CRISPR/Cas9 based knockout of genes in SHK-1 cell line, to investigate their role in development of Infectious salmon anemia virus infection

Abstract

In recent years, we have realized the potential of aquaculture as an industry to meet the goal of rising global food demand in a cost-effective manner, rooted in sustainable and environment friendly practices. Atlantic salmon, as a fish, has a sizeable share in the Norwegian Aquaculture industry and plays a popular role in the Norwegian food culture. Out of the several diseases that affect the health of Atlantic salmon, the viral disease caused by Infectious Salmon Anemia virus is particularly notorious. It is a notifiable disease as per the World Organization for Animal Health and infection with ISAV has known to be difficult to control, causing epizootic episodes that threaten not only threaten the welfare of commercial salmons but also wild populations. Some of the challenges involved with control of the ISAV infections include a high mortality rate and lack of any treatment options – prophylactic or otherwise, leading to severe economic losses to the Norwegian aquaculture industry. In this study we aimed to identify the genes involved in the development of ISAV infection. We investigated if at least one of the three genes- TMEM199, WDR7 and CCDC115 could be involved in the mechanism of infection for ISA virus. This was achieved by a CRISPR/Cas9 based knockout of the target genes followed by virus challenge study on SHK-1 cell line.