Antibody response to protein antigens with interferon as adjuvant II
There is a need for more effective virus vaccines for farmed Atlantic salmon. Our group studies the use of interferon (IFN) as adjuvant in vaccines against protein antigens in an effort to develop better vaccines against salmon viruses. We have previously studied IFN as adjuvant in DNA vaccines that express membrane bound antigens. In the present project we want to study the role of IFN as adjuvant in DNA vaccines which express secreted antigens using ovalbumin as model antigen and two virus antigens. We also want to optimize our models for using recombinant IFN as adjuvant in traditional vaccines using ovalbumin as antigen.
Serum will harvested after 10 weeks for antibody measurement. Organs will be harvested after various time points for qPCR measurement of IFN and of Mx as a marker for IFN activity. The fish will only experience minor pain/discomfort as a result of the vaccination or to sampling since the fish will be anesthetized with benzocaine before these procedures. It is not expected that the fish will be harmed by the immune response to the vaccines.
Development of more effective DNA vaccines for Atlantic salmon is important for the aquaculture industry in Norway, but it will also increase our understanding of the immune system of salmon.
A total of 410 Atlantic salmon presmolts will be used. The number of animals per group is the lowest possible to obtain statistically significant results. No reuse of fish is possible since naive animals are needed to study immune responses.
Serum will harvested after 10 weeks for antibody measurement. Organs will be harvested after various time points for qPCR measurement of IFN and of Mx as a marker for IFN activity. The fish will only experience minor pain/discomfort as a result of the vaccination or to sampling since the fish will be anesthetized with benzocaine before these procedures. It is not expected that the fish will be harmed by the immune response to the vaccines.
Development of more effective DNA vaccines for Atlantic salmon is important for the aquaculture industry in Norway, but it will also increase our understanding of the immune system of salmon.
A total of 410 Atlantic salmon presmolts will be used. The number of animals per group is the lowest possible to obtain statistically significant results. No reuse of fish is possible since naive animals are needed to study immune responses.