SBIR Phase I: Atlantic Cod Nodavirus Vaccine

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）一期项目将开发一种新的重组疫苗，用于控制新英格兰和加拿大大西洋沿岸养殖的大西洋鳕鱼（Gadus morhua）的病毒性神经坏死（VNN）。大西洋鳕鱼诺达病毒引起VNN，其特征是大脑和视网膜出现病变，游泳行为异常，颜色变深。该疾病的急性形式发生在鳕鱼发育的幼虫和幼鱼阶段，90%或更多的受感染鱼可能死亡。该项目涉及疫苗制备、配方、效力、安全性和有效性。该方法结合了病毒粒子的三维结构知识和基于序列的病毒外壳结构域组织，因为它与宿主特异性、致病性和免疫原性有关，从而优化疫苗。该研究计划旨在满足最终用户的偏好，包括对亲鱼和幼鱼的功效，不影响鱼类生长，产生持久的保护性免疫，并提供80%或更高的相对存活率。在商业上，病毒性神经坏死（VNN）疫苗的应用将有助于解决传染病问题，这是水产养殖业未来增长和可持续性的主要制约因素。预计到2015年，世界鱼类消费量将在目前水平上增长35%，但估计76%的海洋野生鱼类资源已被充分开发、过度开发或枯竭。海产品需求的增加将主要通过全球水产养殖产量的增长来满足。北美新兴的大西洋鳕鱼产业受到由鱼类诺达病毒引起的VNN的严重威胁。开发的诺达病毒疫苗将确保鱼类健康，同时减少病毒在养殖鳕鱼和野生鱼类之间生物扩增和传播的可能性。诺达病毒疫苗将为消费者、科学家、农民和环保组织提供一个工具，共同努力实现海洋管理的共同目标，同时满足市场对高质量、健康海产品来源的需求。该项目将(1)使全州研发和产品部署基础设施的长期发展成为可能；(2)增强缅因州技术密集型产业的竞争地位；(3)支持工业活动集群并为缅因州人民创造就业机会。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a novel recombinant vaccine for the control of viral nervous necrosis (VNN) of cultured Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in New England and Atlantic Canada. The Atlantic cod nodavirus causes VNN which is characterized by the appearance of lesions in the brain and retina, abnormal swimming behavior, and dark coloring. The acute form of the disease occurs during the larval and juvenile stages of cod development and 90% or greater of the infected fish may die. The project addresses vaccine preparation, formulation, potency, safety and efficacy. The approach incorporates knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of the virion and sequence-based domain organization of the virus shell as it relates to host-specificity, pathogenicity, and immunogenicity to optimize the vaccine. The research plan is designed to meet end-user preferences that include efficacy for both broodstock and juvenile animals that does not compromise fish growth, results in a long-lasting protective immunity and provides 80% or greater relative percent survival. Commercially, the application of a viral nervous necrosis (VNN) vaccine will help address infectious disease, which is a major constraint to future growth and sustainability of the aquaculture industry. World fish consumption is expected to rise 35% over current levels by the year 2015 yet an estimated 76% of the oceans wild fish stocks are fully-exploited, overexploited or depleted. The increase in seafood demand will be met largely through growth of global aquaculture production. The emerging Atlantic cod industry in North America is seriously threatened by VNN caused by a piscine nodavirus. The nodavirus vaccine developed will ensure fish health while reducing the potential for virus bioamplification and transmission between farmed cod and wild fish. The nodavirus vaccine will provide a tool that consumers, scientists, farmers and environmental groups can use to work together toward achieving a common goal of ocean stewardship while meeting market demand for a high-quality, healthy source of seafood. The project will (1) enable the long-term development of a statewide R&D and product deployment infrastructure, (2) enhance the competitive position of Maines technology intensive industries and (3) support the clusters of industrial activity and the creation of job for the people of Maine.