Mini CRISPR screen of Interferons and interferon-like genes in search of ISAV resistance in SHK-1 cell line

Abstract

Infectious salmon anemia (ISA) is a bothersome epidemy in commercially farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), caused by the influenza-like Infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV). It causes severe anemia in farmed Atlantic salmon, resulting in high death rates and great economical losses if left untreated. The infectious disease has demanded a lot of resources in the science and aquaculture communities since its discovery. Many countermeasures, such as infection control guidelines and vaccines, have been tried out, but with varying result in the field. To this day ISAV outbreaks are still common in most counties commercially farming Atlantic salmon, though not as frequent and severe as before. Previous research on the salmon immune system indicates that interferons play an important role in the salmons first line of defense against virus infections. Salmon has a great repertoire of such interferons and interferon-like genes, that have been studied to varying degree. These interferons and interferon-like genes are therefore of great interest in the search for better virus immune response in farmed Atlantic salmon, both for ISA resistance and for virus resistance in general. The aim of this thesis was to shed some light on what genes contribute to the natural immune response of Atlantic salmon. Specifically, which, if any, interferons or interferon-like genes contribute to ISA virus resistance. To achieve this, it will be attempted to utilize the high sequence similarity of Atlantic salmon interferons and interferon-like genes to design a CRISPR knockout experiment, intended to knock out multiple high-similarity genes.