NCCP: Determination of the susceptibility of silver perch, Murray cod and rainbow trout to infection with CyHV-3
NCCP: Understanding the genetics and genomics of carp strains and susceptibility to CyHV-3
Evaluation of point of care (POC) tests for White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV)
NCCP: essential studies on cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV-3) prior to release of the virus in Australian waters
Identification of differentially expressed innate immune genes in the New Zealand paua (Haliotis iris) and the Australian hybrid abalone (H. laevigata X H. rubra) upon immersion challenge with the abalone herpesvirus-1 (HaHV)
Abalone viral ganglioneuritis (AVG) has occurred in Victorian abalone for several years beginning from 2005/6. Later on several genetic variants of the causative agent, abalone herpesvirus (HaHV) (previously called AbHV) associated with disease outbreaks were discovered in Tasmanian processing plants.
All Australian abalone species tested to date have been shown to be susceptible to HaHV infection and to the disease it causes (Corbeil et al., 2016, Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 119:101-106). In addition, a recent study revealed that the New Zealand paua (H. iris) is resistant to AVG when challenged with the virus via intra-muscular injection and immersion (Corbeil et al., 2017, Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 146:31-35). The mechanism(s) of protection present in the paua are not known but are possibly based on innate immune genes that are expressed in paua but not expressed (or are absent) in Australian abalone species.
Identifying the mechanisms of protection would provide a knowledge based platform that could lead to the development of hybrid abalone possessing resistance traits and/or to the development of immunotherapeutic molecules that could protect Australian abalone species.
This project aims to address this knowledge gap and is relevant to all jurisdictions with abalone fisheries. Access to bio-secure aquarium facilities provides CSIRO-AAHL with a unique capability to investigate what genetic factors influence disease resistance in paua (exotic species), and carry out molecular gene characterisation.