Beyond the Fish Tank: CRISPR and Cell-Based Models for Atlantic Salmon Research

Key questions include: How can genome-wide CRISPR screening uncover genes involved in disease resistance and other important traits? And how can cell culture models help us better understand salmon biology while reducing reliance on animal experiments?

This session will highlight recent advances in functional genomics and in vitro model systems, showcasing how these tools are being applied to investigate gene function, host-pathogen interactions, and fundamental biological processes in Atlantic salmon.

The webinar is intended for a broad audience, including fish health professionals, academics, students, aquaculture industry stakeholders, and scientists. The presentations are designed to be accessible to participants without a specialised background in genome editing, cell biology, or molecular genetics, while offering valuable insights into emerging research approaches that are shaping the future of salmonid research.

Speakers

Dr. Thomas Harvey, NMBU 

Title: CRISPR screening in salmon: principles, problems and potential

CRISPR–Cas9 has transformed the study of gene function, but its potential extends far beyond editing one gene at a time. “CRISPR screening” allows thousands of genes to be investigated in parallel across a population of cultured cells where each cell contains a single targeted gene disruption. Challenging these cells with a virus, for example, can reveal previously unsuspected genes that influence infection and survival—providing new insights into the biology of disease resistance.

Although CRISPR screening is well established in mammalian systems, adapting it to salmonids presents substantial technical challenges. Dr Harvey and his colleagues have been tackling these obstacles to bring high-throughput screening to salmon cells. This presentation will introduce the principles behind the approach, share lessons from the difficulties encountered, and explore its potential to uncover new connections between genes and cellular function.

Dr. Matt Wasmuth, Nofima

Title: Exploring salmon biology using cell culture

Modern research into salmon health and development requires tools that allow researchers to study biological processes in detail whilst reducing reliance on animal experiments. By developing models in which one or more cell type can be grown on the lab bench, we can explore gene function, disease mechanisms, and host responses without the need for repeated animal experiments. In this talk Dr. Wasmuth describes the recent trends in use of cell models in aquaculture and describes a case study in which a recently developed cell line has unlocked a key insight in Atlantic salmon.

About the project

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