Recombinant ISA Virus Vaccine

Infectious salmon anemia (ISA) virus is an emerging pathogen of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The virus is among the fish pathogens listed in the Aquatic Animal Health Code of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). As such, ISA is a notifiable disease and compulsory eradication policies are enforced worldwide. Control measures, such as an efficacious vaccine, would reduce the viral load in farm sites and could form an integral component of adaptive management strategies for the protection and recovery of endangered Atlantic salmon in Maine, stock enhancement and continued productive commercial and recreational fisheries. The goal of this project is to develop a safe, efficacious and cost effective recombinant vaccine using ISA virus antigens that we have identified as contributing to immunoprotection and to enhance the efficacy of the vaccine through optimization of the dose, formulation and antigen combination.