SBIR Phase I: Recombinant Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN ) Virus G Protein Vaccine

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is to develop a vaccine for the control of infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) disease of salmon and trout. An efficacious, safe and reasonably priced IHN virus vaccine would improve the productivity of the finfish aquaculture industry in the Pacific Northwest, ensure the productivity of commercial and recreational fisheries, and reduce environmental concerns related to IHN virus transmission between wild and farmed fish. The aquaculture industry has created jobs in remote and rural areas of North America. These jobs are threatened by recurrent IHN outbreaks. Additionally, this project will investigate how the glycoprotein of IHN virus elicits a non-specific, cross-protective immune response in trout and salmon. Such information will be helpful in developing new viral vaccines and adjuvants. The commercial application of this project is in the area of aquaculture. The IHN virus vaccine will provide a significant benefit to the North American aquaculture industry. The product will be marketed to non-commercial and commercial salmon and trout farming enterprises in western Canada and the United States.