Salmon louse: Gene expression analysis of immune response during infection

The salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis kroyer) an ectoparasitic copepod causes significant loss in salmon aquaculture. Recently scientist have used 21 k oligonucleotide microarray and RT-qPCR to examine the time course of immune gene expression changes in salmon skin, spleen and head kidney during challenge of copepod and chalimus stages of lice development.

Rapid sensing was witnessed with induction of genes involved in innate immunity in skin and spleen. Transient increase in T-cell receptor alpha, CD4-1, and possible regulators of lymphocyte differentiation suggests recruitment of T-cells to the skin. Up regulation of putative lymphocyte G0/G1 switch proteins in spleen, immunoglobulins and increase of IgM and IgT transcripts in skin indicated a transition from innate to adaptive humoral immune response.

Results are published in latest issue of BMC Genomics.