Dr MARLENE LORGEN-RITCHIE

Biography

I completed an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology at the University of Aberdeen followed by a PhD investigating the molecular basis of parr-smolt transformation in Atlantic salmon, completed in 2015. I next spent time developing my skills in molecular biology as a post-doc studying tRNA charging in E.coli and yeast using microarray technology at the Institute of Medical Sciences before moving to the Rowett Institute to study epigenetics in relation to adult cognition and mood.

I returned to the School of Biological Sciences in 2019 to take up a position as a research fellow in the Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre (SFRIC). My research covers topics from genome duplication and rearing system impacts on microbiome compositions, to gill health and novel nutritional sources for fish feeds, working with a range of academic and industry collaborators.

Research Overview

As a post-doctoral fellow in the Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre (SFIRC) here at the University of Aberdeen, my interests target the immunological performance of fish in an aquaculture setting. The aquaculture industry is important in meeting the nutritional needs of our ever-growing world population, but these needs can only be met if the industry grows sustainability, putting fish health and welfare at the forefront. 

Current Research

My current research focusses on gill health within the Atlantic salmon aquaculture sector, seeking to understand how genetics, environment and gill microbiomes interact in determining gill health and robustness, in partnership with the Institute of Aquaculture at Stirling University.

Past Research

Past research has uncovered neo-functionalization of gene paralogues following a whole-genome duplication event in salmonids, highlighting a potential role for WGD in the range of life history strategies employed by salmonid species.

We have also identified links between rearing system environments and temporal composition of microbiomes across mucosal tissues, both internal and external, in Atlantic salmon, highlighting important considerations for the industry in the adoption of novel husbandry environments with a view to promoting a more ecosystem-conscience and sustainable industry.

Nutrition is another key component in aquaculture. The stagnation or collapse of wild forage fisheries traditionally used to source fishmeal and oils for diet formulations has led to the search for novel ingredients, including plant-based alternatives. However, plants lack the health-boosting omega-3s which salmonids famously provide, but are acquired through their diet. The seed oils of novel plants engineered to produce omega-3s within were shown to bridge the gap between fish- and plant-oil fed salmon in terms of immune transcriptomic profile, and lipid composition in blood plasma.

Funding and Grants

2024-2027 Mitigating salmon gill disease by integrating genotype-environment studies with host-gill microbiome associations BBSRC BB/Y005295/1

2024-2026 The role of photoperiod in immune development and health in salmon aquaculture BBSRC BB/Z515267/1

2024-2026 Camelina omega-3 oil for optimal heart and gill health BBSRC BB/Z515322/1

2024-2024 Developing an Indonesian skills base for sustainable environmental development Scottish Funding Council SF10272-12