Application of genetic technologies to combat infectious diseases in aquaculture

Genetic technologies, including genetic engineering and genome editing, offer promising solutions for combating infectious diseases in aquaculture. Historically, genetic engineering has significantly evolved, culminating in the emergence of precise genome-editing techniques such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9). Currently, CRISPR/Cas9 represents a groundbreaking tool for site-specific genome modifications, facilitating targeted knock-in (transgenesis) and knock-out experiments in aquaculture-relevant species. Examples include enhancing disease resistance or improving growth rates in fish and shellfish through precise genetic alterations. Despite its potential, CRISPR/Cas9 implementation faces considerations and challenges, such as off-target effects, regulatory acceptance, ethical concerns, and ecological impacts. Emerging genetic technologies like Perturb-seq represent the next generation of genome editing, allowing high-resolution mapping of genetic networks and understanding of host–pathogen interactions at the cellular level. We present the Perturb-seq as the next breakthrough technique which will facilitate the identification of disease resistance mechanisms, virus entry receptors, and critical immune responses, offering pathways for novel drug targets. Complementary approaches like RNA interference (RNAi) and microbiome engineering further enrich strategies to improve aquaculture health. Future directions point towards an integrated use of CRISPR/Cas9, Perturb-seq, and microbiome engineering to sustainably revolutionise aquaculture health management.