The role and optimisation of the microbiome in molluscan larval development

双壳类动物孵化场在世界各地的水产养殖场生产数百万只幼仔动物。然而，在孵化场环境中，幼虫批次遭受大规模死亡并不罕见。本项目旨在确定微生物组（细菌和病毒）在软体动物幼虫发育中的作用。该项目将首先对孵化场和实验系统中的微生物组、病毒组和物理化学环境进行初步表征，然后进行几种形式的假设驱动操作。操作将通过抗生素、噬菌体、添加早期发现和培养的微生物、添加兼性病原体以观察微生物组的变化以及操纵营养环境来实现。其中一个主要目标将是找到替代抗生素的方法。如果成功，在假设驱动的实验工作中使用的方法将被带到现场情况并在孵化场环境中进行测试。实际工作将与位于英国的商业双壳类孵化场合作进行，样品将使用分子生物学和细菌培养方法进行分析。

Bivalve hatcheries produce millions of juvenile animals for on-growing in aquaculture farms worldwide. However, within the hatchery environment it is not uncommon for larval batches to suffer large scale mortalities. This project aims to determine the role of the microbiome (bacteria and viruses) in molluscan larval development. The project will begin with an initial characterisation of the microbiome, virome and physicochemical environment in hatchery and experimental systems, followed by several forms of hypothesis driven manipulation. Manipulation will be achieved by antibiotics, bacteriophage, addition of microbes discovered and cultured in earlier stages, addition of facultative pathogens to observe changes in microbiome and also manipulation of the nutrient environment. One of the main objectives will be find alternative approach to antibiotics. If successful, the methods used in hypothesis driven experimental work will be taken into field situations and tested in the hatchery environment. The practical work will be conducted in collaboration with commercial bivalve Hatcheries located in the UK and samples will be analysed using molecular biology and bacterial culture methods.