Skip to main content
European Commission logo
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
CORDIS Web 30th anniversary CORDIS Web 30th anniversary
Content archived on 2024-06-18

Study of specific cell mediated immunity and vaccine optimization against bacterial and viral infections in trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Objective

Rainbow trout are one of the most valuable fish species farmed in the European Union, thus knowledge of its immune system is of practical importance. This project is focused on the study of interleukin 2 (IL2), a central cytokine in the regulation of T-cell responses, which stimulates proliferation of these cells and increases cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, natural killer, B cells, monocyte/macrophages and neutrophils. IL2 is an important adjuvant for inactivated or subunit viral vaccines in humans and may have a potential role in protection against bacterial and viral diseases. Initially expression studies of IL2 in head-kidney and spleen will be examined by PCR, after administration of different immunostimulants, since this molecule is not constitutively expressed. Next, the activity of the recombinant protein (rIL2) will be established. An antibody to IL2 will also be generated for subsequent use in ELISPOT assays. Thus the specific cell-mediated immune response in trout will be quantified by enumerating the number of cells secreting IL2 in response to antigen, establishing a relationship between the size of the IL2 response and protection post-vaccination using a model bacterial, Aeromonas salmonicida, and viral, haermorrhagic septicaemia virus, VHSV, pathogen. Further experiments will be carried out using the rIL2 to increase the effectiveness of fish vaccines by inclusion in the vaccine. Following vaccination, the A. salmonicida and VHSV antibody titres will be determined for the serum and correlations sought between the size of the antibody response, the IL2 secreting cell response and resistance. Finally, IL2 secreting cells will be induced and identified using the monoclonal antibodies to detect intracellular IL2 and sorted by FACS. The sorted cells will be characterized in terms of their transcriptome, by microarray analysis. The arrays will also be used with RNA from cells stimulated with rIL2 to get an overview of genes affected in target cells.

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN
EU contribution
€ 169 957,94
Address
KING'S COLLEGE REGENT WALK
AB24 3FX ABERDEEN
United Kingdom

See on map

Region
Scotland North Eastern Scotland Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Christopher Secombes (Prof.)
Links
Total cost
No data