Current Research Projects—Karen G. Burnett
Our laboratory studies the mechanisms that marine organisms use to defend themselves against infectious disease. The general questions that we ask are:
- What molecular and cellular pathways are involved in recognizing and responding to harmful infectious organisms, such as bacteria or viruses?
- How are these mechanisms integrated to provide defense against infection in the intact organism?
- What kinds of natural and man-made stressors can alter this normal immune defense, and how do these stressors exert their effect?
- Can changes in diet positively influence health and survival of marine organisms?
These are the research projects that we are currently pursuing and hope to extend in the future.
- Hypoxia increases the susceptibility of shrimp and crabs to infectious disease.
- Response to bacteria impairs metabolism and performance in crustaceans.
- Oysters act as vectors for disease pathogens.
- Influence of dietary antioxidants on oxidative status and disease resistance in aquacultured shrimp.
More information regarding these studies are available in our published manuscripts (Recent Publications) or by contacting me directly at burnettk&364;cofc.edu