WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2024 15 • 3rd Place USAS: Ashton Schardt, Kentucky State University Title: Evaluating Commercial Diets for the Production of Juvenile Freshwater Plain Pocketbook Mussels Lampsilis Cardium Ashton Schardt is a graduate research assistant and student at Kentucky State University, pursuing his MS in Aquaculture and Aquatic Science. He conducts his research at the Aquaculture Research Center in the Aquatic Animal Nutrition Lab, mentored by Dr. Waldemar Rossi. Ashton focuses on advancing knowledge in freshwater mussel nutrition and aquaculture practices. Schardt’s project investigates the diets and nutritional requirements of freshwater mussels, a field with limited existing research. He evaluates commercially available marine algae and additives, examining their effects on growth, energy, protein content, and survivability. His findings aim to enhance aquaculture practices and support sustainable freshwater mussel farming. • Honorable Mention: Sammie Miller, Purdue University Title: Tryptophan Modulates Physiological Processes in Channel Catfish, Ictalurus Punctatus, in Stressed and Disease Conditions Samantha Miller is currently pursuing degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Biological Sciences, a minor in Mathematics, and certificates in Biological Research and Biomechanical Engineering at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Recognized for her academic excellence, Samantha was awarded the prestigious Purdue Top 50 award in 2024 as well as academic honors and has been nominated for both every year since the start of her college career. She also is an ardent research assistant in the aquaponics laboratory on campus, an intentional teaching assistant for a variety of courses, and an active volunteer for Big Brothers and Big Sisters. One of Samantha’s notable research projects addressed the challenges faced by the US catfish aquaculture industry, particularly fish losses from environmental stressors and infectious diseases. Her experiment entailed scrutinizing the effects of tryptophan, an essential amino acid, on modulating farming stress and enhancing physiological and immune responses in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) against the virulent Aeromonas hydrophila or vAh. Catfish fed with a tryptophan diet exhibited improved glucose levels, hematocrit, and lysozyme activity, suggesting an enhanced innate immune response. The implications of this experiment promote a mitigated reliance on chemical treatments for farming practices to maximize production efficiency. • Honorable Mention: Allison Wise Addison, Auburn University Title: Evaluation of Oral Adjuvanted Killed Aeromonas hydrophila Vaccines in Channel Catfish Ictalurus Punctatus Allison was born and raised in Scott, MS where aquaculture was critical to her small town’s success. In an economically depressed region, she saw her community of catfish farmers struggle to mitigate disease within production ponds. It quickly became her passion to investigate these pathogens to aid her community. She received her undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from Texas Lutheran University and went on to receive a Master’s degree in Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences at Auburn University investigating coinfective pathogens within catfish. She is now employed at USDA-ARS, while pursuing her PhD in Biomedical Sciences through the Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine. Her current research focuses on the development and efficacy of an oral bacterin vaccine against multiple strains of virulent Aeromonas hydrophila (vAh). This bacterial pathogen infects channel and hybrid catfish, causing substantial losses within the industry. Orally delivered vaccines represent a potential cost-effective and efficacious solution to this debilitating disease. In the present study, the oral bacterin vaccines demonstrated robust protection across multiple vAh strains. • Honorable Mention: Ryan Maxwell, University of Idaho Title: Concurrent Infections of Flavobacterium Psychrophilum and Flavobacterium Columnare in Rainbow Trout Fingerlings Oncorhynchus Mykiss Ryan is from North Carolina and moved out west a few years ago after graduating from North Carolina State University. Since then, he worked several different fisheries jobs with various agencies. He really enjoyed working in fisheries and aquaculture and hopes to make it a life-long career, specifically doing work related to fish health. His Master’s research at the University of Idaho is focused on the application of a probiotic to the feed of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to study its potential as an alternative treatment for diseases caused by Flavobacterium spp. In addition to top-coating starter feed with the probiotic and conducting a prolonged feed trial to measure any effects on growth parameters in a lab setting, he is also collaborating with commercial trout hatcheries to test the diet. He hopes to delineate some immunomodulating characteristics of the probiotic through use of lab techniques like qPCR, as well as to determine changes in microbiome composition. (CONTINUED ON PAGE 16)
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