Verena Mertes

Ms. Verena Mertes


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
9 January 2021 in Vaccines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
VMVerena Mertes
Verena Mertes
ABAlexander Bekkelund
Alexander Bekkelund
LLLeidy Lagos
Leidy Lagos
ECElia Ciani
Elia Ciani
DCDuncan Colquhoun
Duncan Colquhoun
HWHanne Cecilie Winther-Larsen
Hanne Cecilie Winther-Larsen
Francisellosis in fish is caused by the facultative intracellular Gram-negative bacterial pathogens Francisella noatunensis ssp. noatunensis and Francisella orientalis. The disease is affecting both farmed and wild fish worldwide and no commercial vaccines are currently available. In this study, we tested isolated membrane vesicles (MVs) as possible vaccine candidates based on previous trials in zebrafish (Danio rerio) indicating promising vaccine efficacy. Here, the MV vaccine-candidates were tested in their natural hosts, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Injection of MVs did not display any toxicity or other negative influence on the fish and gene expression analysis indicated an influence on the host immune response. However, unlike in other tested fish species, a protective immunity following vaccine application and immunization period could not be detected in the Atlantic cod or tilapia. Further in vivo studies are required to achieve a better understanding of the development of immunological memory in different fish species.