Services

DTU AQUA is a fish experimental facilities and associated lab (dissection), with a fully equipped laboratory for cell and molecular biology, including GMO (DTU Aqua AAH).

The fish experimental facility at DTU AQUA, unit of fish and shellfish diseases comprises approx. 120 experimental tanks of various sizes (5, 180, 500 and 1000 litres). The experimental tank facilities can operate at various temperatures and salinities and both flow-through and recirculation systems can be made available in the tanks. It is also possible to carry out trials with different concentrations of CO2 diluted in water. This guarantees that well-controlled trials can be conducted with a wide range of fish pathogens on most freshwater and saltwater fish and crustacean species.

The infrastructure includes:

• A Pathogen Free (SPF) Hatchery for supply of experimental fish, this unit is fully recirculated and is supplied only with softened freshwater;

• A quarantine unit, which can be supplied with both fresh and saltwater, where it is possible to house a variety of fish and crustacean species (e.g. seabass, lumpfish, salmonids, shrimps) and where it is possible to conduct vaccination trials and trials with non-infectious reagents;

• A highly contained experimental unit capable of housing challenge trials with all known fish pathogens (including notifiable infectious agents) and bioengineered organisms (GMO) under both fresh- and saltwater conditions. All water used in the highly contained unit is pasteurised before discharged, enabling us to conduct experiments with exotic and highly infectious pathogens;

• A fully equipped dissection laboratory for sample preparation is included in the experimental tank facilities.

• Infectious disease laboratory and fish cell bank. State-of-the-art laboratories for cell and molecular biology (Biosecurity level 2) are part of the infrastructure. These include a virology and bacteriology lab for propagation and in vitro immunochemical characterization of the pathogens, and a molecular laboratory for PCR and sequencing.

• A GMO laboratory is available, along with access to Fluidigm, Next generation sequencing and Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation Maldi-Tof. Access to laboratories is guaranteed for processing of samples from the different TAs.

The Unit for Fish and Shellfish Diseases at DTU AQUA is being operated as accredited according to ISO 17025 and it hosts the European Union Reference Laboratory for Fish and Crustaceans Diseases and the OIE Reference Laboratory for VHS and is leading within research and diagnostics on Infectious fish diseases. The service team has in-depth experience in the handling, management, and care of fish and crustaceans at all stages. Areas of research: The group has its focus on disease prevention and control as pivotal cornerstone for development of sustainable aquaculture, addressing UN SDGs #12 (Responsible consumption and production) and #14 (Life below water). The group encompasses expertise on virology, bacteriology, pathology and immunology. Examples of core topics functionally addressed with the tank facilities are the discovery of virulence markers for viral pathogens, dissection of protective immunity following vaccination to tackle viral infection, disease and infection pathogenesis with emerging and known pathogens, alternatives to antimicrobials (e.g. phages) for bacterial disease prevention and control.

Services currently offered by the infrastructure: DTU AQUA AAH has a broad experience with viral and bacterial pathogens, furthermore the group has worked extensively with diseases of unknown aetiology. In experimental trials with infectious agents, fish are exposed to test agents by intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection, through cohabitation or by bath/immersion. Standardised infection models for f ish rhabdoviruses, piscine orthoreovirus, RMS, and a number of bacterial diseases are available. Pharmacological assessments as well as on-site microbiome monitoring and testing of vaccine candidates are also offered, opportunity for dissecting immune response. Some of the major scientific achievements include:

• Determination and kinetics of pathogen load and immune response in fish towards viral and bacterial diseases with related studies in immunology;

• The pathogenicity testing of a large number of isolates of VHSV, including recombinant viruses (GMO);

• Several new putative emerging fish pathogens (PRV-1, PRV-3, PMCV in salmonids, Ranavirus in 34 Lumpfish, RMS in rainbow trout, IHNV in salmonids) have been tested for their infectivity.

Support offered

Access to the different users is given for the fish experimental facilities, but also for the dry laboratories and bioinformatic analysis. All experimental work is conducted in close collaboration with scientists and technical personnel. Feed-back from the user to DTU AAH members is expected as a short presentation of results in seminar form with discussion.

Modality of access

The modality of access is combined cost and the unit of access is defined as system/day with one system defined as 24 small 8-liter tanks or to six 180-liter tanks or to four 1000-liter tanks or one working day in fully equipped laboratories (virology, molecular biology, histopathology, microbiology). It is possible to accommodate customized requests, combining different tank set up maintaining the proportion of time and tank space. A typical access consists of 60 units of access (8 weeks). Prior to the actual start of access, a series of virtual meetings will be arranged to plan the trial(s) and laboratory work (if any), including decisions about tank set up, pretreatment of fish and decision about pathogens to be used. Personnel at DTU Aqua (AAH) will arrange the practicalities prior to the arrival of the applicant, aiming to start the trial immediately upon arrival.

Example of schedule on arrival:

1. Meeting with staff of the animal facilities, with information about biosafety measures in the highcontainment facilities. Introduction to the experimental facilities, including wet laboratory facilities and laboratories.

2. Meetings with other potential collaborators at the Institute, including scientists, technicians and animal facility staff members. Introduction to the IT-facilities and establishment of office facilities.

3. Meeting with the Veterinarian holding the Animal Experiments License. Introduction to relevant laboratory work, e.g. cell culture, virus isolation, virus identification by immunochemical and/or molecular techniques, during participation in selected laboratory activities.

4. Preparation of fish tanks and start of the experiment. Placing of fish in tanks (1000-2000 fish might be included in a trial), infection, collection of samples (always comprehensive in order to avoid unnecessary duplication experiments) according to protocols, for own analyses or providing material for other partners.

5. Access to the different users is given for the fish experimental facilities, but also for the dry laboratories and bioinformatic analysis. All experimental work is conducted in close collaboration with scientists and technical personnel. Feed-back from the user to DTU AAH members is expected as a short presentation of results in seminar form with discussion.