We are focused on improving aquaculture production efficiency of cool-water (rainbow trout) and warm-water (channel catfish) fish grown and marketed in West Virginia, using a genomic-enabled nutritional approach: a study of the genome-wide influences of nutrition or dietary compounds on cells, tissues or organisms at a given time.Â
We are conducting research on the molecular and genetic/genomic basis of nutrient retention efficiency and nutritional/environmental factors that modulate mitochondrial function and/or biochemistry. The overall goal is to combine classical nutrition with modern molecular techniques to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of oxidative metabolic control of nutrient retention efficiency, growth and development, and its relationship with nutritional and/or physiological demands of nuclear-mitochondrial-encoded genes that are involved in oxidative phosphorylation within the same or among different stains/families of channel catfish and rainbow trout.
 

We are working to understand the molecular mechanisms of the interface between dietary manipulations, temperature and nuclear- and mitochondrial-encoded genes involved in oxidative metabolism. We are also determining the potential role of nutrients and non-dietary factors (temperature) in the molecular modulation of protein and gene expression levels that influence nutrient retention efficiency, growth and development in cultured fish at different live history stages.
To learn more, contact Dr. Jonathan Eya at eyajc@wvstateu.edu.