Common carp type I interferon responses and its influence on the resistance of carp genetic lines to virus infection

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Dieter Steinhagen
• Subject Area: Veterinary Medical Science
• Term: from 2014 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 252351410

Type I interferons (IFNs) are virus induced proteins with antiviral properties. In teleosts, IFN activity has long be known, but only recently, IFN encoding genes were cloned in a range of different species. Current data indicates that the type I IFN system in teleosts is encoded by a diverse family of genes comprising of some molecules, which according to the cysteine pattern of the mature protein are present in all vertebrates, and some molecules which have only been found in teleosts. All teleost type I IFNs studied so far were found to possess antiviral and some antibacterial activities, and expression data of these genes suggest that different genes may have complementary roles in different cells and at different stages of the infection. The aim of the current research is to characterise of the role of the different forms of cyprinid type I IFNs during viral infections of both Cyprinid Herpesvirus-3 (CyHV-3) and Spring Viraemia of Carp Virus (SVCV). Infections with these two viruses are responsible for severe losses in carp aquaculture world wide and challenge food security and the sustainability of carp production.The project addresses 3 interrelated tasks: (i) characterisation of the impact of different molecules of the complex type I IFN system of cyprinid fishes on viral infections in vitro, (ii) selecting the impact of the expression level of different type I IFN genes on the outcome of the disease (iii) exploring the influence of type I IFN polymorphism on the resistance of carp to the diseases caused by the viruses. Using the two unique virus models CyHV-3, a member of the Alloherpesviridae, and SVCV, a member of the Rhabdoviridae, the planed work will elucidate the involvement of type I IFNs in the resistance of carp to viral diseases on a wider scale.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Poland
• Participating Persons: Dr. Ilgiz Irnazarow; Dr. Marek Matras