Russia: New research could help boost Atlantic salmon's resistance to sea lice

Published Aug 28, 2024

Tridge summary

A study published in the journal BMC Biology has found that gene editing techniques could potentially improve the resistance of Atlantic salmon to sea lice by utilizing the natural defense mechanisms of coho salmon. Sea lice are a significant problem in the salmon farming industry, causing welfare issues for farmed fish and harm to wild salmon populations. The research reveals that keratinocytes, a type of skin cell, play a crucial role in coho salmon's defense against sea lice, leading to the possibility of developing new biotech solutions to combat this parasite. The study also highlighted that sea lice can weaken the immune system of Atlantic salmon, underscoring the need for alternative, less harmful, and more efficient ways to tackle this issue.

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Original content

The results of this study suggest that gene editing techniques may be able to improve the resistance of Atlantic salmon to sea lice. Sea lice, parasites that feed on the skin and fins of fish, pose serious problems for the salmon farming industry. The damage they cause not only impacts the welfare of farmed fish, but also has consequences for wild salmon populations. Current methods of combating sea lice infestations are often expensive, harmful to the environment, and can negatively impact animal welfare. A new study provides insight into how coho salmon, a species related to Atlantic salmon, naturally defend themselves against these parasites. The researchers found that a special type of skin cell, keratinocytes, plays a crucial role in initiating the response that helps coho salmon resist sea lice. They used new techniques to sequence the cells of different salmon species to find out how some of them can expel sea lice, opening up new avenues for biotech solutions. Unlike ...

Source: Fishretail