Marine Immunology Program
Cathy Walsh, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist, Program Manager
The Marine Immunology Program is focused on basic and applied immunological research of marine animals, ranging from cartilaginous fishes  — sharks, skates and rays — to marine mammals and sea turtles, as well as the implications these studies hold for human health.

Basic immunological research with marine species contributes to a better understanding of how the immune systems of different species operate and how these immune functions relate to one another from an evolutionary standpoint. These studies hold the potential for providing important and groundbreaking insights into the evolution of human immunology — as well as treatments for some of our most serious cancers.

The Marine Immunology Program’s applied research studies are providing new knowledge about the immune health status of wild populations of marine animals — including marine mammals — which are exposed to a variety of environmental stresses including man-made and natural contaminants and other environmental stressors. This research is especially important to endangered and threatened species like manatees and sea turtles because reduced immune function can affect a species’ overall ability to survive and reproduce in the wild. 
Research in the Marine Immunology Program focuses on basic and applied research on the health and immune systems of marine vertebrates.  Animal species studied include cartilaginous fishes (sharks, skates, and rays), marine mammals and sea turtles.

Current projects include cytotoxic factors produced by cultured shark immune cells, antimicrobial properties of epidermal mucus from stingrays, effects of harmful algal blooms on health of wildlife species such as sea turtles and manatees as well as on human health, and immune function impacts of oil exposure in elasmobranch species.  

The Marine Immunology Program includes the following projects: 
  • Cytotoxic factors produced by cultured shark immune cells:  In collaboration with Dr. Carl Luer of Marine Biomedical Program and Dr. A.B. Bodine at Clemson University, a project funded by the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation to isolate and characterize bioactive factors produced by short-term cultures of shark immune cells.  
  • Novel antimicrobial compounds from epidermal mucus:  A multi-institution project which includes scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory (Lead PI - Dr. Carl Luer, Marine Biomedical Program; Dr. Kim Ritchie, Marine Microbiology Program), Daemen College (Dr. Laura Edsberg; Dr. Jen Wyffels), USF Center for Biological Defense (Dr. Andy Cannons, Dr. Vicki Luna) and Clemson University (Dr. A.B. Bodine) currently funded by the Department of Defense.  The goal of this project is to identify antimicrobial properties of epidermal mucus produced by stingrays.
  • Effects of brevetoxins on turtle physiology:  A project funded by NOAA ECOHAB entitled: “Brevetoxin metabolism and physiology – a freshwater model of morbidity in endangered sea turtles” is a collaborative project with FAU (Dr. Sarah Milton, Lead PI), Mote (Dr. Walsh, Dr. Deb Fauquier), Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (Dr. Leanne Flewelling), and Georgia Aquarium (Dr. Greg Bossart).  Goals of this project are to investigate effects of brevetoxins on turtle physiology, including effects on immune function, using a freshwater turtle (T. scripta) as a model for potential effects of brevetoxins on physiology of endangered or threatened marine turtle populations.  
  • Mechanisms of cell death in normal and transformed cells treated with epigonal conditioned medium:  Florida High Tech Corridor Industry Seed Grant:  “Membrane targets in tumor cells vs. normal cells exposed to shark immune cell-derived anti-tumor compounds.”  The goal of this project is to determine relative activation of cell membrane targets (death receptors) in malignant/non-malignant pair cell lines to understand preferential killing of tumor cell lines through bioactivity of factors produced by cultured shark immune cells.
  • BP/FIO – Gulf Oil Spill Prevention, Response & Recovery Grants Program: Effects of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Epipelagic and Large Coastal Sharks and Teleosts of the Gulf of Mexico.  PIs:  Dr. Bob Hueter (Mote) and Dr. Jim Gelsleichter (University of North Florida). Other institutions participating in this project include FIU, NOAA NMFS, Nova Southeaster University. The goal of this project is to assess effects of oil exposure on immune function in elasmobranch species potentially exposed to oil from Deepwater Horizon.
  • NSF-REU:  Dr. Barb Kirkpatrick and Dr. Cathy Walsh, co-PIs – “Research experiences in Estuarine and costal Science for Undergraduates at Mote Marine Laboratory:  Developing a New Generation of Leaders in Ocean Sciences.” This project provides summer research experiences in marine sciences for undergraduate students (www.mote.org/REU) 

About Us

Mote Marine Laboratory has been a leader in marine research since it was founded in 1955. Today, we incorporate public outreach as a key part of our mission. Mote is an independent nonprofit organization and has seven centers for marine research, the public Mote Aquarium and an Education Division specializing in public programs for all ages.

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