2013 - University College Cork

MANAGEMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN
OYSTERS AND MUSSELS IN EUROPE (BIVALIFE)
Research Centre/Department/School:
AFDC, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences
Contact PI: Dr Sarah Culloty (s.culloty@ucc.ie)
Researchers: Dr Aaron Maloy, Dr Sharon Lynch
Start Year: 2011 – End Year: 2014
Funding Body: EU FP7 Funding Programme
Funding: €256,410
Collaborating Partners: France, Italy, Ireland, Israel,
Spain, The Netherlands, United Kingdom
Web: http://afdc.ucc.ie; http://www.bivalife.eu/
Research Projects Listing
BIVALIFE aims to provide innovative knowledge related to pathogens infecting oysters and mussels
and to develop practical approaches for the control of infectious diseases and associated mortalities.
The project will focus on three mollusc species, the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas and two
mussel species Mytilus edulis and M. galloprovincialis, the most important species in terms of
European production. Pathogens investigated include the virus OsHV-1, Vibrio species including
V. splendidus and V. aestuarianus, as well as the parasite Marteilia refringens and the bacterium
Nocardia crassostreae.
The project will address the major issues identified by the European commission (i.e. detection
and management of infectious diseases in oysters and mussels) since the increase in international
and intra EU trade and exchanges of animals increases the risk of pathogen transfer and infectious
disease outbreak occurrence. The validation of existing diagnostic methods for oyster and
mussel pathogens and the development of innovative complementary diagnostic approaches will
be carried out. Characterisation of culture sites in Europe regarding presence of pathogens and
associated mortalities will be undertaken. Pathogen life cycle, mechanisms allowing pathogens to
survive outside the host and their original source will be investigated. Pathogen intrinsic virulence
factors and effects on host defence mechanisms will be identified. An assessment will be carried
out on the relationship between the presence of pathogens and their role in observed mortality.
Methods will be developed and recommendations given for pathogen control and eradication in
Europe. Bivalife involves partners from seven countries-France, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Spain, The
Netherlands and UK.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
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