Scientists explore gene editing to tackle sea lice
Chilean professor leads project to unearth how sex of parasites is determined and then develop control strategies
INCAR², a new applied research centre in Chile, is to lead an international project to investigate how sea lice determine their sex, a key question for salmon aquaculture.
“This project will allow us to understand fundamental processes in invertebrate biology and, at the same time, contribute innovative solutions for salmon farming,” said Dr Gallardo Escárate, professor at the Department of Oceanography at the University of Concepción and director of INCAR².
The project, which also involves Dr Steven Roberts from the University of Washington, United States, and Dr Guillaume Rivière from the Université de Caen-Normandie, France, aims to decipher the molecular mechanisms that determine whether Caligus rogercresseyi will be male or female.
This knowledge will enable the design of new control strategies against the louse, which is the prevalent lice species in Chile.
Additionally, researchers Dr Valentina Valenzuela and Dr Diego Valenzuela will participate from INCAR² in developing the molecular and bioinformatic tools needed.
RNA modifications
The initiative, titled Epitranscriptomics of Sexual Determination in Sea Lice (EPISex), focuses on studying how certain chemical modifications in RNA - the molecules that carry genetic information - influence sexual differentiation in the lice, which are major burden for salmon farmers.
The team’s initial results show that C. rogercresseyi males present higher levels of RNA methylation compared to females, directly affecting key genes involved in sex determination. These findings suggest that “epigenetic marks” may act as switches that silence or activate specific genes, thereby defining male or female development.
Beyond its scientific relevance, this research aims to open the door to new biotechnological control tools, such as manipulating sex ratios or silencing genes, which could reduce parasite reproduction and directly benefit aquaculture.
Gene editing
“Through INCAR², we will experimentally explore gene editing. As an applied research centre, we are interested in staying at the forefront and participating in the discussion surrounding the application of these technologies in aquaculture,” said Escárate.
The project, which is financed by a grant from Chilean funding body FONDECYT, has four main goals:
- Confirm the sex chromosome system in sea lice.
- Map RNA modifications throughout their development.
- Evaluate what happens when these modifications are chemically blocked.
- Analyse how non-coding RNAs contribute to the regulation of sex-related genes.
These objectives will be developed over the next three years.
