Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus Genome sequencing and assembly

VHSV is one of the major pathogens representing a serious threas for fish farmers in Europe and thus efficient diagnostic tools are required. This project aims at: 1) The identification of virulence markers, 2) The development of fast and reliable diagnostic methods for discrimination between virulent and non-virulent virus isolates. The aims will be addressed by characterizing genetically highly virulent, low virulent and non-virulent field virus isolates, mapping putative virulence marker on the virus genome and confirming these potential markers by developing modified recombinant viruses.