Dr Andrew Desbois

Senior Lecturer

Institute of Aquaculture Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Andrew Desbois

Contact details

About me

I am a microbiologist and my research concerns the microbiology of aquaculture systems, with a special emphasis on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and interventions that can mitigate this global challenge.

Present responsibilities:

-Member of Divisional Research Committee

-Member of Divisional Postgraduate Research Committee

Recent former roles:

-Divisional Chief Examiner for undergraduate modules

-Scientific Member of the Animal Welfare and Ethics Review Body

-Non-professorial member of Academic Council

-Member of Divisional Learning and Teaching Committee

My research concerns the microbiology of aquaculture systems, including:

-Characterisation of bacterial pathogens including molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity and virulence. A deeper understanding allows for the introduction of new and improved treatment and control strategies such as vaccines.

-Describing the bacterial communities within the microbiota of aquaculture settings. Microbes are important for the stability of production systems but we understand little for the roles played by members of the microbiota or how communities may be manipulated beneficially.

-Understanding antimicrobial resistance of bacteria in aquaculture settings. New knowledge in this field is ensures that antibiotics remain effective when they are needed for the treatment of humans and animals.

-Development of alternative hosts to replace fish in studies of microbial infections. The introduction of these approaches is reducing the numbers of native hosts needed to understand diseases, while generating better data.

-Interaction with the innate immune defences of fish and shellfish including cellular and humoral components. Better understanding of immunity allows for the development of approaches to enhance host protection against infection.

Research programmes

Research themes