Alexandra Florea

Bean Group, Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Current research

My current research interest is the genomics of my adorable Pacific whiteleg shrimp, as well as other aquatic species of commercial interests such as Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout and most recently clams.

I am part of the European IGNITION project, working on genetics and genomics of commercially-important species. I mainly deal with genetics of disease, gene editing and establishing new protocols for primary cell and tissue culture. Additionally, together with our collaborators we work on characterising and understating biomarkers to profile immune and welfare status of aquatic farmed animals; improve resilience to stress and diseases via functional feeds; develop new immunization strategies; investigate novel antigen delivery systems to develop improved subunit vaccines; employ non-invasive biosensors (like miRNAs and proteins) in water and mucus samples to monitor animal health and welfare and create disease prediction models; and lastly, find genetic correlation between broad scale phenotypes (e.g. disease resistance or growth) and molecular responses, to raise novel phenotypes more adapted to stressful conditions.

Alex in the aquarium

Favourite aquaculture species

Pacific whiteleg shrimp – they are the absolute cutest little creatures

Background:

[2020-2024] PhD Genetics and Genomics - The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK

My research focused on creating genetically altered stocks of Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) for resistance to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and salmonid alphavirus (SAV3) respectively. I created and optimised methods for culturing primary tissues and cells in shrimp as well as embryonal cells in salmon; improved nuclei isolation methods for snRNA-seq; and evaluated methods for delivering and testing gene editing, mainly in-vitro via electroporation, with additional initial testing in-vivo in Atlantic salmon via microinjection. I have presented my results via poster and oral presentations in a multitude of conferences and symposiums such as EAS, GIA, EAFP, NEPG and ISGA. During my studies I also attended the ATSTN – IbioIC FlexBio course on “Process development of Bioprocessing & Scale-up”, multiple speciality courses from EASTBIO, and participated in outreach and public engagement activities with children and adults alike.

[2019-2020] MSci Biological Sciences - School of Biological Sciences, The University of Aberdeen, UK

My thesis work involved cloning of the Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) CD9 gene promoter and characterization of promoter elements activation during viral infection following interferon stimulation of transformed CHSE & RTG-2 cell lines, under Prof. Samuel Martin’s supervision.

[2015-2019] BSci Marine Biology - School of Biological Sciences, The University of Aberdeen, UK

Interests, hopes and dreams

I love traveling far and wide around the world, exploring beautiful places and trying local foods. When I’m not out and about, I’m an avid gamer and spend most of my free time playing MMOs and RPGs. I can also be easily won over with sweets (bonus points if they’re chocolate muffins)!

My dream is to travel to more countries outside Europe, experience vastly different cultures, and meet new people along the way.

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