Innate immunity of salmonids

这些研究旨在更好地了解鱼类对传染病的先天抵抗力和对压力的适应性反应。我们对急性期反应中产生的蛋白质感兴趣。这些蛋白质是对组织损伤和感染的反应而产生的，其中许多蛋白质在适应性免疫反应形成之前的一段时间内负责抵抗疾病。在某种程度上，它们通过与传染性生物体表面结合并介导吞噬细胞的清除或中和组织损伤酶来起作用。为了鉴定这些蛋白质，我们使用了新颖的、高度敏感的蛋白质组学技术。我们已经确定了可能作为虹鳟鱼不良健康的高敏感指标有用的候选蛋白质，本研究将评估它们的实用性。我们还使用功能结合试验来鉴定与细菌表面结合的血清蛋白。我们已经确定了可能与特定细菌病原体抗性相关的蛋白质，这项研究将解决鱼类识别和消除传染性病原体的一些机制。我们还将研究应激诱导免疫抑制的新机制。这项研究可能最终使抗病选择的测定方法得以发展。选择对疾病具有内在抵抗力的个体将减少在养殖鱼类中广泛使用抗生素的需要。对不利健康状况的分析还将提供客观工具，以评估有关压力和生产力的养殖做法，使养鱼户能够有效地应对有关鱼类集约化管理的伦理问题。

These studies are designed to better understand innate resistance of fish to infectious disease and the adaptive response to stress. We are interested in proteins produced as part of the acute phase response. These proteins are produced as a reaction to tissue damage and infection and many of these proteins are responsible for resistance to disease during the period before an adaptive immune response can develop. They act, in part, by binding to the surface of infectious organisms and mediating clearance by phagocytes or by neutralizing tissue-damaging enzymes. To identify these proteins we have used novel, highly sensitive proteomics techniques. We have identified candidate proteins that may be useful as highly sensitive indicators of adverse health in rainbow trout and this research will evaluate their usefulness. We have also used functional binding assays to identify serum proteins that bind to bacterial surfaces. We have identified proteins that may be relevant for resistance to specific bacterial pathogens and this research will address some of the mechanisms by which fish recognize and eliminate infectious agents. We will also examine a novel mechanism of stress-induced immunosuppression. This research may eventually allow the development of assays for selection for disease resistance. Selection for individuals that are inherently resistant to disease will reduce the need for widespread use of antibiotics in farmed fish. Assays of adverse health will also provide objective tools to evaluate husbandry practices on stress and productivity allowing fish farmers to respond effectively to ethical concerns regarding the intensive management of fish.