Biography summary
Dr. Luis Afonso is a fish physiologist with an interest in fish health (stress) and reproduction. Luis completed an MSc degree at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil – 1992) on sex reversal in fish, and a PhD at the University of British Columbia (Canada - 1997) on reproductive endocrinology of Pacific salmon.
After his PhD, Luis took on an associate professor position at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (1997-2000), and he worked closely with the aquaculture industry on research and development projects aimed at producing monosex population of Nile tilapia.
Luis returned to Canada in 2000 to take on a Visiting Scientist position with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada to work on the effects of environmental pollutants during sexual development in fish. In 2001 he joined the National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Marine Biosciences (Halifax-Canada) where he developed a research program on stress in fish. From 2009-2012, Luis took up a Senior Research position with the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (Campbell River-Canada) to work on fish health.
For the past 15 years, Luis has been working closely not only with his colleagues at academia but also with the private sector, as he thinks that an interdisciplinary team based approach is vital for understanding, maintaining, and advancing our knowledge in life sciences.
Career highlights
Senior Lecturer in Marine Sciences, Deakin University, Australia, 2012-present
Senior Research Scientist, BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, Canada, 2009-2012
Research and Development, Genome Atlantic, Canada, 2007-2009.
Research Officer, National Research Council Canada (NRC), Canada, 2001-2007
Visiting Scientist in Canadian Government Laboratory, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canada, 2000-2001
Associate Professor, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, 1997-2000
Adjunct Appointments
• Adjunct Professor (2009-2012) Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada.
• Adjunct Professor (2004-2007) Memorial University of Newfoundland, Ocean Science Centre, St. John’s, NL, Canada.
• Adjunct Professor (2000-2004) Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Research interests
- Fish and invertebrate stress, health, diseases, and welfare
- Stress response to environmental and aquaculture-related stressors: thermal stress, hypoxia, environmental toxicants, crowding, transportation and harvesting
- Individual variation in stress response
- Heath-shock proteins, enzymes involved in the synthesis of corticosteroids (StAR, P450scc, 3β-HSD) cortisol bound and free, glucose, lactate, and glycogen, expression of immune-related genes, sex steroid hormones
- Genomics, proteomics and metabolomics
- Fish reproductive endocrinology, sex differentiation, and sex reversal
- Marine and freshwater finfish and shellfish, aquaculture
- Recreational fishing: stress and welfare
- Stress and nutrition
- Development of biomarkers of stress and health
- Development of diagnostic techniques using genomic approaches
Teaching interests
Animal physiology, cell biology, endocrionology, stress physiology, reproduction, aquaculture
Units taught
SLE111 - Cells and genes
SLE254 - Genetics (practicals)
SLE315 - Comparative animal physiology (selected topics)
SLE329 - Aquatic animal health and reproduction
Knowledge areas
Fish physiology, endocrinology, reproduction, stress, health, aquaculture, molecular biology, sex reversal, sex control, fish welfare
Professional activities
Reviewer for academic journals and funding agencies
• Aquaculture, Aquaculture Reviews, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Fish Physiology and Biochemistry, Fish and Shellfish Immunology, General and Comparative Endocrinology, Journal of Fish Biology, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, North American Journal of Aquaculture, Journal of Aquaculture Research and Development.
• Reviewer for granting agencies in Canada (NSERC) and Brazil (CNPq, CAPES, FAPERGS).
• USDA, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Small Business Innovation Research.
Awards
Awards and Academic Achievements
• British Columbia Aquaculture and Environment Innovation Award – (British Columbia Innovation Council (April 2009 – January 2012), Research Chair in Aquaculture and Environment.
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada - NSERC (September 2000 - August 2001),Visiting Scientist in Canadian Government Laboratory.
• Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Association of Graduate Studies in Animal Science (September 2000), Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies Administration.
• Brazilian Society of Animal Sciences (1998-1999), General Secretary of the XXXVI Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Society of Animal Science - Porto Alegre, Brazil.
• Brazilian National Research Council - CNPq (August 1998 - August 2000), Award for Excellence in Research.
• Brazilian National Research Council - CNPq (1994-1997), Award for PhD degree.
• Brazilian Coordenadoria de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES (1990-1992), Award for MSc degree.
Publications
J Tromp, P Jones, M Brown, J Donald, P Biro, L Afonso
(2018), Vol. 495, pp. 196-204, Aquaculture, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
The physiology of saltwater acclimation in large juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar
Morgan Brown, Paul Jones, Jared Tromp, Christian van Rijn, Robert Collins, Luis Afonso
(2018), Vol. 93, pp. 540-549, Journal of fish biology, Chichester, England, C1
J Tromp, P Jones, J Symonds, S Walker, A Pope, S Pether, L Afonso
(2016), Vol. 452, pp. 128-133, Aquaculture, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
W Marshall, A Sitj-Bobadilla, H Brown, T MacWilliam, Z Richmond, H Lamson, D Morrison, L Afonso
(2016), Vol. 39, pp. 929-946, Journal of fish diseases, Chichester, Eng., C1
Effects of thermal stressors on growth-related gene expressions in cutured fish
T Nakano, M Kameda, T Yamaguchi, M Sato, L Afonso, G Iwama, R Devlin
(2015), pp. 147-157, Marine productivity: perturbations and resilience of socio-ecosystems : proceedings of the 15th French-Japanese Oceanography Symposium, Berlin, Germany, B1
A Siah, P McKenna, F Berthe, L Afonso, J Danger
(2013), Vol. 3, pp. 95-103, Results in Immunology, C1
Acute physiological stress down-regulates mRNA expressions of growth-related genes in Coho salmon
T Nakano, L Afonso, B Beckman, G Iwama, R Devlin
(2013), Vol. 8, PLoS ONE, C1
T Hori, A Gamperl, C Hastings, G Voort, J Robinson, S Johnson, L Afonso
(2012), Vol. 324-325, pp. 165-173, Aquaculture, C1-1
T Hori, M Rise, S Johnson, L Afonso, A Gamperl
(2012), Vol. 175, pp. 311-320, General and Comparative Endocrinology, C1-1
L Afonso, Z Richmond, A Eaves, J Richard, L Hawley, K Garver
(2012), Vol. 3, pp. 1-5, Journal of aquaculture research and development, Los Angeles, Calif., C1-1
T Hori, A Gamperl, L Afonso, S Johnson, S Hubert, J Kimball, S Bowman, M Rise
(2010), Vol. 11, BMC Genomics, C1-1
X Liu, L Afonso
(2010), Vol. 600, pp. 259-268, Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.), B1-1
T Karakach, E Huenupi, E Soo, J Walter, L Afonso
(2009), Vol. 5, pp. 123-137, Metabolomics, New York, N. Y., C1-1
A Gamperl, C Busby, T Hori, L Afonso, J Hall
(2009), Vol. 82, pp. 483-494, Physiological and Biochemical Zoology, C1-1
L Inoue, G Moraes, G Iwama, L Afonso
(2008), Vol. 38, pp. 603-609, Acta amazonica, Manaus, Brasil, C1-1
T Hori, I Avilez, G Iwama, S Johnson, G Moraes, L Afonso
(2008), Vol. 147, pp. 416-423, Comparative biochemistry and physiology part C, Philadelphia, Pa., C1-1
X Liu, L Afonso, E Altman, S Johnson, L Brown, J Li
(2008), Vol. 8, pp. 2849-2857, Proteomics, C1-1
The immune and stress responses of Atlantic cod to long-term increases in water temperature
J Prez-Casanova, M Rise, B Dixon, L Afonso, J Hall, S Johnson, A Gamperl
(2008), Vol. 24, pp. 600-609, Fish and Shellfish Immunology, C1-1
M Fast, S Hosoya, S Johnson, L Afonso
(2008), Vol. 24, pp. 194-204, Fish and Shellfish Immunology, C1-1
J Prez-Casanova, L Afonso, S Johnson, S Currie, A Gamperl
(2008), Vol. 72, pp. 899-916, Journal of Fish Biology, C1-1
L Afonso, S Hosoya, J Osborne, A Gamperl, S Johnson
(2008), Vol. 72, pp. 157-167, Journal of fish biology, Oxford, England, C1-1
Tiago Hori, Ive Avilez, George Iwama, Stewart Johnson, Gilberto Moraes, Luis Afonso
(2008), Vol. 147, pp. 416-423, Comparative biochemistry and physiology part C: toxicology and pharmacology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
D Alves Martins, L Afonso, S Hosoya, L Lewis-McCrea, L Valente, S Lall
(2007), Vol. 272, pp. 573-580, Aquaculture, C1-1
S Hosoya, S Johnson, G Iwama, A Gamperl, L Afonso
(2007), Vol. 146, pp. 78-86, Comparative biochemistry and physiology part A, Philadelphia, Pa., C1-1
Triploid and diploid rainbow trout do not differ in their stress response to transportation
R Leggatt, K Scheer, L Afonso, G Iwama
(2006), Vol. 68, pp. 1-8, North American journal of aquaculture, Bethesda, Md., C1-1
G Iwama, L Afonso, M Vijayan
(2006), pp. 320-342, Physiology of fishes, Boca Raton, Flo., B1-1
Effects of clove oil on the stress response of matrinx (Brycon cephalus) subjected to transport
L Inoue, L Afonso, G Iwama, G Moraes
(2005), Vol. 35, pp. 289-295, Acta amazonica, Manaus, Brazil, C1-1
D Toa, L Afonso, G Iwama
(2004), Vol. 30, pp. 103-108, Fish Physiology and Biochemistry, C1-1
Are hsps suitable for indicating stressed states in fish?
G Iwama, L Afonso, A Todgham, P Ackerman, K Nakano
(2004), Vol. 207, pp. 15-19, Journal of Experimental Biology, C1-1
Sex reversal in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus) by androgen immersion
G Wassermann, L Afonso
(2003), Vol. 34, pp. 65-71, Aquaculture Research, C1-1
L Afonso, N Basu, K Nakano, R Devlin, G Iwama
(2003), Vol. 29, pp. 173-179, Fish Physiology and Biochemistry, C1-1
L Afonso, J Smith, M Ikonomou, R Devlin
(2002), Vol. 110, pp. 881-887, Environmental Health Perspectives, C1-1
Tecnica simples de marcacao externa de reprodutores de tilapia nilotica (Oreochromis niloticus)
E Leboute, L Afonso, M Rotta
(2002), Vol. 32, pp. 147-149, Cincia rural, Santa Maria, Brasil, C1-1
G Wassermann, L Afonso
(2002), Vol. 32, pp. 133-139, Cincia rural, Santa Maria, Brasil, C1-1
Sex reversal in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) using a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor
L Afonso, G Wassermann, R De Oliveira
(2001), Vol. 290, pp. 177-181, Journal of Experimental Zoology, C1-1
M Rotta, L Afonso
(2001), Vol. 31, pp. 521-522, Cincia rural, Santa Maria, Brasil, C1-1
L Afonso, G Iwama, J Smith, E Donaldson
(2000), Vol. 188, pp. 175-187, Aquaculture, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
L Afonso, G Iwama, J Smith, E Donaldson
(1999), Vol. 20, pp. 231-241, Fish physiology and biochemistry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
L Afonso, G Iwama, J Smith, E Donaldson
(1999), Vol. 113, pp. 221-229, General and Comparative Endocrinology, C1-1
L Afonso, P Campbell, G Iwama, R Devlin, E Donaldson
(1997), Vol. 106, pp. 169-174, General and comparative endocrinology, Maryland Heights, Mo., C1-1
Method for artificial incubation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) eggs
L Afonso, E Leboute, S Souza
(1993), Vol. 22, pp. 502-505, Revista Brasileira de zootecnia, Minas Gerais MG Brazil, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Sex reversal and sex differentiation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).
A/Prof Luis Afonso, Dr Paul Jones, Dr Brad Evans
FRDC Grant - Research - Fisheries Research & Development Corporation
- 2019: $15,300
- 2018: $30,227
Other Public Sector Funding
Stress response ofblack bream during recreational catch and release
Dr Paul Jones, A/Prof Luis Afonso
- 2013: $15,943
Industry and Other Funding
Application and development of biochemical assays to assess smoltification in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
A/Prof Luis Afonso
- 2014: $18,400
Effects of chronic exposure to different thermal regimens on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) growth, stress physiology and health
A/Prof Luis Afonso, Linda Sams, Dr Christine Huynh
- 2015: $23,000
- 2014: $24,192
Physiological and molecular indicators to assess smoltification in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
A/Prof Luis Afonso, Dr Paul Jones, Linda Sams
- 2017: $31,661
- 2016: $77,838
- 2015: $40,000
Supervisions
Jared John Tromp
Thesis entitled: Long-term exposure to elevated temperature in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Michael Salini
Thesis entitled: Fatty acid metabolism in barramundi (Lates calcarifer)
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences