I work at the Sea Lice Research centre with a focus on the host-parasite interaction of salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) and Atlantic salmon as a host. We identify secretory proteins that are deposited from the lice onto the salmon to dampen immune responses.

Techniques that we use includes: transcriptomics, in situ bybridization, histology, SEM, functional studies with primary leucocytes and gene knock down (RNAi) etc

Jeg underviser på fiskehelsestudiet der jeg har emneansvar for BIO275 fiskehistopatologi, samt på BIO101 der jeg har ansvaret for vertebrat zoologi

Konferanseforedrag

• M.J. McGowan; James E. Bron; M. Bekaert et al. (2025). Free-swimming copepodid salmon lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) undergo a transcriptomic shift when exposed to salmonid host cues. (ekstern lenke)
• Helena Marie Doherty Midtbø; Gyri Teien Haugland; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård (2022). Does Salmon louse Have an Immune Dampening Effect on Atlantic Salmon?. (ekstern lenke)
• Sussie Dalvin; Louise VG Jørgensen; Per W. Kania et al. (2018). MORPHOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CHANGES IN RAINBOW TROUT SKIN IN RESPONSE TO SALMON LOUSE INFECTION. (ekstern lenke)
• Christiane Eichner; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Frank Nilsen et al. (2014). Characterization and knock-down of a putative prostaglandin e synthase found in Lepeophtheirus salmonis. (ekstern lenke)
• Anne Elisabeth Bjune; Gunnar Bratbak; Sigrunn Eliassen et al. (2023). Omlegging fra tradisjonelle forelesninger til studentaktiv læring – eksempel fra et grunnemne i biolog. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Frank Nilsen; Noelia Nuñez-Ortiz et al. (2019). THE SALMON LOUSE (LEPEOPHTHEIRUS SALMONIS) SALIVARY GLAND SECRETES IMMUNE REGULATORY PROTEINS. (ekstern lenke)
• Jordan Poley; Laura Braden; Dylan Michaud et al. (2018). Excretory and Secretory Factors of the Salmon Louse: Genomic Characterization, Effects on Feeding, and Impacts on Host Immunity. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Audun H. Nerland; Sonal Patel (2009). Relativ uttrykning av T-celle markører i tidlige livsstadier hos Atlantisk kveite (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Lars Are Hamre; Sindre Grotmol et al. (2019). Lusespytt modulerer laksens immunrespons. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Lars Are Hamre; Ewa Harasimczuk et al. (2016). Distribution and Development of salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis exocrine glands. (ekstern lenke)
• Mette Serine Wesmajervi Breiland; Nicholas Andrew Robinson; Tone-Kari K Østbye et al. (2024). Transkriptomikk og genredigering som verktøy for å utforske genetiske mekanismer som kan gi artsspesifkk resistens mot lakselus. (ekstern lenke)
• Sussie Dalvin; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Christiane Eichner et al. (2017). Do prostaglandins produced by lepeophtheirus salmonis affect the interaction between the parasite and the fish?. (ekstern lenke)
• Sonal Patel; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Elin Sørhus et al. (2009). B and T cell markers during Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) ontogenesis. (ekstern lenke)
• Nicholas Andrew Robinson; Lene Sveen; Muhammad Luqman Aslam et al. (2025). The cellular and genetic response to sea lice infection: How might we use this knowledge to improve Atlantic salmon host-resistance to sea lice?. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård (2020). Grunnleggende lusebiologi – hva vet vi, og hva skal studeres.. (ekstern lenke)
• Nicholas Andrew Robinson; Tone-Kari K Østbye; Sarah Salisbury et al. (2024). Use of transcriptomics and gene editing to explore genetic mechanisms giving species-specific host-resistance to sea lice. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Lars Are Hamre; Sindre Grotmol et al. (2018). DO Lepeophtheirus salmonis RHABDOVIRUSES (LsRVs) DAMPEN THE LOCAL SKIN INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IN ATLANTIC SALMON Salmo salar?. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Lars Are Hamre; Ewa Harasimczuk et al. (2017). Exocrine glands of Lepeophtheirus salmonis and secretion of possible immune regulatory proteins.. (ekstern lenke)
• Audun H. Nerland; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Sonal Patel (2010). Molecular approaches for development of vaccines against intracellular fish pathogens. (ekstern lenke)
• Selina Våge; Mariann Eilertsen; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård et al. (2019). Learning outcomes at master level in biology. Current expectations and guidelines for the future. (ekstern lenke)

Konferanseposter

• Ingeborg Emilie Berg Kahrs; Andreas Borchel; Patrick Alexander Nelson et al. (2025). Polyvalent DNA vaccines targeting salmon louse labial gland proteins. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Lars Are Hamre; Ewa Harasimczuk et al. (2017). Eksokrine kjertler i lakselus (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). (ekstern lenke)
• Michael Dondrup; Wei Zhang; Zhaoran Zhou et al. (2016). Licebase-a species focused resource for sea lice including an RNAi LIMS andtools for data analysis and genome annotation. (ekstern lenke)
• Andreas Borchel; Helena Marie Doherty Midtbø; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård (2025). The local transcriptomic response of Atlantic salmon skin to salmon louse chalimi and adults. (ekstern lenke)

Vitenskapelig artikkel

• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Lars Are Hamre; Heidi Kongshaug et al. (2017). RNAi-mediated treatment of two vertically transmitted rhabdovirus infecting the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis).. (ekstern lenke)
• Arnfinn Lodden Økland; Are Nylund; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård et al. (2018). Genomic characterization, phylogenetic position and in situ localization of a novel putative mononegavirus in Lepeophtheirus salmonis. (ekstern lenke)
• Angela Etayo; Kai Kristoffer Lie; Reidun Marie Bjelland et al. (2023). The thymus and T-cell ontogeny in ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) is nutritionally modelled. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Ivar Hordvik; Audun H. Nerland et al. (2009). Cloning and expression analysis of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) CD3 genes. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Andreas Borchel; Christiane Eichner et al. (2025). The generalist Caligus elongatus is better at dampening the Atlantic salmon immune response than the salmonid specialist Lepeophtheirus salmonis. (ekstern lenke)
• Sonal Patel; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Audun H. Nerland (2009). A CD4 homologue in Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus): Molecular cloning and characterisation. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Christiane Eichner; Frank Nilsen et al. (2017). Molecular characterization and functional analysis of a salmon louse (Lepeoptheirus salmonis, Krøyer 1838) heme peroxidase with a potential role in extracellular matrixes. (ekstern lenke)
• Sonal Patel; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Audun H. Nerland (2008). CD8 alpha and CD8 beta in Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus: Cloning, characterization and gene expression during viral and bacterial infection. (ekstern lenke)
• Angela Etayo; Håvard Bjørgen; Ivar Hordvik et al. (2024). Possible transport routes of IgM to the gut of teleost fish. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Lars Are Hamre; Ewa Harasimczuk et al. (2016). Exocrine glands of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Copepoda: Caligidae): Distribution, developmental appearance, and site of secretion. (ekstern lenke)
• Andreas Borchel; Christiane Eichner; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård (2023). Mining Lepeophtheirus salmonis RNA-Seq data for qPCR reference genes and their application in Caligus elongatus. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Ina Nepstad; Audun H. Nerland et al. (2012). Characterisation and expression analysis of the Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglosssus L.) cytokines: IL-1β, IL-6, IL-11, IL-12β and IFNγ. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Audun H. Nerland; Sonal Patel (2010). Evaluation of potential reference genes for real time RT-PCR studies in Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus Hippoglossus L.); during development, in tissues of healthy and NNV-injected fish, and in anterior kidney leucocytes. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Audun H. Nerland; Sonal Patel (2010). Cloning, characterization, and expression pattern of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) CD4-2, Lck, and ZAP-70. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Ingrid Uglenes Fiksdal; Audun H. Nerland et al. (2011). Expression of T-cell markers during Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) ontogenesis. (ekstern lenke)
• Sussie Dalvin; Christiane Eichner; Michael Dondrup et al. (2021). Roles of three putative salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) prostaglandin E2synthases in physiology and host–parasite interactions. (ekstern lenke)
• Arnfinn Lodden Økland; Are Nylund; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård et al. (2014). Genomic characterization and phylogenetic position of two new species in Rhabdoviridae infecting the parasitic copepod, salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis). (ekstern lenke)
• Sussie Dalvin; Louise VG Jørgensen; Per W. Kania et al. (2020). Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss skin responses to salmon louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis: From copepodid to adult stage. (ekstern lenke)
• Helena Marie Doherty Midtbø; Christiane Eichner; Lars Are Hamre et al. (2024). Salmon louse labial gland enzymes: implications for host settlement and immune modulation. (ekstern lenke)
• Ewa Harasimczuk; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Sindre Grotmol et al. (2017). Characterization of three salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) genes with fibronectin II domains expressed by tegumental type 1 glands. (ekstern lenke)
• Helena Marie Doherty Midtbø; Andreas Borchel; Hugh Craig Morton et al. (2024). Cell death induced by Lepeophtheirus salmonis labial gland protein 3 in salmonid fish leukocytes: A mechanism for disabling host immune responses. (ekstern lenke)
• Elisabeth Gislefoss; Amr Ahmed Abdelrahim Gamil; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård et al. (2023). Identification and characterization of two salmon louse heme peroxidases and their potential as vaccine antigens. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Audun Helge Nerland; Ingrid Uglenes Fiksdal et al. (2012). Atlantic halibut experimentally infected with nodavirus shows increased levels of T-cell marker and IFN gamma transcripts. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Christiane Eichner; Noelia Nuñez-Ortiz et al. (2023). Transcriptomic and targeted immune transcript analyses confirm localized skin immune responses in Atlantic salmon towards the salmon louse. (ekstern lenke)
• Angela Etayo; Håvard Bjørgen; Erling Olaf Koppang et al. (2024). The ontogeny of lymphoid organs and IgM⁺ B-cells in ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) reveals a potential site for extrarenal B-cell lymphopoiesis: The pancreas. (ekstern lenke)
• Andreas L Steigen; Egil Karlsbakk; Heidrun Plarre et al. (2014). A new intracellular bacterium, Candidatus Similichlamydia labri sp. nov. (Chlamydiaceae) producing epitheliocysts in ballan wrasse, Labrus bergylta (Pisces, Labridae). (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Lars Are Hamre; Sindre Grotmol et al. (2018). Salmon louse rhabdoviruses: Impact on louse development and transcription of selected Atlantic salmon immune genes.. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Sonal Patel; Ole Jakob Nøstbakken et al. (2013). Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) T-cell and cytokine response after vaccination and challenge with nodavirus. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Helena Marie Doherty Midtbø; Lars Are Hamre et al. (2022). Small, charged proteins in salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) secretions modulate Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) immune responses and coagulation. (ekstern lenke)
• Christiane Eichner; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Frank Nilsen et al. (2015). Molecular characterization and knock-down of salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) prostaglandin E synthase. (ekstern lenke)

Doktorgradsavhandling

• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård (2012). T-cells and cytokines of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) - Gene expression levels during ontogenesis, vaccination and experimental nodavirus infection. (ekstern lenke)

Masteroppgave

• Oppedal Henrikke; Samantha Bui; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård (2021). Refilling behaviour of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) with different air-dome heights. (ekstern lenke)

Forelesning

• Patrick Alexander Nelson; Andreas Borchel; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård (2025). Utvikling av en DNA-vaksine rettet mot lakselusspytt i Atlanterhavslaks. (ekstern lenke)
• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Andreas Borchel (2024). Utvikling av DNA vaksine rettet mot lakselusspytt i Atlanterhavslaks. (ekstern lenke)
• Andreas Borchel; Helena Marie Doherty Midtbø; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård (2025). Lokal transkripsjonsregulering i lakseskinn som respons på forskjellige livsstadier av lakselus. (ekstern lenke)

Forskningsrapport

• Nina Sandlund; Sussie Trine Dalvin; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård et al. (2014). Sekvensering av havet – fremtidens teknologi. (ekstern lenke)

Konferanseabstrakt

• Helena Marie Doherty Midtbø; Gyri Teien Haugland; Andreas Borchel et al. (2023). LsLGP3 from Salmon Louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) Causes Cell Death in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) Leukocytes. (ekstern lenke)

Vitenskapelig bokkapittel

• Audun H. Nerland; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Sonal Patel (2011). Viruses of Fish. (ekstern lenke)

Populærvitenskapelig artikkel

• Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Lars Are Hamre (2020). Skottelusen: en kilde til viktig kunnskap, men også en mulig fremtidig trussel?. (ekstern lenke)

Kapittel i populærvitenskapelig bok

• Sonal Patel; Aina-Cathrine Øvergård; Ingrid Uglenes Fiksdal et al. (2011). Tidlig vaksinering – mot sin hensikt. (ekstern lenke)

Se en full oversikt over publikasjoner i Cristin

SaliVax (https://www.fhf.no/prosjekter/prosjektbasen/901760/)

SaliFilaVax (https://www.fhf.no/prosjekter/prosjektbasen/901868/)