research

Dermo (caused by Perkinsus marinus) has devastated oyster populations along the entire east coast. The objectives of this project are to 1) demonstrate seed originating from local wild oysters can contribute to the development of disease resistance broodstock and 2) genetically characterize regional oysters that are Dermo resistant. Upon completion we be able to determine the practicality of using local, surviving oysters under heavy disease pressure as broodstock and provide a means to identify oyster that have traits associated with disease resistance. Learn more...

Using a yeast two-hybrid system we are characterizing myostatin interacting proteins to determine the function of myostatin in trout. A rainbow trout muscle cDNA library has been constructed and is currently being used as the “prey” in the two-hybrid system. The large numbers of publicly available salmonid ESTs is also a valuable resource, being computationally screened for transcripts homologous to known mammalian myostatin interacting proteins. Learn more...

Working with colleagues from the MBL and other institutions, we are beginning to characterize the interrelationship of the parasite QPX with its host, the hard clam (Merceneria mercenaria). Specifically, we are focusing on how gene expression in both species is influenced by (1) exposure with one another and (2) environmental conditions including temperature. These data should provide insight into factors associated with hard clam disease resistance. In addition we hope to characterize how the environment influences pathogenicity and virulence mechanism of QPX. Learn more...

Black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) are ecologically important gastropods of the intertidal and nearshore subtidal marine habitat, providing key revenue for coastal communities from sport fishers. Abalone populations are continually threatened by diseases such as wIthering syndrome along with environmental conditions that influence the host-parasite relationship. We are currently beginning to characterize the molecular pathways associated with the host (abalone) response and compare these responses across strains. Learn more...

Several research directions have spawned from our bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) EST project. Consistent with the objectives of the EST project, the functional roles of thyroid hormone and myostatin are being explored. Microsatellites (SSRs) were derived from the ESTs and are being used to characterize local populations and evaluate enhancement activities. Finally, the identification of several novel transcripts has allowed us to begin to study the effects of environmental perturbations on scallop physiology and develop the species as an environmental indicator. Learn more...