Fish Immunology and Vaccinology

research group

Our research is focused on the immune system of Atlantic salmon and how this species combat viral infections. The knowledge contributes to an increased understanding of the evolution of the immune system and to improved vaccines for the aquaculture industry. Farming fish in dense populations in the open sea inevitably leads to outbreaks of infectious diseases. While vaccination has brought most bacterial diseases in Norwegian salmon farming under control, virus diseases are still a major threat having impacts on fish welfare and economy. At present the main viral diseases are salmon pancreas disease (PD), heart- and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI), cardiomyopathy syndrome (CMS) and infectious salmon anemia (ISA). Salmon virus vaccines have so far shown relatively low protective effect. A major goal of the research group is to contribute to improved virus vaccines for the aquaculture industry. To achieve this, we study the innate and adaptive immune systems of Atlantic salmon and how they inhibit virus infection. Study of immune mechanisms are also translated into investigation of secretable exosomes from salmon leucocytes. These exosomes are nanometer-sized vesicles oftenly secreted during immune pathology and they contain different RNAs together with MHC I and II molecules. The research group is also responsible for the Aquamedicine study programme.

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Our projects



Master Projects

2023

IFNɣ ELISpot som målemetode for cellulær immunitet i atlantisk laks (Salmo salar)  

Forfatter: Marte Zachariassen and Ingrid Udø
Veiledere: Jorunn Jørgensen and Ingvill Jensen

Impact of temperature-dependent developmental plasticity on immune response and cardiac health to Yersinia ruckeri infection in Atlantic Salmon par

Forfatter: Jens Herman Anthun Meland
Veiledere: Jaya Kumari Swain

2022

The immune gene expression profile of sterile and fertile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) during smoltification and post transportation stress: A comparative overview

Forfatter: Katarina Sævareid 
Veiledere: Jaya Kumari Swain (Main supervisor), Helge Tveiten (co-supervisor)

Effekten av gjentatte Hydrolicer-behandlinger på atlantisk laks (Salmo salar) i en kommersiell produksjonssyklus i sjø

Forfatter: Bjørnar Ellingsen
Veiledere: Tore Seternes, Marwa Mechaloui, Ingvill Jensen

Studiar av B-celler hos laks (Salmo salar) – blir dei aktiverte av TLRligandar?

Forfatter: Hanna Fylling Ellingseter
Veiledere: Jorunn Jørgensen, Shiferaw Jenberie, Ingvill Jensen

Studier av B-celler hos laks (Salmo salar) - Aktiveres de av TLR-ligander?

Forfatter: Marie Mikkelborg
Veiledere: Jorunn Jørgensen, Shiferaw Jenberie, Ingvill Jensen

𝜸𝜹 T-celler i atlantisk laks: Innsyn i 𝜸𝜹 T-cellers roller i antivirale responser mot Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV) oppnådd gjennom genomiske og molekylære analyser

Forfatter: Mari Jahren Herud
Veiledere: Agata Teresa Wyrozemska, Eva-Stina Isabella Edholm

Ikke-klassiske MHC klasse I L-linjegener i atlantisk laks (Salmo salar): Potensiell funksjonell rolle som tidlige antivirale varslingssignaler

Forfatter: Ella Mortensen
Veiledere: Maryam Imam, Eva-Stina Isabella Edholm

Imunstatus hos fertil og steril laks under sjøfasen: En komparativ oversikt

Forfatter: Guro Aalstad Ørnhaug
Veiledere: Helge Tveiten, Jaya Kumari Swain

2021

Immunforsvaret til vaksinert atlantisk laks (Salmo salar L.) gjennom en kommersiell produksjonssyklus i sjø.

Kartlegging av cellulære prosesser knyttet til vaksinegranulomer og systemiske lymfoide vev
Forfatter: Endre Nordstrand
Veiledere: Tore Seternes, Marwa Mechaloui, Ingvill Jensen

Specific antibody responses (IgM) against Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), measured in a multiplexed magnetic bead-based system.

Forfatter: Monica Nordberg
Veiledere: Maria Dahle, Øystein Wessel & Jorunn B. Jørgensen

2019

Forbasert kontra lysstimulert smoltifisering av Atlantisk laks (Salmo salar L.)

Effekten av smoltifiseringsregime p smoltutvikling og immunstatus i ferskvann, samt vekst og mottakelighet for infeksiøs lakseanemi (ILA) etter sjøsetting.
Forfatter: Bjørn Ellingsen
Veiledere: Even Jørgensen, Ingvill Jensen

Humorale immunresponser i bukhule og systemiske organer hos Atlantisk laks (Salmo salar L.) – sammenligning av levende og inaktivert salmonid alphavirus 3 administrert i bukhulen

Forfatter: Mathias Abrahamsen
Veiledere: Jorunn Jørgensen, Ingvill Jensen

2018

Karakterisering av humoral immunrespons mot salmonid alfavirus 3 i atlantisk laks (Salmo salar L.).

Kartlegging av IgM antistoffsekrerende B-celleresponser i bukhule og systemiske organer.
Forfatter: Morten B Styrvold
Veiledere: Jorunn Jørgensen, Ingvill Jensen

The distribution, expression pattern and effects of TNF superfamily members BAFF and APRIL in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and salmon derived leukocytes

Forfatter: Mikael Fjeld Vold
Veiledere: Jorunn Jørgensen, Michelle Ma Penaranda, Ingvill Jensen

2017

Effekt av interferon, poly I:C og virussmitte på induksjon av nyoppdagede Mx-gener hos atlantisk laks (Salmo salar L.) 

Forfatter: Jørgensen, Lars Gaute 
Veileder: Børre Robertsen

2016

Produksjonsindusert stress på rogn (Salmo salar L.) og effekter på immun- og stressrelaterte gener etter smitte av plommesekkyngel med Yersinia ruckeri

Forfatter: Per Kristian Sætre
Veiledere: Hanne Johnsen, Helge Tveiten, Lill Heidi Johansen, Ingvill Jensen.

Toll-lignende reseptor 9 og 21 i atlantisk laks (Salmo salar L.) - Samme ligand, unik eller felles uttrykksprofil?

Forfatter: Louise Rebekka Ingebrigtsen
Veiledere: Jorunn Jørgensen, Ingvill Jensen

2015

Transkripsjonsfaktorer som markør for modning av B-celler i Atlantisk laks (Salmo salar L.)

Effekt av TLR-ligander på utrykk av Pax5 in vitro og in vivo
Forfatter: Håvard Ingulfsvann Hagen
Veiledere: Veiledere: Jorunn Jørgensen, Ingvill Jensen

Vaksinering og smoltifisering av atlantisk laks

Betydning av sjøvannstoleranse for mottakelighet for infeksiøs pankreas nekrose (IPN)
Forfatter: Mathias Overrein
Veiledere: Ingvill Jensen, Tore Seternes, Børge Nilsen Fredriksen.

HPI-axis and heat shock protein (HSP) gene transcripts, and their responsiveness to stress in Atlantic salmon embryos and larvae.

Forfatter: Renate Andersen
Veiledere: Helge Tveiten, Hanne Johnsen, Ingvill Jensen. Oppgaven ble utført ved Nofima.

Interferon som adjuvant i DNA-vaksine mot ILA-virus hos atlantisk laks (Salmo salar L). Kinetikk i antistoffrespons, effekt på drap av celler som uttrykker antigen og effekt på vekst 

Forfatter: Bratland, Lisa Charlotte 
Veileder: Børre Robertsen

Effekt av interferon-plasmider på ekspresjon av antiviralt Mx-protein i pankreas og beskyttelse mot SAV3-infeksjon hos atlantisk laks (Salmo salar L.) 

Forfatter: Jenssen, Iris 
Veileder: Børre Robertsen

2014

Hjertehelse som risikofaktor for slaktedødelighet i Nord-Norge.

Forfatter: Synne Karoline Jerman Bjørstad
Veiledere Harald Takle, Nofima og Ingvill Jensen UiT. Samarbeidsprosjekt med Lerøy Aurora.

Antiviralt forsvar i hjertet hos atlantisk laks (Salmo salar)

Uttrykk av type I interferoner in vivo og i primære cellekulturer in vitro.
Forfatter: Astrid-Elisabeth Christiansen Hanssen
Veiledere: Ingvill Jensen & Børre Robertsen.

SOCS-proteiner i laksens antivirale forsvar - til nytte for virus eller vert?

Forfatter: Lisbeth Lindenskov Joensen
Veileder Jorunn Jørgensen

2013

SAV Ag/CpG/polyI:C formulated vaccination potentiate protective immune responses in Atlantic salmon

Forfatter: Hanna Leena Thim
Veileder Jorunn B. Jørgensen

Studier av hjerte og skjelettmuskelbetennelse i Atlantisk laks

Effekter av infeksiøs pankreas nekrose virus og vaksinasjon på utviklingen av HSMB in vivo, og etablering av primærkultur av hjerteceller for dyrking av piscine reovirus (PRV) in vitro.
Forfatter: Ingrid Moan
Veileder Ingvill Jensen UiT og Lill-Heidi Johansen Nofima

Betydning av stress ved badevaksinering av lakseyngel mot yersiniose (Yersinia ruckeri).

Utførte oppgaven ved Universitetet i Nordland og ved Pharmaq.
Forfatter: Anniken Malene Frantzen Sørflaten
Veiledere Ingvill Jensen UiT, Martin Iversen UiN og Børge Nilsen Fredriksen Pharmaq.

People


Publications

2023

van der Wal YA, Nordli H, Akandwanaho A, Greiner-Tollersrud L, Kool J, Jørgensen JB. CRISPR-Cas– induced IRF3 and MAVS knockouts in a salmonid cell line disrupt PRR signaling and affect viral replication. 2023. Frontiers in Immunology, Vol. 14, doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1214912 (read)

2021

van der Wal YA, Jenberie S, Nordli H, Greiner-Tollersrud L, Kool J, Jensen I, Jørgensen JB. The importance of the Atlantic salmon peritoneal cavity B cell response: Local IgM secreting cells are predominant upon Piscirickettsia salmonis infection. 2021. Developmental & Comparative Immunology, 123, 104125. doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2021.104125 (read)

Malik MS, Teige LH, Braaen S, Olsen AB, Nordberg M, Amundsen MM, Dhamotharan K, Svenning S, Edholm ES, Takano T, Jørgensen JB, Wessel Ø, Rimstad E, Dahle MK. Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV)-3, but Not PRV-2, Cross-Protects against PRV-1 and Heart and Skeletal Muscle Inflammation in Atlantic Salmon. Vaccines (Basel). 2021 Mar 6;9(3):230. doi: 10.3390/vaccines9030230. PMID: 33800725; PMCID: PMC8001985. (read)

2020

Swain, Jaya Kumari; Carpio, Yamila; Johansen, Lill-Heidi; Velazquez, Janet; Hernandez, Liz; Leal, Yeny; Kumar, Ajey; Estrada, Mario Pablo. Impact of a candidate vaccine on the dynamics of salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) infestation and immune response in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). PLOS ONE, 2020 doi:   

Jenberie Shiferaw, Peñaranda Ma. Michelle D., Thim Hanna L., Styrvold Morten Bay, Strandskog Guro, Jørgensen Jorunn B., Jensen Ingvill. Salmonid Alphavirus Subtype 3 Induces Prolonged Local B Cell Responses in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) After Intraperitoneal Infection. Frontiers in Immunology. Volume 11 2020. 1682 ISSN 1664-3224 doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01682 (read)

Slettjord, T. H., Sekkenes, H. J., Chi, H., Bøgwald, J., Swain, T., Dalmo, R. A., & Swain, J. K. (2020). Overexpression of T-bet, GATA-3 and TGF-ß Induces IFN-γ, IL-4/13A, and IL-17A Expression in Atlantic Salmon. Biology 2020, Vol. 9, Page 82, 9(4), 82. https://doi.org/10.3390/BIOLOGY9040082 (read)

Dennis Berbulla Bela-ong, Linn Greiner-Tollersrud, Yorick Andreas van der Wal, Ingvill Jensen, Ole Morten Seternes, Jorunn B. Jørgensen. Infection and microbial molecular motifs modulate transcription of the interferon-inducible gene ifit5 in a teleost fish. Developmental & Comparative Immunology. Volume 111 2020. 103746 ISSN 0145-305X doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103746. (read)

Nepal A, Wolfson DL, Ahluwalia BS, Jensen I, Jørgensen J, Iliev DB. Intracellular distribution and transcriptional regulation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) Rab5c, 7a and 27a homologs by immune stimuli. Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2020 Apr;99:119-129. doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2020.01.058. Epub 2020 Jan 31. PubMed PMID: 32014587. (read)

2019

Svenning S, Gondek-Wyrozemska AT, van der Wal YA, Robertsen B, Jensen I, Jørgensen JB, Edholm ES. Microbial Danger Signals Control Transcriptional Induction of Distinct MHC Class I L Lineage Genes in Atlantic Salmon. Front Immunol. 2019 Oct 11;10:2425. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02425. PMID: 31681311; PMCID: PMC6797598.

Robertsen B, Greiner-Tollersrud L, Jørgensen LG. Analysis of the Atlantic salmon genome reveals a cluster of Mx genes that respond more strongly to IFN gamma than to type I IFN. Dev Comp Immunol. 2019;90:80-89. doi:10.1016/j.dci.2018.09.004

Jensen I, Overrein MC, Fredriksen BN, Strandskog G, Seternes T. Differences in smolt status affect the resistance of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) against infectious pancreatic necrosis, while vaccine-mediated protection is unaffected. J Fish Dis. 2019 Sep;42(9):1271-1282. doi: 10.1111/jfd.13049. Epub2019 Jun 11. PMID: 31211446.

Iliev DB, Lagos L, Thim HL, Jørgensen SM, Krasnov A, Jørgensen JB. CpGs Induce Differentiation of Atlantic Salmon Mononuclear Phagocytes Into Cells With Dendritic Morphology and a Proinflammatory Transcriptional Profile but an
Exhausted Allostimulatory Activity. Front Immunol. 2019 Mar 13;10:378. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00378. PMID: 30918507; PMCID: PMC6424866.

Peñaranda MMD, Jensen I, Tollersrud LG, Bruun JA, Jørgensen JB. Profiling the Atlantic Salmon IgM+ B Cell Surface Proteome: Novel Information on Teleost Fish B Cell Protein Repertoire and Identification of Potential B Cell Markers. Front Immunol. 2019 Jan 29;10:37. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00037. PMID: 30761128; PMCID: PMC6362898.

Dahle MK, Jørgensen JB. Antiviral defense in salmonids - Mission made possible? Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2019 Apr;87:421-437. doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2019.01.043. Epub 2019 Jan 30. PMID: 30708056.

2018

Robertsen, Børre. The role of type I interferons in innate and adaptive immunity against viruses in Atlantic salmon. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 2018; Volum 80. ISSN 0145-305X.s 41 - 52.s doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2017.02.005.

Sobhkhez, M., Krasnov, A. & Robertsen, B. (2018). Transcriptome analyses of Atlantic salmon muscle genes induced by a DNA vaccine against salmonid alphavirus, the causative agent of salmon pancreas disease (PD). PLoS ONE, 13:e0204924(10). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204924

Iliev D, Strandskog G, Nepal A, Aspar A, Olsen R, Jørgensen J, Wolfson D, Ahluwalia BS, Handzhiyski J, Mironova R. Stimulation of exosome release by extracellular DNA is conserved across multiple cell types. FEBS J. 2018 Aug;285(16):3114-3133. doi: 10.1111/febs.14601. Epub 2018 Jul 12. PMID: 29953723.

Jenberie S, Thim HL, Sunyer JO, Skjødt K, Jensen I, Jørgensen JB. Profiling Atlantic salmon B cell populations: CpG-mediated TLR-ligation enhances IgM secretion and modulates immune gene expression. Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 23;8(1):3565. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-21895-9. Erratum in: Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 19;8(1):6491. PMID: 29476080; PMCID: PMC5824956.

Jenberie S, Thim HL, Sunyer JO, Skjødt K, Jensen I, Jørgensen JB. Author Correction: Profiling Atlantic salmon B cell populations: CpG-mediated TLR- ligation enhances IgM secretion and modulates immune gene expression. Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 19;8(1):6491. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-24843-9. Erratum for: Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 23;8(1):3565. PMID: 29670159; PMCID: PMC5906671.

2017

Sobhkhez M, Joensen LL, Tollersrud LG, Strandskog G, Thim HL, Jørgensen JB. A conserved inhibitory role of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) in salmon antiviral immunity. Dev Comp Immunol. 2017 Feb;67:66-76. doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2016.11.001. Epub 2016 Nov 3. PMID: 27818171.

Sobhkhez, Mehrdad; Krasnov, Aleksei; Chang, Chia Jung; Robertsen, Børre. Transcriptome analysis of plasmid-induced genes sheds light on the role of type I IFN as adjuvant in DNA vaccine against infectious salmon anemia virus. PLOS ONE 2017; Volum 12:e0188456 (11). ISSN 1932-6203.s 1 - 20.s doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188456.

2016

Li, Chun; Greiner-Tollersrud, Linn; Robertsen, Børre. Infectious salmon anemia virus segment 7 ORF1 and segment 8 ORF2 proteins inhibit IRF mediated activation of the Atlantic salmon IFNa1 promoter. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 2016; Volum 52. ISSN 1050-4648.s 258 - 262.s doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2016.03.038.

Bakkemo, Kathrine Ryvold; Mikkelsen, Helene; Johansen, Audny; Robertsen, Børre; Seppola, Marit. Francisella noatunensis subsp. noatunensis invades, survives and replicates in Atlantic cod cells. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 2016; Volum 121 (2). ISSN 0177-5103.s 149 - 159.s doi: 10.3354/dao03043.

Chang, Chia Jung; Jenssen, Iris; Robertsen, Børre. Protection of Atlantic salmon against salmonid alphavirus infection by type I interferons IFNa, IFNb and IFNc. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 2016; Volum 57. ISSN 1050-4648.s 35 - 40.s doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2016.08.020.

Robertsen, Børre; Chang, Chia Jung; Bratland, Lisa Charlotte. IFN-adjuvanted DNA vaccine against infectious salmon anemia virus: Antibody kinetics and longevity of IFN expression. Fish and Shellfish Immunology 2016; Volum 54. ISSN 1050-4648.s 328 - 332.s doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2016.04.027.

2015

Johansen LH, Thim HL, Jørgensen SM, Afanasyev S, Strandskog G, Taksdal T, Fremmerlid K, McLoughlin M, Jørgensen JB, Krasnov A. Comparison of transcriptomic responses to pancreas disease (PD) and heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI) in heart of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L). Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2015 Oct;46(2):612-23. doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2015.07.023. Epub 2015 Jul 29. PMID: 26232631.

Lauksund, Reidunn Silje; Greiner-Tollersrud, Linn; Chang, Chia Jung; Robertsen, Børre. Infectious pancreatic necrosis virus proteins VP2, VP3, VP4 and VP5 antagonize IFNa1 promoter activation while VP1 induces IFNa1. Virus Research 2015; Volum 196. ISSN 0168-1702.s 113 - 121.s doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.11.018.

Fish Immunology and Vaccinology – research group


Jorunn Jørgensen, Professor & Ingvill Jensen, Professor (Muninbakken 21, 9019 Tromsø)
fiv@bfe.uit.no

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Welcome to the first annual FIV mini conference!

This meeting provides a venue for exciting interactions to generate new ideas and collaborations. We aim to foster interactions among established investigators, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students interested in immune function in fish. We also aim to present ongoing research into fish immunology and vaccinology to potential master students at the University of Tromsø - the Arctic University of Norway.

With climate change, pollution and diseases, both wildlife and domesticated fish species used globally in aquaculture face severe challenges. The study of fish immunology provides unique insight into immunobiology, medicine and evolution and the potential for novel therapeutics for the aquaculture industry.

Here we highlight research into various aspects of fish immunology and vaccinology, including antigen presenting molecules, immune type receptors, B cells, development of immune repertoires, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and the immune dialogue between the hosts and pathogens.

Date and Time: October 9th 2020, 8:45 – 15:45

Location: Room 1.007, ILP-building UiT                                                                                              

Digital: available upon request

08:45-09:15 BREAKFAST

09:15-10:00 MHC in teleosts and salmonids in particular. UNNI GRIMHOLT (Norwegian veterinary Institute)

10:00-10:15 Effect of two different RNA viral challenges on non-classical MHC class I expression in Atlantic salmon. AGATA TERESA WYROZEMSKA (University of Tromsø)

10:15-10:30 Exploring the interplay between the interferon response and non-classical MHC class I L-lineage induction pathways in Atlantic salmon. MARYAM IMAM (University of Tromsø)

10:30-10:45 BREAK

10:45-11:30 Piscine ortoreovirus (PRV) and salmon gill poxvirus (SGPV). Host responses and protection. MARIA K. DAHLE (Norwegian veterinary Institute/ University of Tromsø)

11:30-11:45 Novel-immune type receptors (NITRs) in Atlantic salmon. STEINGRIM SVENNING. (University of Tromsø)

11:45-12:00 Standardized IMGT® nomenclature of Salmonidae TRA/D genes: genomic organization, gene segment usage and potential for invariant T cells.

EVA-STINA EDHOLM (University of Tromsø)

12:00-13:00 LUNCH

13:00-13:15 BAFF is a critical B cell survival factor that plays additional roles in distinct peripheral blood B cell subset/s of Atlantic salmon. MA MICHELLE DEMOGINA PEÑARANDA (University of Tromsø)

13:15-13:30 B cell responses to salmonid alphavirus in Atlantic salmon with a renewed interest on the local PerC responses. SHIFERAW JENBERIE (University of Tromsø)

13:30-14:15 Effect on louse fecundity and immune response in Atlantic salmon in response to a candidate vaccine. JAYA KUMARI SWAIN (University of Tromsø)

14:15-14:30 WAFFELS AND COFFE

14:30-15:15 Intramuscular vaccination of Atlantic lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) induces inflammatory reactions and local immunoglobulin M production at the vaccine administration. TORE SETTERNES (University of Tromsø)

15:15-15:30 Optimization of CRISPR/Cas protocols for precise genome editing in salmon cell lines. MIROSLAV BOBRIK (University of Tromsø)

15:30-15:45 Utilizing CRISPR in development of Immortalized cell-lines from Atlantic salmon immune organs. MEHRDAD SOBHKHEZ(University of Tromsø)

This meeting was financed and supported by the TROMSØ RESEARCH FOUNDATION (TFS)

TFS aims to provide funding and support for long-term research and research-promoting activities, including research-based recruitment at UiT The Arctic University of Norway.

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