News

Summary of research

Dr. Attiq Rehman
Research and Productivity Council
921 College Hill Rd
Fredericton, NB Canada
E3B 6Z9

Working on the development of rapid multiplex qPCR for the detection and quantification of three parasites MSX, SSO, Dermo of oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and MSX single-cell whole genome sequencing using long read sequencing platform”.

Dr. Beibei Jia (Assistant Professor at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)

Social-economic-ecological resilience of PEI Oyster Industry: Participatory assessment and local planning of adaptation towards MSX disruption 2024

The proposed project will address the perspective from primary stakeholders on the resilience and sustainability of PEI oyster industry. The primary stakeholder groups here explicitly refer to growers, fishers, and processors. The identification of the socio-economic-ecological links and highlight feasibility and challenges for managing and monitoring adaptive measures to MSX is proposed. Two research questions: (1) How do primary stakeholders perceive and respond to the MSX disruption, and what are the implications of the situation for the governance and preparation of the shellfish aquaculture sector in terms of resilience (2) What role does—and might—the oyster industry seek in the resilience solutions, and how can they get better support to solve the challenges they confront, socially and economically?

Dr. Jordon Poley & Dr. Tiago Hori (ONDA)

Working on developing

• Diagnostic testing for MSX and Dermo
• eDNA surveillance of MSX and Dermo in water/sediment
• RAPID Diagnostic testing kit for MSX
• Oyster disease models of Dermo and MSX aimed at breeding

Dr. Martin Mallet

Sequencing the H. nelsoni genome. This is led by JS Moore at ULaval and is a team effort with a good mix of industry (ERB and AAF) and academic partners (CBU, Dal, ULaval).

Dr. Rod Beresford

Building a second mobile oyster hatchery and

• Continuing MSX surveillance in the Bras d’Or Lake,
• Developing a rapid DNA field test,
• Evaluating the efficacy of current sampling methods when testing individual oysters.

Dr. Senthil Kumar Tirupatti

Has worked on imaging techniques coupled with AI to detect various quality aspects associated with food, egg and meat products. Senthil has proposed a study to detect various quality aspects associated with oysters using Soft-X-ray (very minimal dose). This study can also be the first tool to detect the presence of MSX before doing a time-consuming PCR analysis. Also working on an underwater camera for the urban aquaculture sector. Recently he is working on compiling all the available MSX detection methods and any potential solutions into a document listing the advantages and disadvantages, which can serve as a tool for us to find a suitable method to invest in.

Dr. Sonja Saksida

Leading a larger more integrated aquatic research project which included improving biosecurity and disease monitoring practices (which would include MSX) in Atlantic Canada.