Hendrix Genetics and the Chilean Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR) partnered with the Laboratory of Pathology of Aquatic Organisms and Biotechnology in Aquaculture of the Andrés Bello University, directed by Rubén Avendaño-Herrera, to improve the knowledge on bacterial kidney disease (BKD).

“The study will allow to confirm and improve the knowledge of the virulence mechanisms of BKD bacteria, but this time considering the response of the host, which is very relevant because it is Atlantic salmon with a known genetic pedigree. This research has a radical element which is to have a metric that defines much more precisely the phenotype to be measured and that will allow us to better target the selection of really resistant families and not simply survivors of BKD infection,” said Avendaño-Herrera.

In 2020, both research groups have pioneered the generation of transcriptomic studies using Atlantic salmon tissues experimentally infected with Chilean isolates of R. salmoninarum. Therefore, it is expected that this collaboration between Hendrix Genetics and academia generates knowledge, concrete solutions and rapid implementation. “In fact, the collaboration between Hendrix Genetics and Incar will allow access to families of fish with resistance characteristics and search in those specimens for the most suitable genetic biomarkers for the genetic selection program for effective resistance to BKD,” explained Avendaño- Herrera.

The new partnership aims to genetically select more resistant families of Atlantic salmon to BKD.