Research Project: Improving Warmwater Finfish Health through Pathogen Characterization, Vaccination, and Natural Feed Additives

Location: Aquatic Animal Health Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

The green convergence: United States lakes are collectively moving toward a eutrophic state - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Fernandez-Figueroa, E.G., Rogers, S.R., Waters, M.N., Wilson, A.E. 2024. The green convergence: United States lakes are collectively moving toward a eutrophic state. Harmful Algae. 139: Article 102721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2024.102721.

Efficacy of orally-delivered virulent Aeromonas hydrophila bacterin vaccines in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wise, A.L., Beck, B.H., Richardson, B.M., Bader, T.J., Peatman, E., Liles, M.R., Barger, P.C., Shoemaker, C.A. 2026. Efficacy of orally-delivered virulent Aeromonas hydrophila bacterin vaccines in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Aquaculture. 611:743066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2025.743066.

Exploring the Potential of Flavobacterium covae Catalase and DNA Starvation/Stationary Phase Protein as Recombinant Protein Vaccines Against Columnaris Disease in Channel Catfish - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Churchman, E., Lange, M.D., Sankappa, N.M., Quiroz, V., Desilva, A., Justice, M.E., Abernathy, J.W., Liles, M.R. 2025. Exploring the Potential of Flavobacterium covae Catalase and DNA Starvation/Stationary Phase Protein as Recombinant Protein Vaccines Against Columnaris Disease in Channel Catfish. Fish and Shellfish Immunology. 166: Article 110600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2025.110600.

Genome sequencing and hybrid assembly of Edwardsiella ictaluri isolates recovered from various fish species - (Database / Dataset)
Sankappa Muliya, N., Abernathy, J.W., Lange, M.D., Lafrentz, B.R., Shoemaker, C.A. 2025. Genome sequencing and hybrid assembly of Edwardsiella ictaluri isolates recovered from various fish species. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). PRJNA1220665.

Feed Status and Skin Injury Modulate Immunopathology, Global Gene Expression, and Survival in Channel Catfish During Virulent Aeromonas hydrophila Infection - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Soku, Y., Lange, M.D., Abernathy, J.W., Sankappa, N., Shoemaker, C.A., Hayden, K., Andersen, L.K., Phillips, I., Nashar, T., Samuel, T., Mohamed, A. 2025. Feed Status and Skin Injury Modulate Immunopathology, Global Gene Expression, and Survival in Channel Catfish During Virulent Aeromonas hydrophila Infection. Frontiers in Immunology. 16(2025): Article 1642531.

Success in soy-based ingredients towards fishmeal replacement in cultured largemouth bass - (Popular Publication)
Semla, J.L., Oladipupo, A.A., Butts, I.A., Davis, D.A., Lafrentz, B.R., Bruce, T.J. 2025. Success in soy-based ingredients towards fishmeal replacement in cultured largemouth bass. Fish Farming News. 2025(1):7-8.

Fantastic Flavos – An Introduction to the Special Issue, Flavobacteria: Current status and future directions - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
LaFrentz, B.R., Loch, T.P., Bruce, T.J. Fantastic flavos – an introduction to the special issue, Flavobacteria: current status and future directions. J. Fish Dis., 48: Article e70012. 2025.

A handheld fluorometer evaluates freshwater cyanobacterial blooms across a broad productivity gradient - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Le, V.V., Wilson, A.E. 2025. A handheld fluorometer evaluates freshwater cyanobacterial blooms across a broad productivity gradient. Lake and Reservoir Management. 41(2):104-111. https://doi.org/10.1080/10402381.2025.2484690.

Age-related reproductive performance and transcriptome profiling of testis in male blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus - (Database / Dataset)
Butts, I., Abernathy, J.W., Sankappa, N., Liyanage, S. 2025. Age-related reproductive performance and transcriptome profiling of testis in male blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus. NIH Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Database. GSE290987.

Copper sulfate treatment harms zooplankton and ultimately promotes algal blooms: A field mesocosm experiment - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Anantapantula, S., Wittenzeller, S., Gladfelter, M.F., Tenison, S.E., Zinnert, H., Belfiore, A.P., Wilson, A.E. 2025. Copper sulfate treatment harms zooplankton and ultimately promotes algal blooms: A field mesocosm experiment. Harmful Algae. 142: Article 102800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2025.102800.

Single-nuclei transcriptome analysis of IGM+ cells isolated from channel catfish spleen - (Database / Dataset)
Aldersey, J., Lange, M.D., Beck, B.H., Abernathy, J.W. 2025. Single-nuclei transcriptome analysis of IGM+ cells isolated from channel catfish spleen. NIH Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Database. GSE278995.