Development of oral vaccine delivery methods for prevention of disease in finfish culture

Development of oral vaccine delivery methods for prevention of disease in finfish culture

This project intends to harness the potential of novel complex particles to aid in oral vaccination methods for marine and freshwater finfish, specifically sablefish and trout, against a bacterial pathogen, Aeromonas salmonicida (A. salmonicida). As a productive alternative to the prevailing method of injecting juvenile fish, oral vaccinations infuse benefits such as the ability to administer on smaller fish, cost-effectiveness due to reduced labor, and acting as a complementary tool for vaccination boosters. This enhancement in aquaculture practices is envisioned to support large-scale commercial production by decreasing disease-associated fatalities and boosting immunization at the juvenile stage. The conclusion of this project promises the advent of an ELISA assay facilitating the measurement of immune responses triggered by these experimental vaccines. 

Objectives:

1. Develop and evaluate methods for the encapsulation of whole-cell A. salmonicida vaccine and immunostimulants within alginate particles.
2. Evaluate the ingestion and digestion of immune-stimulating alginate particles by juvenile sablefish and trout.
3. Evaluate the immune response in trout and sablefish exposed to A. salmonicida.
4. Compare immune response of trout and sablefish to various vaccine formulations and
5. Feeding protocols.
6. Evaluate experimental vaccinations using bacterial challenge trials with juvenile trout and sablefish.