EASTBIO: Diet and Lipidome Remodeling in Atlantic Salmon at the University of Edinburgh

Supervisors:

Vicky MacRae, Ross Houston, Mina Betancourt (University of Stirling)

In Atlantic salmon aquaculture, the commercial feed used in the final grow-out production phase in sea cages contains high levels of lipids. These lipids provide the main source of energy, promoting rapid growth and high feed efficiency. However, this strategy comes at the expense of a marked increase in visceral fat deposition (lipid droplets in adipocytes), cardiovascular dysfunction, inflammation and mortality (up to 20%) in winter months, bringing significant economic loss (1). It is therefore crucial to reduce lipid deposition in these animals.

Lipid droplets can be degraded via lipophagy (autophagic degradation of lipid droplets), a novel process that contributes to the release of free fatty acids stored within the droplets (2). Indeed, our preliminary data have established an essential role for autophagy in lipid degradation in an Atlantic salmon cell line. In the proposed project we will create the first model of lipophagy in Atlantic salmon, using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. This model will be employed to elucidate the mechanisms underpinning visceral fat deposition, heart and skeletal muscle inflammation, markers of cardiovascular disease and fish specific adaptors of lipophagy (3). Further studies will develop the first salmon health diet, supplemented with lipophagy inducers, and test the protective effects of this diet on Atlantic salmon.

1. Dessen, et al. J. Appl. Aquac, 2020.
   

1. Koukanis., et al. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 2019

1. Fernández et al. Cell Death & Dis, 2017

This 4 year PhD project is part of a competition funded by EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0

EASTBIO Application and Reference Forms can be downloaded via www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0

Please send your completed EASTBIO Application Form along with a copy of your academic transcripts to [email protected]

You should also ensure that two references have been send to [email protected]  by the deadline using the EASTBIO Reference Form.

This opportunity is open to UK and international students and provides funding covering stipend and UK level tuition fees.  The University of Edinburgh covers the difference between home and international fees meaning that the EASTBIO DTP offers fully-funded studentships to all appointees.  There is a cap on the number of international students the DTP recruits.  It is therefore important for us to know from the outset which fees status category applicants will fall under when applying to our university.

Please refer to UKRI websiteand Annex B of the UKRI Training Grant Terms and Conditionsfor full eligibility criteria.

Closing Date: 16th December 2021