The EU funded project Diversify has Identified 6 fish species with excellent potential for expanding the European aquaculture industry. This 5 year project aims to:
Develop new or improve upon the current husbandry techniques in aquaculture
Develop nutritional feed for these new species
Study the genetics of these fish
Maintain fish health
Research the socioeconomics of marketing these fish
The candidate species Meagre Argyrosomus regius, Greater Amberjack Seriola dumerili, Wreckfish Polyprion americanus, Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus, Grey Mullet Mugil cephalus and Pikeperch Sander lucioperca have been chosen based on their biological and economic potential.
This PhD project focuses on maintaining fish health in DIVERSIFY's candidate fish Meagre and Amberjack through exploration of the adaptive immune response in these fish at rest in response to bacterial pathogens and multicellular parasites. The project also aims to study how the immune system develops during the transition from the juvenile to the mature fish.
This project will attempt to:
Characterise the immune system in Meagre and the Greater Amberjack by identifying adaptive immune response genes
Analyse the Meagre immune response to potential pathogens such as Vibrio anguillarum
Study the Meagre immune response to vaccination
Examine the ontogeny of the immune system in meagre Analyse the immune response of the Greater Amberjack to parasites such as Zeuxapta seriolae, focusing on mucosal immunity
Analyse the immune response of the Greater Amberjack to parasites such as Zeuxapta seriolae, focusing on mucosal immunity
The findings from this project will provide important insights into the immune systems of two previously unexplored fish species. Discoveries from this project will determine how to best treat these fish, both prophylactically and upon infection. It will also provide important information as to how to tailor treatment to crucial time points in the life cycle of these fish as well as aiding the development of new, specific, pharmaceuticals and vaccines to a variety of pathogens ensuring healthy, sustainable sources of aquaculture production.
