Preparation of an IHN Virus Whole Killed Vaccine: Retention of Neutralizing Epitope Integrity of the IHN Virus Glycoprotein During Viral...

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: IHN disease in farmed salmon and trout exerts a negative impact on the productivity and profitability of the aquaculture industry. The purpose of this project is to produce an efficacious, safe and cost-effective killed IHN virus vaccine. The vaccine would decrease or eliminate IHN disease in farmed salmon and trout, thereby increasing the productivity and profitability of the aquaculture industry. The vaccine would also reduce the risk of IHN virus transmission between wild and farmed animals and the potential for amplification of IHN virus on farm sites. Maine BioTek, Inc. anticipates that the Phase I investigation will establish one or two methods of IHN virus vaccine manufacture resulting in a highly antigenic preparation of vaccine free of residual infectious virus. The methods will be used to develop a commercially available IHN virus vaccine. The vaccine will be marketed, sold and distributed to the salmon and trout aquaculture industry and Federal, State, and Tribal hatcheries.