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Natural-resistance
Associated Macrophage Protein (Nramp)
In Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) Erin J. Burge
and Peter A. Van Veld College of William & Mary, School of Marine Science,
Virginia Institute of Marine
Science, Department of Environmental Sciences,
P. O. Box 1346, Gloucester Point, VA 23062 One
of the most important commercial and recreational finfish species along the
East Coast is the striped bass or rockfish (Morone
saxatilis). Since 1997 a threat to
the sustainability of this important fishery has been recognized. At that time, the Virginia Institute of
Marine Science Aquatic Animal Disease Research Laboratory began receiving
carcasses of striped bass with large, open sores covering the body
surfaces. These infections were
subsequently identified as mycobacterial infections. Historical cases of external lesions linked to mycobacteriosis in
wild-caught fish had previously been unknown. Much is known from biomedical
research on the genetic mechanisms of resistance to mycobacterial infections in
mammals, but to date little work has focused on genetic resistance in
fish. A gene, the natural
resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp1),
has been shown to control resistance to mycobacteria in many mammalian
species. The Nramp gene family contains members that function as integral membrane
divalent cation transport proteins. The
purpose of this study is to investigate the role of Nramp in resistance to mycobacterial infections on the molecular
and cellular level. The environmental parameters that influence susceptibility
to mycobacteriosis and Nramp expression will also be investigated. Nucleotide sequencing of the Nramp gene(s), documentation of
expression patterns in uninfected and challenged animals, identification of
relevant environmental effects and interspecific comparison of Nramp induction and killing efficiency
are the technical and scientific objectives of the study.
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