A New Brunswick provincial research and technology organization has successfully completed the world’s first full sequencing of the Haplosporidium nelsoni (MSX) genome, the pathogen responsible for one of the most economically damaging diseases in oysters.
“Sequencing the MSX genome gives the oyster industry something it has never had before, a complete map of the pathogen’s biology. This knowledge will accelerate the development of disease‑resistant oyster strains, improve early detection, and strengthen long‑term sustainability for growers,” said RPC when making the announcement earlier this year.
The breakthrough provides an unprecedented genetic blueprint of the parasite, giving researchers, hatcheries and industry partners powerful new tools to understand how MSX spreads, how it adapts, and how oysters can be better protected.
With MSX continuing to threaten oyster populations in multiple regions, RPC’s work offers a critical scientific foundation for mitigation strategies, breeding programs and future diagnostic technologies.
Sequencing the MSX genome opens up endless opportunities, said Rebecca Liston, supervisor of fish health services at RPC and a member of the research team.
“This really should be thought of as having the foundation for which science can now move forward. It has excelled that process. Now we know what MSX looks like, so from that we can start really looking at those hyper-variable regions along the genome and identifying those highly variable regions and markers that might indicate a non-pathogenic strain,” said Liston, noting there are differences in strain variations within the MSX population.
“This really is just the beginning,” she said. “You need this information if you are trying to create resistant stock strain variations. Once we start really looking at the genome, we can identify those regions that might indicate one strain causes more mortality than another… it will be a long-term process unfortunately. We very much understand the pressure our Atlantic Canada oyster producers are in right now in this disease crisis and it’s unfortunate things can’t happen overnight. It is a process. However, this information is the most important information you need for science to move forward.”
Liston said the research was very challenging to do, had never been done before, resulting with pertinent information.
“What we’re most proud about is we’ve uploaded this to NCBI gene bank with all the codes. Every scientist out there, civil scientists, professional scientists that want to try and do something about the disease crisis has that information available to them,” said Liston.
“Genome sequencing is only part of our success. We also created a multiplex test for industry — a test for dermo MSX and SSO all with one sample. It can be done really quickly and in a sensitive way that gives you a quantitative result. That was the first success we had,” added Liston.
The test was made available last spring, with close to 17,000 tests conducted last season throughout Atlantic Canada. “We’re probably looking at the same if not more this year,” said Liston.
The work for both projects was part of same funding under the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ (DFO) Ecosystems and Oceans Science Contribution Framework.
“We’re proud we were successful in both endeavors. It was a team effort by the fish health diagnostic team led by Dr. Attiq Rehman,” said Liston.
RPC will continue to collaborate with industry, government and academic partners to translate this genomic insight into practical tools and solutions for oyster producers. It has facilities in Fredericton and Moncton, with a team of scientists, engineers and technical specialists that deliver analytical chemistry, bioanalytical sciences, engineering, and applied research services through world‑class laboratory and pilot‑scale facilities.
The company’s comprehensive life sciences capabilities include an internationally recognized fish health laboratory, complemented by advanced industrial research infrastructure that helps transform ideas into practical, market‑ready innovations. RPC also provides product development, design, manufacturing support, and productivity services tailored to meet the pace and demands of industry.
