Project Number: 3622-21000-028-01
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Aug 01, 2006
End Date: Jul 31, 2008

Objective:
Salmon and trout exhibit food intolerance to soybean inclusion feed. Key indicator genes in fish will be identified that respond to soybean inclusion feed compared to controls to yield a bioassay for the effects of soybean. Soy proteins that induce immunoreactive response in fish will be identified and soybean lines lacking these proteins will be developed. The goal of this project is to identify the causes of soybean feed intolerance and to develop fish-optimized soybeans that mitigate the feed intolerance.

Approach:
Samples of fish intestine and blood from control and soybean meal fed fish will be assayed by proteomics and immunoassay to characterize changes that occur and to characterize the soy proteins that induce feed intolerance. Once target soy proteins are identified, gene suppression and/or selection from the national soy collection will be used to produce null traits to mitigate the soy feed intolerance.