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Upcoming Events

Jul14

FOCUS Camp and Academy

Jul 14, 2025, 9:00 AM - Jul 18, 2025, 5:00 PM

Jul14

Dissertation Defense - Tianshu Yang - Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science

Jul 14, 2025, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Exploratory Hall, Room 2312 

Virtual Meeting link: email tyang4@gmu.edu

Jul17

Thesis Defense - Thomas Finley, Biology MS

Jul 17, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 PM

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MS Thesis Defense - Environmental Science and Policy

Jul 23, 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Virtual via Zoom - Registration Link
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.


 

MS Thesis
Department of Environmental Science and Policy
College of Science
George Mason University

 

Candidate: Kim Magalona
Defense Date and Time: July 23, 2025, 10:00am
Defense Location: Virtual via Zoom
Title: Microbiome Characterization of Striped Bass (Morone Saxatilis) As a Tool To Detect Mycobacteriosis

Thesis Director: Dr. Jennifer Salerno
Committee: Dr. Esther Peters, Dr. Gad Perry

 

ABSTRACT

 

Chesapeake Bay striped bass (Morone saxatilis) face increasing threats from mycobacteriosis disease. This study aimed to characterize their skin microbiome and to assess its potential as a non-lethal diagnostic tool for detecting infection. Sixty-four fish were collected (Oct-Nov 2020); skin and spleen samples were screened for mycobacteria and microbiome characterization using mycobacteria-specific and 16S rRNA gene PCR primers, respectively. Amplicons were sequenced for microbiome characterization, with no mycobacteria detected. Skin microbiomes did not differ by sex or site and showed high variability between individuals. This research establishes a baseline for the Chesapeake Bay striped bass skin microbiome and highlights its importance in fish health assessment and wildlife management.

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