A Multivalent Bacterial Vaccine for Atlantic Cod

The goal of this project (Phase I ¿ III) is to develop a vaccine for the control of diseases in Atlantic cod caused by L. anguillarum and A. salmonicida. To accomplish this we have established the following sequential technical Phase I objectives: (1) identify bacterial growth conditions suitable for small-scale vaccine production, (2) determine the conditions for inactivation that result in the retention of immunoprotective properties and abolish infectivity of the bacteria, (3) standardize the content of a single dose of vaccine, (4) formulate the vaccine with or without adjuvant and (5) measure the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in Atlantic cod. The Phase II and III research efforts will include scale-up of vaccine production, determination of optimal vaccine dose, optimal adjuvant and vaccine formulation, duration and kinetics of the protective immune response elicited by the vaccine, vaccine safety and efficacy of the vaccine against heterologous bacteria.