Seven Indian and five Norwegian research institutions earlier this week announced a joint research project for aquaculture vaccines. Seafood industries in both countries have been dealing with expensive viruses that can't be prevented with antibiotics. The scientists are researching vaccines that could create antibodies against various viruses and boost the immune system of fish and shrimp.
The research focuses on the most serious viruses in salmon, halibut, cod and shrimp, including infectious pancreatic necrosis and viral nervous necrosis from nodavirus. In shrimp, they're dealing with white-spot syndrome, which can wipe out stocks in an entire shrimp pond in a matter of days. The research team will also work on vaccines for pathological variants of Aeromonas, Edwardsiella and Vibrio bacteria.
Norwegian scientist Audun H. Nerland, who made the announcement on behalf of the Indian-Norwegian research team, noted that the project was the continuation of a Norwegian project at the Institute of Marine Research that studied halibut's immune system in reacting to nodavirus infection.
Nerland further explained that Indian researchers who had experience developing human vaccines would balance the expertise of the Norwegian team in creating superior vaccines for aquaculture.
The Norwegian and Indian teams have received approximately U.S.$9 million each for the research. The Indian team received a grant from government institutions and the Norwegian team is supported by the Research Council of Norway. The research will take four years, with University of Tromsø's Norwegian College of Fishery Science leading the effort.
