Plastinerte preparater av hundehjerter
Photo: Camilla Wiik Gjerdrum/NMBU

Anatomy is one of the oldest disciplines in medicine and is the study of the structure of the body and structure of humans, animals and other organisms.

About the Anatomy Unit

At our unit, we research the structure of the immune system in fish and domestic animals. The focus is on the structure and function of the mucous membrane and the pigment system.

The research is divided into two research groups, one led by Håvard Bjørgen (Immunoanatomy of fish) and the other led by Charles McL. Press (Immunobiology of production animals).

  • PhD candidates and dissertations from our unit and dissertations where we have participated since 2000

    Organizations outside our own in parentheses.

    • Ragna Heggebø Uptake and dissemination of the scrapie agent from the gut of sheep. Doctor Medicinae Veterinariae. Oslo, 2003. Main supervisor: Charles McL.Press Co-supervisor: Thor Landsverk.
    • Atle Løvland Necrotic enteritis in broilers. Disease monitoring, performance losses and maternal vaccination. Doctor Medicinae Veterinariae Oslo, 2003. Main supervisor: Magne Kaldhusdal (National Veterinary Institute). Co-supervisors: Liv Jorun Reitan, Atle Lillehaug, Charles McL. Press.
    • Gjermund Gunnes Quantitative evaluation of leukocyte markers in the ruminant lymph node using computer-assisted image morphometry. Doctor Medicinae Veterinariae. Oslo, 2004. Main supervisor: Thor Landsverk. Co-supervisor: Charles McL. Press
    • Mette Valheim Aspects of pathology and immunology in goats infected with or vaccinated against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Doctor Medicinae Veterinariae. Oslo, 2004. Main supervisor: Thor Landsverk. Co-supervisor: Charles McL. Press, Anne Storset.
    • Nina Santi Studies of mechanisms related to virulence and persistence of IPN virus infection in Atlantic salmon. Doctor Medicinae Veterinariae. Oslo, 2005. Main supervisor: Øystein Evensen, Co-supervisors: Bjørn Bratberg (VI), Charles McL. Press.
    • Jim Thorsen, M.Sc. “Isolation, characterization and expression studies of the tyrosinase gene family in Atlantic salmon”. Oslo, 2006. ISBN: 82-7725-127-0. Hovedveileder: Bjørn Høyheim. Biveileder: Erling Olaf Koppang
    • Søren P. Grove Immune response in Halibut. Doctor Scientiarum Oslo 2006. Main supervisor: Liv Jorun Reitan (VI), Co-supervisor: Charles McL. Press.
    • Oløf Sigurdardottir Mycobacterium paratuberculosis infection (Paratuberculosis) in goats. Doctor Scientiarum Oslo 2007. Main supervisor: Øystein Evensen, Co-supervisor: Charles McL. Press.
    • Erlend Haugarvoll, cand.med.vet. ”Novel leukocyte localisations and characteristics in the Atlantic salmon”. Oslo, 2008. ISBN 978-82-7725-158-5. Hovedveileder: Erling Olaf Koppang. Biveiledere: Inge Bjerkås og Morten Laane (Universitetet i Oslo).
    • Lars Austbø mRNA expression of PrP and other relevant genes during infection and disease development. Doctor Scientiarum Oslo 2008. Main supervisor: Ingrid Olsaker, Co-supervisors: Grethe Skretting, Arild Espense, Charles McL. Press.
    • Lindsey Moore, M.Sc. (Universitetet i Bergen). «Molecular characterisation of T cell co-receptors CD3, CD8 and CD4 in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Bergen, 2009. ISBN: 978-82-308-0761-8. Hovedveileder: Ivar Hordvik (Universitetet i Bergen). Biveileder: Erling Olaf Koppang
    • Caroline Piercey Åkesson Studies on the uptake of prions and their early interaction with immune cells of the sheep gut. Philosophiae Doctor Oslo 2011. Main Supervisor: Arild Espenes, Co-supervisor: Mona Aleksandersen, Charles McL.Press
    • Maria Aamelfot, cand.med.vet. (Veterinærinstituttet). “Tropism of infectious salmon anaemia virus and distribution of the 4-O-acetylated sialic acid receptor”. Oslo, 2012. ISBN: 978-82-7725-243-8. Hovedveileder: Knut Falk (Veterinærinstituttet). Biveilderere: Ole Bendik Dale (Veterinærinstituttet), Simon Weli (Veterinærinstituttet) og Erling Olaf Koppang. 
    • Mona Gjessing, cand.med.vet. (Veterinærinstituttet). “Morphological characterisation of inflammatory responses in Atlantic cod. Oslo, 2012. ISBN: 978-82-7725-222-3. Hovedveileder: Agnar Kvellestad. Biveiledere: Erling Olaf Koppang og Knut Falk (Veterinærinstituttet).
    • Hilde Anette Søiland Fagerland, cand.med.vet. ”Studies of extracutaneous pathological pigmentation – black spots – in Atlantic salmon”. Oslo, 2013. ISBN 978-82-7725-253-7. Hovedveileder: Erling Olaf Koppang. Biveiledere: Lars Austbø og Espen Rimstad.
    • Agnar Kvellestad, cand.med.vet.:”Gill inflammation in Norwegian seawater-farmed Atlantic salmon – a study of aetiology and manifestation.” Oslo, 2013. ISBN 978-82-7725-265-0. Dr.philos.
    • Atif Kamil (Universitetet i Bergen). Analysis of IgM sub-variants related to ancestral tetraploidy in salmonid fish. Bergen, 2013. ISBN: 978-82-308-2257-9. Hovedveileder: Ivar Hordvik (Universitetet i Bergen). Biveileder: Erling Olaf Koppang
    • Guro Løkka, M.Sc.: “From morphology to function: intestinal studies of wild and reared Atlantic salmon”. Oslo, 2014. ISBN 978-82-575-1941-4. Hovedveileder: Erling Olaf Koppang. Biveiledere: Lars Austbø og Ivar Hordvik (Universitetet i Bergen).
    • Karin Olofsson Immunopathological aspects of equine inflammatory bowel disease. Ph.D Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Uppsala 2016. Main supervisor: Ronny Lindberg (SLU), Co-supervisors: Caroline Fossum (SLU), Charles McL. Press.
    • Alf Seljenes Dalum, cand.med.vet.: “Studies on the interbranchial lymphoid tissue in the gills of Atlantic salmon and common carp”. Oslo, 2017. ISBN 978-82-575-1989-6. Hovedveileder: Agnar Kvellestad. Biveiledere: Charles Press, Gareth Griffiths (Universitetet i Oslo) og Erling Olaf Koppang.
    • Martin Speth, M.Sc. (Universitetet i Oslo): “Development of immunostimulatory nanoparticles: A new strategy for improving the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis and beyond.” Oslo, 2018. ISBN: 1501-7710/NO. 1833 (ISSN). Hovedveileder: Gareth Griffiths (Universitetet i Oslo). Biveiledere: Erling Olaf Koppang og Bo Nyström (Universitetet i Oslo).
    • Ida Bergva Aas, cand.med.vet.: “Gene transcription studies on the interbranchial lymphoid tissue of Atlantic salmon – with emphasis on its role in the immune system”, Oslo, 2018. ISBN 978-82-575-1757-1. Hovedveileder: Erling Olaf Koppang. Biveiledere: Lars Austbø og Knut Falk (Veterinærinstituttet).
    • Sumaira Bilal, M.Sc. (Universitetet i Bergen). «Molecular characterization of key components of the adaptive immune system in ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta). Bergen, 2019. ISBN: 978-82-308-3558-6. Hovedveileder: Ivar Hordvik (Universitetet i Bergen). Biveiledere: Odd Arne Karlsen (Univerisitetet i Bergen) og Erling Olaf Koppang.
    • Hege Hellberg, cand.med.vet.: ”Teleost gut morphology in sickness and in health, with emphasis on mast cell ontogeny and alimentary canal development in common wolfish, Anarhichas lupus Linnaeus, 1758”, Oslo, 2019. ISBN: 978-82-575-1619-2. Hovedveiledere: Inge Bjerkås og Erling Olaf Koppang.
    • Torfinn Moldal, cand.med.vet. (Veterinærinstituttet). ”Impact of dietary plant oils and the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) with emphasis in the intestine”. Oslo, 2019. ISBN: 978-82-575-1625-3. Hovedveileder: Erling Olaf Koppang. Biveileder: Magne Kaldhusdal (Veterinærinstituttet).
    • Bjørn Håkon Wormstrand, cand.med.vet. “The role of the blood supply to growth cartilage in physeal osteochondrosis and septic arthritis/osteomyelitis in foals and pigs”. Oslo, 2019. ISBN: 978-82-575-1633-8. Hovedveileder: Kristin Olstad. Biveiledrere: Sigrid Lykkjen, Cathrine Fjordbakk og David Griffiths.
    • Dhamotharan Kannimuthu, M.Sc. “Molecular characterization of Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) and its pathogenesis in salmonids”. Oslo, 2019. ISBN: 978-82-575-1639-0. Hovedveileder: Espen Rimstad. Biveiledere: Øystein Wessel og Erling Olaf Koppang.
    • Hanne Friis Berntsen: “Mixtures of persistent organic pollutants and single perfluorinated compounds: Do they adversely affect nerve and immune cell function in vitro?”. Ås, 2021. ISBN 978-82-575-1785-4. Hovedveileder: Erik Ropstad (Parafag). Biveiledere: Charles McL. Press, Magnar Bjørås (Rikshospitalet, Universitetet i Oslo), Steven Verhaegen (Parafag) og Mona Aleksandersen (Prepat).
    • Silje Granstad: “Impact of feed composition on rearing of broiler chickens without in-feed antimicrobials”. Ås, 2021. ISBN 978-82-575-1811-0. Hovedveileder: Magne Kaldhusdal (Veterinærinstitutt). Biveiledere: Charles McL. Press, Filip Van Immerseel (Ghent University, Belgium), Birger Svihus (IHA, NMBU) og Arne Holst-Jensen (Veterinærinstitutt).
    • Håvard Bjørgen, cand.med.vet.: "Melanised focal muscle changes in Atlantic salmon – Interactions between infection and immunity”, Ås, 2021. ISBN: 978-82-575-1859-2. Hovedveileder: Erling Olaf Koppang. Biveiledere: Espen Rimstad, Charles Press, Gjermund Gunnes.

News from the unit

iLaks.no

New research shows that the salmon industry can get ahead of HSMB disease

A collaborative project between the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Skretting and Elingsen Seafood shows that it is possible to predict HSMB disease in salmon in the sea before the outbreak occurs. And by introducing nutritional measures, the extent of the disease became milder than normal.

Kyst.no:

Several causes of melanin spots in salmon

Malin Brimsholm is a research fellow and has in her work delved deeply into the problems with melanin spots in salmon.

Melanin spots in salmon fillets have for a long time been the industry's biggest quality problem. Several breeders are now reporting increased levels of melanin, both in Norway and in Chile. New findings by researchers at NMBU show that different types of melanin changes in the fillet probably have several different causes.

New textbook on fish immunology

The textbook "Principles of fish immunology" will be published in April. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the immune system of fish. Håvard Bjørgen and Erling Olaf Koppang have written the chapter "Anatomy of Teleost Fish Immune Structures and Organs".

You can read summaries of all chapters and order the book at link.springer.com.

iLaks.no:

New project for the Anatomy Unit.

The Green Platform project "Low-emission value chain for offshore aquaculture" has been approved.

The Anatomy Unit, NMBU faculty of Veterinary Medicine, is a co-actor in the sub-project "Better fish welfare and increased survival" through assistant professor Håvard Bjørgen.

NMBU.no

Appointed as meritorious teacher

As one of only 2 at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (the other was Prof. Peter Aleström, also from Prepat) and 9 at the entire university, Charles McL. Press was awarded status as Merited Teacher at NMBU.

Obtaining the status of Merited Teacher means that over time and systematically you have further developed the teaching competence to a level that is significantly higher than the expected basic competenc

Read more here (in Norwegian)
Read more about the Merited Teacher scheme here (in Norwegian)

Immunogenetics:

Review-artikkel på immunorgans in fisg published in Immunogenetics.

Following an invitation to contribute a review article on immune organs in modern bony fish, the article "Anatomy of teleost fish immune structures and organs" was published in the special issue Fish Immunology in the journal Immunogenetics in January 2021.

The article summarizes the current knowledge about the structure of the immune system in teleoster and is available as an open access article.

The article received the following review on the website of Immunogenetics.

Bjørgen and Koppang contributed a review titled “Anatomy of teleost fish immune structures and organs.” Professor Koppang is considered one of the leading experts on the anatomy of teleost fish immune tissues. Whereas many others only search for tissues already known in mammals, or speculate, Koppang has made solid contributions to the field by diligently identifying several previously unknown immune tissues. Besides providing clear descriptions and figures on the anatomy of the teleost fish immune system, the review also contains a critical evaluation of the field. It is a nice article for anyone with an interest in fish immunology, including experienced researchers.

Drammens Tidende:

Anne Clementine (30) researches salmon

When the researchers were looking for immune cells in the butt of the salmon, they found an undescribed organ.

Participating in the research project is Anne Clemetine Linde (30) from Drammen. (For subscribers)

Lecture at HAVBRUK 2020 Digital - Salmon has en analogue to the bird'sbursa Fabricii

The aquaculture conference was canceled earlier this year due to the COVID19 pandemic. It was later decided that the conference would go digital over the communication tool ZOOM on June 9-10.

The Anatomy Unit by Håvard Bjørgen gave a lecture on the discovery of a structural analogue to the bird's bursa Fabricii in the hole in salmon.