Senior Lecturer
Aquaculture Pathfoot Building, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
I am a microbiologist studying the microbiology of aquaculture systems, particularly how bacterial pathogens cause infection and ways to mitigate their impact. I have a major interest in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and interventions that can mitigate this One Health challenge, spanning technical solutions such as vaccines and probiotics, improved biosecurity, and enhanced stewardship through regulatory instruments and an understanding of user practices. I co-lead the UKRI-funded Antimicrobial Resistance in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary (AMAST) Network, which brings together stakeholders from across the UK agrifood sector.
I have led and contributed to projects in the UK and overseas, including across Europe, Africa and Asia, which provides me with a uniquely rich international perspective on the context of aquaculture within global health and food production. My projects have focused on many host species from salmonids, cleaner fish and marine shellfish to warmwater shrimp, tilapias and catfishes. I co-lead the WAVES project to develop the sustainability of mollusc aquaculture in Southeast Asia.
Increasingly my research reaches across sectors, and I apply a methodological toolkit ranging from conventional culture, molecular analyses and in vivo alternative hosts to systems thinking, participatory approaches and surveys. I have fostered strong collaborations with non-academic partners including government agencies, non-governmental organisations and businesses, including producers, vaccine manufacturers, and animal health product suppliers.
I am a member of the Food Security Advisory Group for Applied Microbiology International, an Editorial Board member for Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists (Bacteriology section), Marine Drugs and Marine Biotechnology, and an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Immunology.
Working Towards Adaptive And Versatile Environmental Sustainability In Mollusc Aquaculture (WAVES)
PI: Dr Andrew Desbois
Funded by: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
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Efficacy testing of immersion and oral vaccines for Aeromonas hydrophila in Tilapia an Vietnamese catfish
PI: Dr Andrew Desbois
Funded by: International Veterinary Vaccinology Network
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Bacterial community composition in a shrimp system biofilter
PI: Dr Andrew Desbois
Funded by: Scottish Funding Council
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SAICHatch Request for additional Resources
PI:
Funded by: Scottish Funding Council
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SAIChatch - Research in support of the development of a commercial Mussel hatchery
PI:
Funded by: Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre
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Article
Desbois AP (2026) Analysis of generative artificial intelligence tools usage policies provided to authors by journals publishing aquaculture research. Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists, 46 (3). https://doi.org/10.48045/001c.166391
Article
Rashid I & Desbois AP (2026) Prioritisation of Hazards Associated With Probiotics Used in Aquaculture by an e‐Delphi Approach: Consideration of the Farmer, Consumer, Crop Species and Environment. Aquaculture Research, Special Issue 2026. https://doi.org/10.1155/are/2127301
Book Chapter
The Global Approach: Aquaculture and National Action Plans for Antimicrobial Resistance
Desbois A & Green D (2025) The Global Approach: Aquaculture and National Action Plans for Antimicrobial Resistance. In: Elumalai P & Lakshmi S (eds.) Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture and Aquatic Environments. London, pp. 385-412. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-7320-6_16
Article
Giovanna Zupičić I, Desbois AP, Monaghan S, Oraić D, Zrnčić S, Grbin D & Alfier M (2025) Evaluation of greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae as an alternate host to study the virulence of Vibrio harveyi Larve voštanog moljca (Galleria mellonella) kao alternativni model za proučavanje virulencije bakterije Vibrio harveyi. Croatian veterinary journal, 57 (1), pp. 23-29. https://doi.org/10.46419/cvj.57.1.3
Article
Meriane I, McMillan S, Desbois AP & Kitouni M (2025) Phylogenetic Diversity and Enzymatic Activities of Cultivable Actinomycetes Isolated from Marine Sediment at Ain Achir (Gulf of Annaba, Algeria). Ocean Science Journal, 60 (4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-025-00250-w
Commentary
Desbois AP, Papadopoulou A, Baily JL & Green DM (2025) National Action Plans for Antimicrobial Resistance: What are they and how do they affect aquaculture?. Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists, 45 (4). https://doi.org/10.48045/001c.145904
Article
Awulu OA, Jenkins A, Balogun BA, Chukwu EE, Fasina FO, Egwuenu A, Oduyebo OO, Bamidele TA, Cadmus S, Aworh MK, Adekola AA, Desbois AP, Chah KF & Brunton LA (2025) Prioritising intervention areas for antimicrobial resistance in Nigeria's human and animal health sectors using a mixed-methods approach. One Health, 20, Art. No.: 101082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101082
Article
Ajmi N, Duman M, Coskun B, Esen C, Sonmez O, Tasci G, Coskuner-Weber O, Ay H, Yoyen-Ermis D, Yibar A, Desbois AP & Saticioglu IB (2025) Unraveling Genomic and Pathogenic Features of Aeromonas ichthyocola sp. nov., Aeromonas mytilicola sp. nov., and Aeromonas mytilicola subsp. aquatica subsp. nov.. Animals, 15 (7), Art. No.: 948. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15070948
Other
Aquaculture requires special consideration in National Action Plans for Antimicrobial Resistance
Desbois AP, Brunton LA, Henriksson PJG, Luthman O, Troell M & Green DM (2025) Aquaculture requires special consideration in National Action Plans for Antimicrobial Resistance. Science of The Total Environment, 958, Art. No.: 177785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177785
Article
McIntyre KM, Khan M, Betson M, Brunton L, Degiovanni HB, Desbois AP, Eltholth M, Hurley P, Morgans L, Pearl JE, Sakrabani R, Shortall O, Watson K & Cole J (2024) Understanding the interests of academics from diverse disciplines to identify the prospective focus for a UK-based transdisciplinary network involving farm-to-fork stakeholders on antimicrobial resistance in agrifood systems: An online survey. One Health, 19, p. 100884. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100884
Article
Smith P, Buba E, Desbois AP, Adams A, Verner-Jeffreys D, Joseph A, Light E, Le Devendec L, Jouy E, Larvor E, Boitard P, Jamin M, Keck N, Le Breton A & Thuillier B (2024) Setting epidemiological cut-off values relevant to MIC and disc diffusion data for Aeromonas salmonicida generated by a standard method. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 159, pp. 29-35. https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03798
Article
Aeromonas dhakensis: A Zoonotic Bacterium of Increasing Importance in Aquaculture
Bartie KL & Desbois AP (2024) Aeromonas dhakensis: A Zoonotic Bacterium of Increasing Importance in Aquaculture. Pathogens, 13 (6), p. 465. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13060465
Article
Bartie KL, Ngô TPH, Bekaert M, Hoang Oanh DT, Hoare R, Adams A & Desbois AP (2023) Aeromonas hydrophila ST251 and Aeromonas dhakensis are major emerging pathogens of striped catfish in Vietnam. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, Art. No.: 1067235. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1067235
Book Chapter
Development of fish vaccines: Challenges and future perspectives
Desbois A & Monaghan S (2023) Development of fish vaccines: Challenges and future perspectives. In: Taylor and Francis, pp. 209-228. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003388548
Article
Rinaldi G, de Haro NÁ, Fernando AJ, Desbois AP, Robb CT & Rossi AG (2023) Fish Erythrocyte Extracellular Traps (FEETs) are an evolutionarily conserved cellular process triggered by different stimuli. Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 136, Art. No.: 108638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108638
Article
Van AP, Bron JE & Desbois AP (2023) Antimicrobial action of chromatin extracellular traps released by neutrophils of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792). Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 135, Art. No.: 108657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108657
Article
Lambraki IA, Cousins M, Graells T, Léger A, Abdelrahman S, Desbois AP, Gallagher R, Staaf Larsson B, Mattson B, Henriksson P, Troell M, Søgaard Jørgensen P, Wernli D, Carson CA & Parmley EJ (2022) Governing Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in a Changing Climate: A Participatory Scenario Planning Approach Applied to Sweden in 2050. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Art. No.: 831097. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.831097
Article
Lambraki IA, Cousins M, Graells T, Leger A, Henriksson P, Harbarth S, Troell M, Wernli D, Jørgensen PS, Desbois AP, Carson CA, Parmley EJ & Majowicz SE (2022) Factors influencing antimicrobial resistance in the European food system and potential leverage points for intervention: A participatory, One Health study. PLoS ONE, 17 (2), Art. No.: e0263914. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263914
Article
Macchia V, Inami M, Ramstad A, Grammes F, Reeve A, Moen T, Torgersen JS, Adams A, Desbois AP & Hoare R (2022) Immersion challenge model for Flavobacterium psychrophilum infection of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) fry. Journal of Fish Diseases, 45 (11), pp. 1781-1788. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.13699
Article
Bekaert M, Goffin N, McMillan S & Desbois AP (2021) Essential Genes of Vibrio anguillarum and Other Vibrio spp. Guide the Development of New Drugs and Vaccines. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, Art. No.: 755801. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.755801
Article
Álvarez de Haro N, Van AP, Robb CT, Rossi AG & Desbois AP (2021) Release of chromatin extracellular traps by phagocytes of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar (LINNAEUS, 1758). Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 119, pp. 209-219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2021.08.023
Article
Fatty acid and lipid class composition in cutaneous mucus of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar (L.)
Sprague M & Desbois AP (2021) Fatty acid and lipid class composition in cutaneous mucus of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar (L.). Aquaculture Research, 52 (12), pp. 6808-6813. https://doi.org/10.1111/are.15512
Article
Desbois AP, Garza M, Eltholth M, Hegazy YM, Mateus A, Adams A, Little DC, Høg E, Mohan CV, Ali SE & Brunton LA (2021) Systems-thinking approach to identify and assess feasibility of potential interventions to reduce antibiotic use in tilapia farming in Egypt. Aquaculture, 540, Art. No.: 736735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.736735
Article
Bacterial Communities of Ballan Wrasse (Labrus bergylta) Eggs at a Commercial Marine Hatchery
Bone A, Bekaert M, Papadopoulou A, McMillan S, Adams A, Davie A & Desbois AP (2021) Bacterial Communities of Ballan Wrasse (Labrus bergylta) Eggs at a Commercial Marine Hatchery. Current Microbiology, 78 (1), pp. 114-124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-020-02286-8
Article
Coyle NM, Bartie KL, Bayliss SC, Bekaert M, Adams A, McMillan S, Verner-Jeffreys DW, Desbois AP & Feil EJ (2020) A Hopeful Sea-Monster: A Very Large Homologous Recombination Event Impacting the Core Genome of the Marine Pathogen Vibrio anguillarum. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, Art. No.: 1430. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01430
Article
Djainal WAS, Shahin K, Metselaar M, Adams A & Desbois AP (2020) Larva of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is a suitable alternative host for the fish pathogen Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis. BMC Microbiology, 20, Art. No.: 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-020-1695-0
Article
Optimising efficacy of antibiotics against systemic infection by varying dosage quantities and times
Hoyle A, Cairns D, Paterson I, McMillan S, Ochoa G & Desbois AP (2020) Optimising efficacy of antibiotics against systemic infection by varying dosage quantities and times. PLoS Computational Biology, 16 (8), Art. No.: e1008037. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008037
Article
Antibiotics modulate biofilm formation in fish pathogenic isolates of atypical Aeromonas salmonicida
Desbois AP, Cook KJ & Buba E (2020) Antibiotics modulate biofilm formation in fish pathogenic isolates of atypical Aeromonas salmonicida. Journal of Fish Diseases, 43 (11), pp. 1373-1379. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.13232
Article
Chromatin extracellular trap release in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792)
Van AP, Alvarez de Haro N, Bron JE & Desbois AP (2020) Chromatin extracellular trap release in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum, 1792). Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 99, pp. 227-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsi.2020.01.040
Article
Brunton LA, Desbois AP, Garza M, Wieland B, Mohan CV, Häsler B, Tam CC, Le PNT, Phuong NT, Van PT, Nguyen-Viet H, Eltholth MM, Pham DK, Duc PP & Adams A (2019) Identifying hotspots for antibiotic resistance emergence and selection, and elucidating pathways to human exposure: Application of a systems-thinking approach to aquaculture systems. Science of The Total Environment, 687, pp. 1344-1356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.134
Article
Mussel consumption as a "food first" approach to improve omega-3 status
Carboni S, Kaur G, Pryce A, McKee K, Desbois AP, Dick JR, Galloway SD & Hamilton DL (2019) Mussel consumption as a "food first" approach to improve omega-3 status [Mussels as a dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids]. Nutrients, 11 (6), Art. No.: 1381. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11061381
Article
Sajali USBA, Atkinson NL, Desbois AP, Little DC, Murray FJ & Shinn AP (2019) Prophylactic properties of biofloc- or Nile tilapia-conditioned water against Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection of whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). Aquaculture, 498, pp. 496-502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.09.002
Article
Le PNT & Desbois AP (2017) Antibacterial Effect of Eicosapentaenoic Acid against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus: Killing Kinetics, Selection for Resistance, and Potential Cellular Target. Marine Drugs, 15 (11), Art. No.: 334. https://doi.org/10.3390/md15110334
Book Chapter
Disk Diffusion Assay to Assess the Antimicrobial Activity of Marine Algal Extracts
Desbois AP & Smith VJ (2015) Disk Diffusion Assay to Assess the Antimicrobial Activity of Marine Algal Extracts. In: Stengel DB & Connan S (eds.) Natural Products From Marine Algae. Methods in Molecular Biology, 1308. New York: Springer, pp. 403-410. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2684-8_25
Article
Paving the way to acceptance of Galleria mellonella as a new model insect
Desbois AP & McMillan S (2015) Paving the way to acceptance of Galleria mellonella as a new model insect. Virulence, 6 (5), pp. 410-411. https://doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2015.1036218
Article
McMillan S, Verner-Jeffreys DW, Weeks JM, Austin B & Desbois AP (2015) Larva of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, is a suitable alternative host for studying virulence of fish pathogenic Vibrio anguillarum. BMC Microbiology, 15, Art. No.: 127. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-015-0466-9
Article
How might we increase success in marine-based drug discovery?
Desbois AP (2014) How might we increase success in marine-based drug discovery?. Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, 9 (9), pp. 985-990. https://doi.org/10.1517/17460441.2014.927863
Book Chapter
Antimicrobial Properties of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (C20 : 5n3)
Desbois AP (2013) Antimicrobial Properties of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (C20 : 5n3). In: Kim S (ed.) Marine Microbiology: Bioactive Compounds and Biotechnological Applications. Weinham, Germany: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co, pp. 351-367. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9783527665259.ch20/summary
Article
Desbois AP & Lawlor K (2013) Antibacterial Activity of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids against Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus. Marine Drugs, 11 (11), pp. 4544-4557. https://doi.org/10.3390/md11114544
Article
Desbois AP, Sattar A, Graham S, Warn PA & Coote PJ (2013) MRSA decolonization of cotton rat nares by a combination treatment comprising lysostaphin and the antimicrobial peptide ranalexin. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 68 (11), pp. 2569-2575. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkt243
Article
MacCallum DM, Desbois AP & Coote PJ (2013) Enhanced efficacy of synergistic combinations of antimicrobial peptides with caspofungin versus Candida albicans in insect and murine models of systemic infection. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 32 (8), p. 1055–1062. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-013-1850-8
Book Chapter
Desbois AP & Coote PJ (2012) Chapter 2 – Utility of greater wax moth larva (galleria mellonella) for evaluating the toxicity and efficacy of new antimicrobial agents. In: Laskin A, Sariaslani S & Gadd G (eds.) Advances in Applied Microbiology, Volume 78. Advances in Applied Microbiology, 78. Amsterdam: Elsevier, pp. 25-53. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/bookseries/00652164/78; https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-394805-2.00002-6
Article
Potential applications of antimicrobial fatty acids in medicine, agriculture and other industries
Desbois AP (2012) Potential applications of antimicrobial fatty acids in medicine, agriculture and other industries. Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery, 7 (2), pp. 111-122. https://doi.org/10.2174/157489112801619728
Article
Survey of small antifungal peptides with chemotherapeutic potential
Desbois AP, Tschorner D & Coote PJ (2011) Survey of small antifungal peptides with chemotherapeutic potential. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 12 (8), pp. 1263-1291. https://doi.org/10.2174/138920111796117265
Article
Bactericidal synergy of lysostaphin in combination with antimicrobial peptides
Desbois AP & Coote PJ (2011) Bactericidal synergy of lysostaphin in combination with antimicrobial peptides. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 30 (8), pp. 1015-1021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-011-1188-z
Article
Desbois AP & Coote PJ (2011) Wax moth larva (Galleria mellonella): An in vivo model for assessing the efficacy of antistaphylococcal agents. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 66 (8), pp. 1785-1790. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkr198
Article
Desbois AP, Walton MJ & Smith VJ (2010) Differential antibacterial activities of fusiform and oval morphotypes of phaeodactylum tricornutum (bacillariophyceae). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 90 (4), pp. 769-774. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315409991366
Article
Desbois AP, Gemmell CG & Coote PJ (2010) In vivo efficacy of the antimicrobial peptide ranalexin in combination with the endopeptidase lysostaphin against wound and systemic meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 35 (6), pp. 559-565. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=yv4JPVwI&eid=2-s2.0-77951767027&md5=b041aa27abe16309e9406aa5efcb7c84; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2010.01.016
Article
Conventional and unconventional antimicrobials from fish, marine invertebrates and micro-algae
Smith VJ, Desbois AP & Dyrynda EA (2010) Conventional and unconventional antimicrobials from fish, marine invertebrates and micro-algae. Marine Drugs, 8 (4), pp. 1213-1262. https://doi.org/10.3390/md8041213
Article
Antibacterial free fatty acids: Activities, mechanisms of action and biotechnological potential
Desbois AP & Smith VJ (2010) Antibacterial free fatty acids: Activities, mechanisms of action and biotechnological potential. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 85 (6), pp. 1629-1642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2355-3
Article
Desbois AP, Lang S, Gemmell CG & Coote PJ (2010) Surface disinfection properties of the combination of an antimicrobial peptide, ranalexin, with an endopeptidase, lysostaphin, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Journal of Applied Microbiology, 108 (2), pp. 723-730. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2009.04472.x
Article
Desbois AP, Mearns-Spragg A & Smith VJ (2009) A fatty acid from the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum is antibacterial against diverse bacteria including multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Marine Biotechnology, 11 (1), pp. 45-52. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=yv4JPVwI&eid=2-s2.0-58849167639&md5=51ad937a5959ac9be96612241b663387; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10126-008-9118-5
Article
Desbois AP, Lebl T, Yan L & Smith VJ (2008) Isolation and structural characterisation of two antibacterial free fatty acids from the marine diatom, Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 81 (4), pp. 755-764. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-008-1714-9
I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Institutional Academic Lead for the EASTBIO Doctoral Training Partnership/Doctoral Landscape Award.
I teach on a range of modules and topics on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including: AQUU1OP Our Blue Planet (marine microbiology, blue biotechnology); BIOU5MB Microbiology (antimicrobial resistance, bacterial characterisation, natural products, functional genomics); AQUU5LR Managing Living Aquatic Resources (seaweed and microalgae aquaculture); AQUU6AQ Aquaculture (aquaculture diseases, fish pathogen identification); AQUU6MB Changing Oceans (microbiology in the deep sea); BIOU6AC Animal Cell (membranes); AQUPGA2 Aquaculture in Practice (seaweed and microalgae aquaculture); AQUPGV1 Aquaculture Diagnosis Skills 1 Histopathology and Viral Disease (cell culture); and AQUPGV2 Aquaculture Diagnostic Skills 2 (alternatives to antibiotics).
