USDA-ARS-NCCCWA
11861 Leetown Road
Kearneysville, WV 25430
Voice: (304) 724-8340 x3189
Professional Biographical Information:
B.A. in Biology (1983), Occidental College, CA
Ph.D. in Microbiology (1992), Oregon State University, OR
Research Immunologist (2003-present); USDA-ARS,
National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture, Leetown, WV.
CV-PDF
Research Rationale and Focus:
The demand for seafood is increasing worldwide while there is new restriction on capture fisheries harvest. To meet increasing consumer demand, U.S. aquaculture producers require improved efficiencies and sustainable practices while maintaining and improving product quality. Currently, endemic and emerging disease limit cool and cold water aquaculture production. Major knowledge gaps exist regarding host resistance and the co-evolution of pathogen virulence, and the impact of environmental change leading to disease. Given the complexity and multidisciplinary nature of these problems, I work in collaboration with other scientists focusing on host resistance mechanisms, microbial genomics, and analysis of host-pathogen interactions within an evolutionary-based framework.
Current research topics and publications:
1. Immune gene identification and evolution
Glenney and Wiens
Wiens et al.
2. Utilizing selective breeding to understand and increase disease resistance
Hadidi et al.
3. Microbial genomics of aquaculture pathogens
Wiens et al.
4. Evaluation of select germplasm under laboratory and farm conditions.
Silverstein et al.
Workshops and Meetings: Renibacterium Genome Sequencing Project and Workshop
Flavobacterium 2007 Workshop
Eighth International Congress on the Biology of Fish (Immunity and Disease Resistance)
Current and Former Lab Members
Collaborators
Doug Call
John Cisar
Clear Springs Foods Inc (Scott LaPatra)
Jason Evenhuis
Integrated Genomics
Steve Kaattari
Ben LaFrentz
Tim Leeds
Yniv Palti
Dan Rockey
Mark Strom
Roger Vallejo
Tim Welch
Patty Zwollow
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