WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • SEPTEMBER 2025 21 My name is Abdulmalik Oladipupo, and I am a PhD student at Auburn University in the School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences. I obtained my master’s degree from the same department in 2023, through which I have been a graduate research assistant in the labs of Dr. Timothy Bruce and Dr. Anita Kelly. I earned my bachelor’s degree in aquaculture and fisheries management in Nigeria and subsequently had over five years of experience in commercial fish production. My research activities in AU have centered on aquatic animal health and production, specifically disease diagnostics and management, host-pathogen interaction, and fish nutrition. My thesis investigates dietary additives and immunostimulants for aquaculture, hypothesizing that these additives will be functional in enhancing growth and disease resistance in catfish and tilapia farming. Diseases are a primary concern for fish producers, and catfish production continues to face setbacks due to multiple disease agents, especially bacteria. As an aquaculture species with the highest volume share in the U.S. aquaculture industry in the southern U.S., intervention is critically important to improving local production, which has been with stiff competition by low-quality imports. Due to environmental and food safety risks, the enormous use of antibiotics has been discouraged, with strict regulations further limiting their use. My research, which started as my master’s thesis, has focused on mitigative options to manage disease outbreaks on a farm scale, giving producers cost-effective alternatives to improve the overall performance of their stocks. To do that, I investigated dietary stimulating options that have practical commercial applications. My laboratory research over the past two years has demonstrated the beneficial impact of two novel additives in catfish production. These organic additives, shown to promote immunity and resistance against columnaris diseases in catfish, represent a significant stride toward sustained catfish production in the southern region. My dissertation has continued investigating the impact of bacteria co-infection in catfish and tilapia. As evident in many farm disease outbreaks, we have come to know that multiple infections often interact to drive the degree of outbreaks in farms, and my research has focused on investigating and optimizing dietary immunostimulants to combat these complicated infection situations. In addition to my research, I have been involved in studies on largemouth bass, California yellowtail nutrition, and white spot virus in crawfish, which have been published in five journal articles and presented in over ten conferences and workshops. Looking ahead, I plan to intensify research efforts focused on industry-focused solutions, especially in fish health management. My passion for disease management in aquaculture is profound, and I am happy to be part of a significant mission to assist farmers in not just producing quality seafood but ensuring it is produced sustainably. Student Spotlight: Abdulmalik Oladipupo Auburn University School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences Reprinted from the Fish Culture Section of the American Fisheries Society Winter 2024/25 Newsletter LEFT, PHOTO 1. Abdulmalik’s research is focused on disease diagnostics, host-pathogen interactions and nutrition. RIGHT, PHOTO 2. Over the past two years he has demonstrated the beneficial impact of novel organic additives in catfish production.
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