M. (Maria) Forlenza: “A multidisciplinary study of the immune response of carp to infections”

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30 Oct 2009
Unit: Wageningen University
Location: Aula, building 362, Gen. Foulkesweg 1, Wageningen
Organisation: Wageningen University
Promotor: prof.dr. H.F.J. Savelkoul (Cell Biology and Immunology)
Co Promotor: Dr.ir. G.F. Wiegertjes

 It is not generally known that thanks to the presence of a fully developed immune system, which for a large part resembles that of humans, fish can combat infections and can even be vaccinated! Vaccination methods, such as DNA vaccination, which are less successful in humans, can now successfully be used in fish and an example is presented in this thesis. We used natural pathogens of carp, such as skin parasites, viruses and blood parasites, to study the immune response, the cells involved and finally the efficacy of a DNA vaccine. The fish parasite Trypanoplasma borreli was also used as an alternative tool for preliminary pharmacological studies for human anti-trypanosome drugs. In fact, infections of carp with the blood parasite T. borreli, strongly resemble infections with the blood parasite Trypanosoma brucei which causes ‘sleeping sickness’ in humans and cattle. Altogether, in this thesis advances have been made in the understanding of the evolution of the vertebrate immune system and the suitability of fish as a model for applied as well as fundamental research is discussed.
Title thesis: “Immune Reponses of Carp. A Molecular and cellular approach to infections”
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