Seafood CRC: genetic selection for Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) resilience in the Tasmanian Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) breeding program
Seafood CRC: synopsis of Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD) research to date and review/recommendation of future AGD related R&D directions including the development of a vaccine for AGD
This application is needed to provide funds to undertake a comprehensive review of AGD research conducted to date, to produce a single document encapsulating what has been attempted and what has worked. This review will be used by the AGD Vaccine Phase III Management Advisory committee to make a decision on whether a comprehensive review by external experts should be commissioned to determine the best way forward for AGD research. This will then be used by industry and research providers to formaulte a short, medium and long term R&D strategy for AGD.
Final report
The major outcome of this project was the development of a 2011 R&D strategy by the TSGA. This included a list of R&D priorities for 2011, including AGD related research, and a specific list of areas of interest for 2011. Subsequent to this the TSGA received 7 project proposals pertaining to their R&D priorities and areas of interest for 2011. The final outcome was the formation of the AGD Working Group (AGDWG) consisting of representatives from Industry, the key research providers and the funding agencies (FRDC and Seafood CRC). The role of this group is to review and provide advice on AGD R&D. This group met on the 21st of June 2011 to discuss and consider these research proposals
Seafood CRC: discovery and manipulation of Neoparamoeba perurans aquaporins as a means to treat amoebic gill disease (AGD)
Cumulative data from other parasites suggests that blocking of Aquaporin channels (AQPs) may provide a suitable target for the use of pharmaceuticals to control these diseases. Neoparamoeba share many similarities with other pathogens. However, there is a need to correctly identify the Neoparamoeba AQPs at the molecular level, to undertake preliminary studies to show that these AQPs can be blocked preferentially (without affecting Atlantic salmon AQPs), and to show that block of the parasite AQPs results in inhibition or death of the Neoparamoeba. Central to this work and indeed to any further AGD research is a need to develop low cost, rapid and reliable assays of salmon gill cell – Neoparamoeba interactions. These in-vitro assays would lead to real dollar savings in the search for alternative AGD treatments by providing high throughput capability to assess multiple treatment options (pharmaceuticals, vaccines, chemicals). They provide a means of investigating amoebae – gill interactions as well as differential (pathogen versus host) effects of treatments. Dr Benita Vincent at CSIRO has begun pilot development of these assay systems with good early success, however, further resources are required to see this work to fruition.