Dr
Andrew
Barnes
Dr Andy Barnes obtained his BSc (Hons) in Microbiology from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh and his PhD from the Medical School, University of Edinburgh. Andy worked for the Scottish Office Agriculture and Fisheries Department and at the Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh before joining a small Canadian biotech company, Aqua Health Ltd, specialising in vaccines for aquaculture in 1993. In 1999, Aqua Health was bought by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis and Andy worked in their animal health division for 4 years before beginning an academic career at The University of Queensland. Currently in the School of Biological Sciences, Andy’s Aquatic Animal Health Lab researches vaccines for the aquaculture industry and investigates health and immunity in aquatic animals ranging from reef-building corals, through prawns and oysters, to barramundi, stingrays and grouper.
My research interests lie at the interface between bacterial evolution and evolution of host adaptive immune response. Using a combination of sequencing technologies with phenotypic experiments we try to understand what makes a pathogen and how it adapts over time and under selection by the immune and non-immune host.
Bacterial genomics as a diagnostic and epidemiological tool; Adjuvants for warm and tropical water fish species; Nodavirus subunit vaccine field trials; Photobacterium and Vibrio vaccine clinical and field trials; Pathogen evolution; Host response; Tools for determining immunological status of warm water and tropical fish; Improved feeds for temperature stress in aquaculture;