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Transcriptomic landscape of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) skin
Get PDFIn this study, we present the first spatial transcriptomic atlas of Atlantic salmon skin using the Visium Spatial Gene Expression protocol. We utilized frozen skin tissue from four distinct sites, namely the operculum, pectoral and caudal fins, and scaly skin at the flank of the fish close to the lateral line, obtained from two Atlantic salmon (150 g). High quality frozen tissue sections were obtained by embedding tissue in O.C.T media prior to freezing and sectioning. Further, we generated libraries and spatial transcriptomic maps, achieving a minimum of 80 million reads per sample with mapping efficiencies ranging from 79.3% to 89.4%. Our analysis revealed the detection of over 80.000 transcripts and nearly 30.000 genes in each sample. Among the tissue types observed in the skin, the epithelial tissues exhibited the highest number of transcripts (UMI-counts), followed by muscle tissue, loose and fibrous connective tissue, and bone. Notably, the widest nodes in the transcriptome network were shared among the epithelial clusters, while dermal tissues showed less consistency, which is likely attributable to the presence of multiple cell types at different body locations. Additionally, we identified collagen type 1 as the most prominent gene family in the skin, while keratins were found to be abundant in the epithelial tissue. Furthermore, we successfully identified gene markers specific to epithelial tissue, bone, and mesenchyme. To validate their expression patterns, we conducted a meta-analysis of the microarray database, which confirmed high expression levels of these markers in mucosal organs, skin, gills, and the olfactory rosette.publishedVersio
Optimisation of trace mineral supplementation in diets for Atlantic salmon smolt with reference to holistic fish performance in terms of growth, health, welfare, and potential environmental impacts
Get PDFThe aquafeed ingredient inventory is ever changing, from marine to plant based, and recently evolving to incorporate increasing amounts of low trophic, side stream and circular economy based raw materials, each one contributing with variable amounts and qualities of macro- and micronutrients. Meeting the micronutrient requirement of farmed fish for healthy and efficient growth under normal and challenging conditions is of paramount importance. In this study we run a trial based on a 2 × 4 factorial design with three replications for each dietary treatment, where Atlantic salmon smolt were fed one of 8 experimental diets supplemented with either organic or inorganic mineral premixes (copper, iron, manganese, selenium, and zinc) at four dietary inclusion levels. We saw a trend for higher growth rate in the organic mineral groups irrespective of the dietary mineral levels. Mineral digestibility was negatively correlated with increasing mineral supplementation levels for all tested minerals but Se which increased with the increasing supplementation in the inorganic and up to the 2nd inclusion level in the organic mineral groups. Increasing mineral supplementation affected retention efficiency of Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe while mineral source affected only the retention of Se which was higher in the organic mineral groups. Moreover, fish obtained higher EPA and DHA in their body and increased slaughter yield in the organic as compared to the inorganic mineral groups and corroborated that trace mineral inclusion levels play a key role on salmon fillet’s technical quality. More effects from different origin and dietary inclusion levels of trace minerals were seen on fillet yield, fillet technical and nutritional quality, bone strength, skin morphology, organ mineralization and midgut transcriptome.publishedVersio
Effect of scalding temperature on sensory and biochemical properties in a hard goat milk cheese
Get PDFA procedure to produce a hard cheese made from goat milk set to approach Manchego cheese was developed. The effects on cheese characteristics of two scalding temperatures, 38 °C and 40 °C, during cheesemaking were evaluated in an experimental design with three replicate blocks. The cheese was analysed for volatiles, organic acids, proteolysis (as measured by capillary electrophoresis) and sensory properties. After 18 weeks of ripening, sensory descriptive analysis showed that the cheeses had a high total flavour and odour intensity, and a low degree of oxidised flavour. A consumer acceptability test showed that the cheese was liked. Cheese scalded at 40 °C obtained higher concentrations of volatiles and was described as more mature, umami, sweet and sour compared with cheese scalded at 38 °C, which had the highest concentration of organic acids and was described to be slightly more oxidised, bitter, and acidic.Effect of scalding temperature on sensory and biochemical properties in a hard goat milk cheesepublishedVersio
Environmental risk assessment of genetically modified sterile VIRGIN® Atlantic salmon for use in research trials in aquaculture sea-cages
Get PDFOne of the substantial environmental challenges posed by the aquaculture industry is the escape of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), which can mate with wild Atlantic salmon and alter the genetic composition of the wild populations. One potential solution to mitigate this issue is the cultivation of sterile salmon in aquaculture. Atlantic salmon can be made sterile by pressure or temperature treatment of newly fertilized eggs to produce triploids, which are functionally sterile due to their unpaired chromosomes. However, these triploids often perform poorly on commercial fish farms and the production of triploid salmon in Norway is put on hold due to welfare issues of the fish. In this application, the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Bergen, seeks to rear genetically modified sterile Atlantic salmon (VIRGIN® salmon) in a marine aquaculture environment from the post-smolt stage until harvest. The research trials are to take place in small, open sea cages (net pens) at the IMR Matre Aquaculture Research Station from autumn 2023 until February 2025. The Norwegian Environment Agency has asked VKM to assess the environmental risks associated with this field trial according to the Gene Technology Act and using risk assessment guidance from the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA.Environmental risk assessment of genetically modified sterile VIRGIN® Atlantic salmon for use in research trials in aquaculture sea-cagespublishedVersionpublishedVersio
Certify or not? The effect of the MSC certification on the ex-vessel prices for Atlantic cod in Norway
Get PDFThere is strong evidence that ecolabeled seafood commands a price premium in the retail market in Northern European countries. At the same time, there is significant uncertainty as to whether these markups are passed on to the fishers. This is important because producer benefits are required for an ecolabel to provide incentives for sustainable fishery management and fishing practices. Therefore, we investigate whether fishers obtained price premiums for certified cod in Norway. A unique setting for this investigation was created when a part of the fishery, the one conducted within the Norwegian territorial waters, lost its certification by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), while it was maintained for the offshore part of the fishery. Using a difference-in-difference approach, analyzing a large and detailed dataset, we find that on average, there is no premium for certified cod, and that other factors are more important. When controlling for buyer types, the loss of the MSC certification resulted in a price reduction for cod sold to producers who make fillets for Northern European markets. However, we found no significant price effect for cod sold to the other buyer types. This highlights the difficulty of obtaining a price premium when there are alternative sources of the product.Certify or not? The effect of the MSC certification on the ex-vessel prices for Atlantic cod in NorwaypublishedVersionpublishedVersio
Meat Analogues from Pea Protein: Effect of Different Oat Protein Concentrates and Post Treatment on Selected Technological Properties of High-Moisture Extrudates
Get PDFThe effect of using oat protein concentrates from different sources on the techno/functional properties of pea protein high-moisture extrudates (HME) have been investigated. The oat protein fractions were commercially produced by wet milling (OP) or produced by dry fractionation (OA) in our pilot plant facilities. The texture cutting force of HME was significantly increased by the inclusion of OP and had higher anisotropy, while addition of OA did not influence the texture. Addition of both oat sources to the pea mixture led to higher water and oil binding ability on both initial dry ingredients and extrudates. The color of the meat analogues was significantly affected by the type of oat added. CLSM image analysis of the extrudates showed that the type of oat used influenced fiber alignment and apparent porosity of the protein network. Post-extrusion treatment with water at 80 ◦C/20 min of the extrudates significantly reduced the cutting strength of the meat analogues and significantly caused a shift toward a lighter color. The reduction of texture strength of extrudates with OP rendered it similar to cooked chicken samples, while extrudates with OA showed a more resilient fiber strength to the hot water treatmentpublishedVersio
The Role of Health Status and Social Capital in Cancer Mortality: Insights from Matched Register and Survey Data
Get PDFCancer mortality has been shown to be associated with social- and human capital. Several channels have been suggested, such as early detection, better compliance to treatment and better health prior to diagnosis. In this paper we study how health status and social capital jointly affect cancer mortality and cancer severity at the time of diagnosis. The analyses are based on study sample of individuals with cancer diagnosis. Our merged dataset contain information on cancer diagnosis and death from the Cancer Registry of Norway and health status, social capital and other individual level data from several national health surveys measured before the time of diagnosis. Health status and social capital are treated as unobserved latent variables, and we apply generalized structural equation modelling framework to estimate conditional statistical associations of social capital and individual health on cancer severity and mortality. We find that health has negative, and statistically significant effect, on cancer mortality, while we cannot conclude on the association between health and cancer severity (metastasis yes/no). We cannot conclude that cancer mortality and the probability of cancer metastasis is associated nor disassociated with social capital. Our results add nuance to prior studies, which frequently report a significant association between social capital and cancer mortality.The Role of Health Status and Social Capital in Cancer Mortality: Insights from Matched Register and Survey DatapublishedVersio
Effect of temperature during flowering, pod set, and seed development on yield components and accumulation of protein, starch, and low molecular weight carbohydrates in two faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivars
Get PDFThe aim was to explore the impact of temperature during seed development on yield performance and seed quality in faba bean when grown at cool temperatures representative for high latitude regions. Two varieties, an early and a medium late maturing, were grown in climate chambers with three temperature regimes (day/night temperatures of 14°C/12°C, 19°C/12°C, and 24°C/12°C) from onset of flowering to maturation. Yield components were recorded, and the accumulation of protein, starch, and low molecular weight carbohydrates including the raffinose family oligosaccharides was followed during the accumulation phase until physiological maturity. The lower temperature regimes strongly delayed pod and seed development compared with 24°C/12°C. Temperature affected the number of pods per plant for the upper node group. Plants grown at 19°C had the highest total dry seed weight compared with plants grown at 14°C and 24°C. Temperature per se did not influence the content of starch, protein, and low molecular weight carbohydrates, while their accumulation followed the moisture content in the seed, and thus the seed development stage. The content of raffinose family oligosaccharides increased sharply when the seed moisture dropped below 70% and leveled off at about 40% and 50% moisture for verbascose and stachyose, respectively, coinciding with physiological maturity. The results provide more knowledge about the seed maturation and accumulation in faba bean under low temperatures, important for cultivation under high latitude regions.Effect of temperature during flowering, pod set, and seed development on yield components and accumulation of protein, starch, and low molecular weight carbohydrates in two faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivarspublishedVersio
The Role of Health Status and Social Capital in Cancer Mortality: Insights from Matched Register and Survey Data
Get PDFCancer mortality has been shown to be associated with social- and human capital. Several channels have been suggested, such as early detection, better compliance to treatment and better health prior to diagnosis. In this paper we study how health status and social capital jointly affect cancer mortality and cancer severity at the time of diagnosis. The analyses are based on study sample of individuals with cancer diagnosis. Our merged dataset contain information on cancer diagnosis and death from the Cancer Registry of Norway and health status, social capital and other individual level data from several national health surveys measured before the time of diagnosis. Health status and social capital are treated as unobserved latent variables, and we apply generalized structural equation modelling framework to estimate conditional statistical associations of social capital and individual health on cancer severity and mortality. We find that health has negative, and statistically significant effect, on cancer mortality, while we cannot conclude on the association between health and cancer severity (metastasis yes/no). We cannot conclude that cancer mortality and the probability of cancer metastasis is associated nor disassociated with social capital. Our results add nuance to prior studies, which frequently report a significant association between social capital and cancer mortality.The Role of Health Status and Social Capital in Cancer Mortality: Insights from Matched Register and Survey DatapublishedVersionpublishedVersio
