Description du projet
Une meilleure compréhension de l’immunité naturelle des crevettes pour soutenir une aquaculture durable
La demande de crevettes a considérablement augmenté au cours des deux dernières décennies. Selon l’Organisation des Nations unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture, la production aquacole mondiale de crevettes blanches (Penaeus vannamei) est passée d’environ 150 000 tonnes en 2000 à plus de 4 millions de tonnes en 2016. À mesure que la demande augmente, la lutte contre les maladies est primordiale pour le succès de l’élevage des crevettes. Le système immunitaire de la crevette blanche comprend cinq types de cellules sanguines (hémocytes), dont deux ressemblent à des lymphocytes de mammifères, et ils n’ont été identifiés que récemment. Le projet ShrimpLLH, financé par l’UE, prévoit de faire la lumière sur la nature et le rôle de ces cellules dans l’immunité des crevettes. Une meilleure compréhension de leur fonction permettra d’exploiter leur capacité naturelle à aider les crevettes à se défendre contre les agents pathogènes nocifs pour une aquaculture durable de ces délicieux crustacés.
Objectif
Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) aquaculture industry is the fastest-growing sector of the global aquaculture is threatened worldwide by viral diseases, of which White Spot Syndrome is the most harmful and bacterial diseases, of which Vibriosis is the most damaging. Therefore, appropriate biosecurity and management measures in shrimp aquaculture are important in preventing diseases. Stimulating the immunity in shrimp is another factor that can help shrimp in surviving infectious attacks. Although the immune system of invertebrates has been well studied in insects, much less information is currently available for crustaceans. The general concept in a crustacean is that there are three types of haemocytes in the circulating haemolymph, but recent research in the laboratory of Prof. Dr Hans Nauwynck indicated that the haemocytes of P. vannamei can be separated in five distinguished subpopulations, of which two subpopulations were previously not described. The cells of these two subpopulations resemble mammal lymphocytes and are therefore designated lymphocyte-like haemocytes (LLHs). Against this background, it is paramount to investigate the immunological function of these LLHs in depth. ShrimpLLH project objectives are (i) to isolate, (ii) to characterize and (iii) to analyze the immunological functions of haemocyte subpopulations. This project will further fill the knowledge gap in shrimp immunity, more specifically, it will provide information on the immunological role of LLHs. Since this project is multidisciplinary, it will increase the competence of the candidate in advanced immunological techniques and experience in crustacean innate immunity research. The new knowledge gained in this project will facilitate to develop a technique to screen products that can aid the shrimp haemocytes in their fight against different infectious diseases. ShrimpLLH project is in line with the EU strategy for the development of sustainable aquaculture.
Champ scientifique
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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinateur
9000 Gent
Belgique