Dr. Nicolas Derome
Professeur agrégé
Département de biologie and Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes
Université Laval
Phone: (418) 656-7726
Email: nicolas.derome@bio.ulaval.ca
Website: Derome Laboratory
Dr. Derome is a pioneer in using high-throughput genetic sequencing to study the composition of microbial communities and their functional interactions with both hosts and populations. These discoveries can then be used to study and even modify the health of exploited aquatic species; for instance, Dr. Derome used his expertise with host genetics, environmental factors (e.g., variables in water characteristics), and microbiota to develop effective endogenous probiotics for salmonid aquaculture, specifically selected to counteract opportunistic pathogens.
Dr. Derome’s lab will use the Fish Health Toolkit to expand and refine their host-microbiota models, identifying genetic factors in freshwater fish that increase the likelihood of susceptibility to specific bacterial strains. The results of this work will be particularly applicable in developing sustainable practices in pathogen and pest control in aquaculture and in determining the vulnerability of specific wild populations to environmental factors (e.g., climate change).