Ronald L. Thune

Dr. Thune assumed his present position as head of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences in December, 2000.  Prior to assuming his present position, Dr. Thune had been jointly appointed with the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology in the School of Veterinary Medicine and with the Department of Veterinary Science in the LSU Agricultural Center for 20 years.  Dr. Thune is certified as a Fish Pathologist by the Fish Health Section of the American Fisheries Society.  He established and directs the Louisiana Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, which provides diagnostic services to state fisheries biologists, state research projects and aquaculturists nationwide.  Accessions to the diagnostic laboratory supply a constant source of specimens for research and teaching in aquatic animal diseases and provide an opportunity for students to obtain clinical experience.  Dr. Thune teaches graduate courses in aquatic animal diseases and pathogenic bacteriology, and is coordinator and instructor for 'Aquamed', an annual month-long course on aquatic animal health offered by the Gulf States Consortium for Aquatic Pathobiology.  Dr. Thune is actively involved in the Fish Health Section of the American Fisheries Society, having recently served as President.  He has served as editor of the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society for 8 years and participates in the Multidisciplinary Program in Infectious Disease.

Research Interests

He is currently conducting research and directing graduate student research on infectious diseases of aquatic animals, particularly channel catfish and hybrid striped bass.  This work uses modern molecular genetic approaches to study pathogen host interactions, with an emphasis on bacterial pathogenesis and protective vaccine development.  In previous research, he has completed studies on antigen delivery systems for channel catfish immunization programs, on the mode of transmission of channel catfish virus, on the development of specialized media for pathogen growth, and on the impact of bacteria and ectocommensal protozoans in commercial crawfish ponds.

Selected Publications

Collins, L. A. and R. L. Thune. 1996. Development of a defined minimal medium for the growth of Edwardsiella ictaluri. Journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 62(3):848-852.

Thune, R. L., L. A. Collins and M. P. Pena. 1997. A comparison of immersion, immersion/ oral combination, and injection methods for the vaccination channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus against Edwardsiella ictaluri. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. 28(2):193-201.

Thune, R. L., J. P. Hawke, D. H. Fernandez, M. L. Lawrence, M. M. Moore and L. A. Collins. 1997. Immunization with bacterial antigens: Edwardsiellosis. Developments in Biological Standardization. 90:1-10.

Lawrence M. L., R. K. Cooper and R. L. Thune. 1997. Attenuation, persistence, and vaccine potential of an Edwardsiella ictaluri purA mutant. Infection and Immunity. 65(11):4642-4651.

Thune, R. L., D. Fernandez, and J. Batista. 1999. An aroA mutant of Edwardsiella ictaluri is safe and efficacious as live, attentuated vaccine.  Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 11:358-372.

Moore, M. M. and R. L.Thune. 1999. Evaluation of the expression of immunogenic and non-immunogenic proteins of Edwardsiella ictaluri under different growth conditions using mini-two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health. 11:262-274.

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