A New Generation of Anti-viral Vaccines for Aquaculture Using Nanotechnology

This innovative Phase 1 project will test the feasibility of using the science of nanotechnology and emulsion chemistry to produce nanoparticles in a matrix to greatly enhance the immunogenicity of inactivated viruses. This new approach promises to have direct application to the development of potent cost-effective anti-viral vaccines for aquatic animals. These novel formulations should stimulate protective humoral and cellular immune responses by targeting antigen presenting cells. Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV) will be used as model organisms to assess the binding and initial potency of these complex viral carriers. Emphasis will be placed on creating nanoparticles with high affinities to viral particles, followed by a comparison of antibody response kinetics and possible side effects in rainbow trout