Objective One of the main concerns in the aquaculture sector is the significant mortality of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, the principal shellfish cultivated worldwide. Among other factors, the presence of a virus has been directly associated with these mortality events which can largely exceed normal losses. The economic impact of the disease in oyster production has reached worrying levels since it has been spread to important producer countries in both hemispheres. Bivalve disease control can be a challenge due to the lack of an acquired immune response and therefore the impossibility to treat them. Long term solutions such as selection of resistant strains have been referred to as a priority by the scientific community. Novel sequencing methodologies have increased the genetic information on this specie and the development of selective breeding programs is nowadays more achievable than ever before. In this study, resistant strains will be genetically characterized and investigated in the field in order to identify the molecular markers required for assisted selection in future breeding programs. The relationship between environmental parameters, virus transmission and virus prevalence will be further studied with the aim of describing an early detection method of oyster mortality. Fields of science social sciencessociologydemographymortalitymedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunisationnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirologymedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringmedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutrition Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Net EU contribution € 170 121,60 Address CALLE SERRANO 117 28006 Madrid Spain See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 170 121,60