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Current: Associate Professor, NCMCRS
2001- current
Aquafin CRC Health Program Leader,
2001 - 2006 Senior Lecturer, School
of Aquaculture, University of Tasmania;
1991 - 2001 Lecturer, School of
Aquaculture, University of Tasmania
QUALIFICATIONS
2004 DSc University of
Agriculture, Szczecin Poland
1991 PhD 1991 University
of Sydney
1982 MSc University of
Agriculture, Szczecin Poland
TEACHING INTERESTS
Aquatic Animal
Health, Biosecurity in Aquaculture, Aquatic Animal Physiology, Aquatic
Toxicology
RESEARCH INTERESTS
My
area of research is aquatic animal health, specifically finfish; with
research projects involving species in the aquaculture and wild harvest
industry. My research background is aquatic toxicology (in particular
biological significance of chemical residues in fish) and fish biology.
My research focuses on health of farmed fish, in particular
interactions between host, pathogen and environment. Understanding
these relationships is important for health management, improving
aquaculture production and ensuring sustainable development. I am
interested in sustainable fish culture through disease control and
investigation of fish mortalities.
Amoebic Gill Disease (AGD)
AGD occurs in farmed fish
species worldwide, causing gill epithelial hyperplasia, lamellar fusion
and inflammatory changes in gills. AGD increases fish production costs
associated with treatment and fish losses. Current research include
immune response (Dr Richard Morrison, PhD students Benita Vincent and
Neil Young), molecular markers for selective breeding (PhD student
James Wynne, collaboration with CSIRO), performance and genetic
characterization of salmon in selective breeding programmes (PhD
student Richard Taylor, collaboration with CSIRO), factors affecting
AGD challenge (Dr Phil Crosbie), Neoparamoeba spp. taxonomy (PhD
student Neil Young, Dr Richard Morrison, Dr Phil Crosbie).
Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) Health
We have described a
new species of copepod that parasitises SBT skin and recorded another
skin copepod for the first time from SBT. We have identified all common
SBT parasites and shown that the platyhelminths are the same species as
those infecting other tuna species. We have a baseline for SBT
microbiology, identifying bacteria associated with SBT as well as
investigating effects of time post-mortem on changes in microbial
populations. Current research focuses on epidemiology of blood fluke
Cardicola forsteri (PhD student Hamish Aiken), residues in SBT (PhD
student David Padula) and interactions between stress, health and
performance of SBT (PhD student Daryl Evans).
Striped Trumpeter Health
Striped trumpeter immune
response is being investigated (PhD student Jen Covello, Dr Richard
Morrison, Dr Stephen Battaglene). Two new species of copepod parasites
from striped trumpeter held in tanks, pathology, epidemiology of the
infection and treatment against the parasites are being investigated
(PhD student Melanie Andrews, Dr Stephen Battaglene, Dr Jenny
Cobcroft).
Bacterial Diseases
Vibriosis, one of the most prevalent
causes of marine aquatic animal disease and affects a diversity of
farmed aquatic species including finfish, crustacea and shellfish. This
disease occurs in temperate and tropical environments. No single genus
or species is associated with Vibriosis; there is a gap between
practical identification of Vibrios and taxonomic framework of the
family (PhD student Melissa Higgins, collaboration with DPIW).
Epitheliocystis affects the gills and skin of than 50 freshwater and
marine species, it is caused by intracellular Gram negative bacteria.
Mortalities are associated with epitheliocystis in cultured fish. Four
epitheliocystis agents from different fish species, characterised using
molecular analysis, belong to the order Chlamydiales, in a lineage
separate from Chlamydiaceae, they are distinct organisms - confirming
high diversity and host-specificity of the pathogen. To date the
pathogen has not been cultured, making experimental studies difficult.
High stocking densities, nutrients, season, temperature and fish age
are potential risk factors.
Units
SELECTD PUBLICATIONS
Morrison R.N., Cooper G.A., Koop B.F., Rise M.L., Bridle A.R., Adams
M.B., Nowak B.F., 2006, 'Transcriptome profiling of the gills of
amoebic gill disease (AGD)-affected Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) - A role for the tumor suppressor protein p53 in AGD-pathogenesis?', Physiological Genomics, 26, pgs. 15-34
Meijer, A., Roholl, P.J.M., Ossewaarde, J.M., Jones, B., Nowak, B.F.,
2006, 'Molecular evidence for association of Chlamydiales bacteria with
epitheliocystis in leafy sea dragon (Phycodurus eques), silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) and barramundi (Lates calcarifer). ', Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 72, pgs. 284 - 290
Bridle, A., Morrison, R., Cupit Cunningham, P.M., Nowak, B. , 2006,
'Quantitation of immune response gene expression and cellular
localisation of interleukin-1β mRNA in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., affected by amoebic gill disease (AGD).', Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 114, pgs. 121-134
Nowak, B.N., La Patra, S., 2006, 'Epitheliocystis in teleost fish - a review.', Journal of Fish Diseases, 29, pgs. 573-588
Nowak, B.F., Dawson, D., Basson, L., Deveney, M., Powell M.D. , 200,
'Gill histopathology of wild marine fish in Tasmania – potential
interactions with gill health of cultured Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.', Journal of Fish Diseases, 27, pgs. 709-717
Full Publication List
Current and Supervised Project/s:
AWARDS2003 Research Excellence Award, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of Tasmania
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