Deborah Bouchard

Biocompatibility of intraperitoneally implanted TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber hydrogels for antigen delivery in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) vaccines

Lead PI: Sarah Turner PI Email: sarah.turner@maine.edu Project Team: Deborah Bouchard, Kora Kukk, Inga Sidor, Michael Mason Abstract: Disease outbreaks are a major impediment to aquaculture production, and vaccines are integral for disease management. Vaccines can be expensive, vary in effectiveness, and come with adjuvant-induced adverse effects, causing fish welfare issues and negative economic impacts. […]

Effects of Fishmeal Substitution with Mealworm Meals (Tenebrio molitor and Alphitobius diaperinus) on the Growth, Physiobiochemical Response, Digesta Microbiome, and Immune Genes Expression of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

A 12-week growth trial was conducted to assess the effects of mealworm meals, as a substitution for fishmeal, on the growth, physiobiochemical responses, digesta microbiome, and immune-related genes expression of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Twenty Atlantic salmon parr (38.5 ± 0.1 g, initial weight) were stocked into each of 16 tanks in a recirculating aquaculture system. A fishmeal-based […]

Rapid differentiation of infectious salmon anemia virus avirulent (HPR0) from virulent (HPRΔ) variants using multiplex RT-qPCR

Lead PI: PI Email: Co-PI: Abstract: Abstract. Infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV; Isavirus salaris) causes an economically important disease of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). ISA outbreaks have resulted in significant losses of farmed salmon globally, often with a sudden onset. However, 2 phenotypically distinct variants of ISAV exist, each with divergent disease outcomes, associated […]

Sustainable Aquaculture Workforce and Innovation Center

Lead PI: Deborah Bouchard PI Email: deborah.bouchard@maine.edu Co-PI: Meggan Dwyer Project Team: Deborah Bouchard, Meggan Dwyer, Heather Hamlin, Robert Harrington, Matt Hawkyard Abstract: The University of Maine’s Aquaculture Research Institute proposes to build a state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot aquaculture workforce training and commercialization facility in Orono. The Sustainable Aquaculture Workforce and Innovation Center will ﬁll a gap […]

Developing new techniques to detect off-flavor in water and Atlantic salmon tissues

Lead PI: Robert Harrington PI Email: robert.harrington@maine.edu Co-PI: Deborah Bouchard Project Team: Robert Harrington and collaborators from the USDA ARS NCWMAC Abstract: This project aims at developing a cost-effective and quicker method to detect off-flavor in Atlantic salmon grown in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). ARS and UMaine will examine methodologies to optimize off-flavor detection in […]

Cellulose Nanofibers: A Novel Adjuvant for Veternary and Medical Applications

Lead PI: Deborah Bouchard Co-PI: Ian Bricknell Date: 2017 Abstract: This proposal could lead to major advances in vaccine biotechnology and aquaculture. Many fish vaccines require powerful adjuvants to provide the degree and duration of protection required by fish farmers to protect their stocks. Most fish vaccines are currently formulated with oil based adjuvants that significantly increase […]

Sustainable Aquaculture Systems Supporting Atlantic Salmon

Lead PI: Dr. Yonathan Zohar, Deborah Bouchard Co-PI’s: Deborah Bouchard, Damien Brady, Heather Hamlin, Meggan Dwyer, Scarlett Tudor Date: 2021 Abstract: The Sustainable Aquaculture Systems Supporting Atlantic Salmon (SAS²) is a USDA-NIFA- funded project directed by Dr. Yonathan Zohar that includes a total of 17 objectives in three areas of focus: (1) Research, led by Dr. Yonathan Zohar, (2) Education, […]