The Moredun Research Institute has also collaborated on this initiative.
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The Institute of Aquaculture at the University of Stirling, in collaboration with the Moredun Research Institute, has presented a study to better understand how early infection by the Atlantic salmon louse occurs.
According to the University of Stirling, salmon lice secrete substances from their glands that help them feed and evade their host's immune system.
This study, funded by EastBio, compares the secretory proteins released by young, infectious salmon lice in their larval stage (copepodids) with those found in adult lice.
"This work helps us better understand salmon louse biology and could play a vital role in future research into its control, such as identifying potential vaccines, thereby promoting the sustainable production of healthy salmon and enhancing global food security," said the lead researcher, Alexander Dindial.
After analysing the exact protein composition of each sample using a state-of-the-art system that separates, fragments, and weighs the sample components, the researchers filtered the data and identified the proteins.
"These data provide key candidates for future vaccines. We are currently exploring the genes of these secreted proteins as part of a major BBSRC-funded project, GeNoLice, to determine whether they are influenced by interactions with the host," said Dr Sean Monaghan, co-supervisor of the study.
