** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE FARM-RAISED CATFISH INDUSTRY DOMINATES THE AQUACULTURE SECTOR IN THE UNITED STATES, AND EDWARDSIELLA ICTALURI IS ASIGNIFICANT PATHOGEN CAUSING ENTERIC SEPTICEMIA OF CATFISH (ESC). THERE ARE LIMITATIONS IN THE CURRENT THERAPEUTIC AND PREVENTATIVE STRATEGIES AGAINST ESC. THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY THE INCREASING EMERGENCE OF E. ICTALURI STRAINESRESISTANT TO APPROVED ANTIMICROBIALS. AS A RESULT, THERE IS AN URGENT, INDUSTRY-DEFINED NEED TO PROVIDE CATFISH PRODUCERS WITH A PRACTICAL, SAFE, AND EFFICACIOUS TREATMENT ALTERNATIVE.THIS PROPOSAL WILL DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL OF NEWLY CONSTRUCTED MUTANTS AS LIVE ATTENUATED VACCINE CANDIDATES AND EXPLORE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF Β-GLUCAN AS A VACCINE ADJUVANT.THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A MANAGEMENT STRATEGY TO CONTROL ESC INFECTION AND PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO MECHANISMS OF E. ICTALURI PATHOGENESIS. THIS PROJECT INCLUDES CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO EVALUATE THE VIRULENCE OF CONSTRUCTED MUTANTS AND ASSESS WHETHER Β-GLUCAN CAN BE USED AS A VACCINE ADJUVANT TO IMPROVE THE EFFICACY OF THE CANDIDATE VACCINE STRAINS. THE STUDY WILL ALSO EXPLORE THE ABILITY OF CANDIDATE VACCINE STRAINS TO STIMULATE PROTECTIVE IMMUNITY OF CATFISH AGAINST E. ICTALURI.WE EXPECT THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND THE NOVEL VIRULENCE FACTORS IN E. ICTALURI, YIELD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF Β-GLUCAN AS AN ADJUVANT FOR CATFISH VACCINES, AND LAY A FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPING MORE EFFECTIVE LIVE ATTENUATED VACCINES TO PREVENT ESC. THE APPROACH IMPLEMENTED IN THIS RESEARCH WILL ENSURE AQUACULTURE PRODUCERS HAVE ADEQUATE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR MAXIMUM PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY, PROFITABILITY, AND SUSTAINABILITY.

Mississippi State University, Mississippi State MS

Investigators