Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Fish are important models for vertebrate immune and physiological responses. Due to their importance to global fisheries and aquaculture industries, salmonids and cod have been the focus of large-scale genomics research projects involving Ocean Sciences Centre (OSC) researchers (e.g. Genome Canada-funded Genomic Research on Atlantic Salmon Project, and Genome Canada-funded Atlantic Cod Genomics and Broodstock Development Project). Resources built by these genomics projects (e.g. DNA microarrays, or "gene chips") are being used by OSC trainees (e.g. graduate students) to address research questions related to fish responses to pathogens (e.g. viral, bacterial) or environmental stress (e.g. heat stress). In this proposal, we request funding for a microinjection system that will be used to conduct functional studies of key defense genes in fish embryos and larvae. The research performed using this equipment will dramatically improve our understanding of the genes and molecular pathways involved in stress and immune responses in early life stage fish. Furthermore, the microinjection system will allow state-of-the-art research to be conducted on fish vascular physiology under varied conditions. This research is critical to developing a comprehensive understanding of how these organisms regulate blood flow and pressure, and thus their capacity to deal with environmental challenges such as accelerated climate change (i.e. rising ocean temperatures). In addition to providing valuable information on the molecular basis of fish responses to such insults, the information acquired in these studies will potentially lead to applied projects such as the development of molecular tools for studying the impacts of infectious disease or thermal stress on wild and cultured populations of fish belonging to species important to Atlantic Canada's culture, heritage, and economy (e.g. Atlantic cod).