert "proof of concept" for en effektiv CMS vaksine.

The NoVATion project has exemplified that bringing together the best from industry and academia drives the impact from research and serves the process of creating innovation. PoC has been established and activities are planned to target additional diseases using the technology platforms developed. An efficacious vaccine against CMS and potential future vaccines based on the DNA- or LAVV platform will reduce losses in the fish farming industry and benefit business profits and employment. Prevention of disease will also improve animal welfare, food quality and supply for a growing population and have a positive impact on the environmental footprint of aquaculture and Norway’s reputation for operation of world’s best practice fish farms. Demonstrating and communicating the potential of DNA- and LAVV technology to develop safe and efficacious vaccines and solving important problems is anticipated to make an important contribution to the debate on the use of biotechnology in food and agriculture.

A major constraint of aquaculture is vulnerability to infectious diseases, which is a threat to future sustainable growth. Innovations that improve disease management are therefore essential. The development and use of efficacious vaccines is a key to the success of Norwegian aquaculture and have dramatically reduced the use of antibiotics and promoted fish health. Still, the industry experiences mortality rates of 10-15 %, mainly related to sea lice and viral diseases. Most vaccines used in fish today rely on inactivated or killed pathogens. However, this is not a feasible solution for all pathogens. It is therefore a need for new alternative approaches to bring forth efficacious vaccines. Also, with increasing industrialization of aquaculture worldwide, the industry continuously faces new disease challenges. Next-generation vaccine technologies based on genetic engineering tools, have opened the road to developing new generic vaccine platforms which can streamline and shorten the long and complex vaccine development process and address challenges such as safety, efficacy and time to market. NoVATion will focus on establishing next-generation vaccine technology for use in aquaculture.