Veronica Fitzpatrick Blihovde

Doctoral Research Fellow

Email v.f.blihovde@ibv.uio.no

Phone +47 22 84 48 78

Room 3110

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Project

I am working on characterising a protein in breast cancer, which has previously only been characterised in prostate cancer. It is found to be up-regulated in prostate tumours and promote prostate cell proliferation and survival. Breast cancer is the most common and deadly cancer type among women world-wide and it is divided into several molecular subtypes which are highly heterogeneous. It is therefore difficult to find a treatment that is effective for all subtypes. Thus, to be able to hit the right targets with cancer therapy with minimal side effects, it is important to map the activities of proteins involved in cancer progression for the different tumour types. In this project, I am exploring the role and mechanism of this protein in breast cancer cells proliferation, survival and progression.

Hooft, Jamie Marie; Montero, Ruth; Lange, Byron Maximiliano Morales; Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick; Kathiresan, Purushothaman & Press, Charles McLean [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). Paecilomyces variotii (PEKILO®) in novel feeds for Atlantic salmon: Effects on pellet quality, growth performance, gut health, and nutrient digestibility and utilization. Aquaculture. ISSN 0044-8486. 589. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.740905. Full text in Research Archive

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Røsvik, Marte; Rocha, Sérgio; Morales-Lange, Byron; Hoven, Sigrid Setsaas; Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick & Mensah, Dominic Duncan [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2026). PAECILOMYCES VARIOTII SUPPORTS GROWTH AND HEALTH OF ATLANTIC SALMON (Salmo salar) POST-SMOLT. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
The Norwegian aquaculture industry is faced with several challenges, including limited access to high quality feed ingredients, and multi-stressor conditions such as changing environmental conditions and pathogen exposure leading to fish mortalities and economic losses to the industry. Consequently, there is a need for sustainable protein sources for aquafeeds with high nutritional value that also contain bioactive components with health-promoting effects. As part of the solution, microbial ingredients (MIs) such as filamentous fungi are gaining interest since they can convert low-value organic biomass into high-value nutrients, as well as they contain microbe-associated molecular patterns that can modulate the fish immune response. In addition, MIs typically have a high yield, require minimal arable land, have a low carbon footprint, and have a high potential for up-scaling to a commercial level. Thus, the use of MIs aligns with the Norwegian government's goal that all feed ingredients should come from sustainable sources, and that 25% of these should be locally sourced by 2034. Paecilomyces variotii (PEKILO®) is a filamentous fungus that can be fermented from forestry side-streams and holds promise in novel functional aquafeeds. P. variotii has high nutritional value with a protein content of 60-70% (dry matter basis) and a favorable amino acid composition. Additionally, P. variotii is rich in β-glucans, mannoproteins and nucleotides, which have been shown to improve short-term growth performance, modulate microbiota composition and promote fish health and welfare (Hadiuzzaman et al., 2022; Hooft et al., 2024; Hossain et al., 2020; Mensah et al., 2024; Mensah et al., 2025). These observations indicate that P. variotii can be a promising sustainable protein source for aquaculture-related species, and to improve fish resilience to cope with multi-stressor conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the long-term effects of continuous feeding of feed containing P. variotii on growth performance, health and filet quality of post-smolts Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). A total of 720 vaccinated post-smolt Atlantic salmon were fed two diets in triplicates (Figure 1), containing 0% or 10% P. variotii. Prior to the start of the distribution to the net pens, the immune related tissues from 10 fish were sampled to establish a baseline. Then, fish were distributed into six net pens (5 x 5 meters, 120 fish per net pen). The fish were fed for six months, and at the end of the experiment, tissues, plasma and weight were taken from four fish per net pen and analysis of filet quality was performed of 10 fish per net pen. Preliminary results show that P. variotii supports growth performance. The experimental period ended in January 2026; fish growth performance, product quality, and multi-omics results from head kidney, spleen, and distal intestine will be presented at Aquaculture Europe 2026.
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2024). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 1. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2024). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 4. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2024). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 3. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2024). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 2. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2024). Experience of a presenter at the NBS contact meeting. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 4. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2024). NBS Winter meeting 2024. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 1. Full text in Research Archive
Hooft, Jamie Marie; Morales_Lange, Byron Maximiliano; Montero, Ruth; Mensah, Dominic Duncan; Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick & Javed, Sana [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2023). Paecilomyces variotii in novel feeds for Atlantic salmon: Effects on pellet quality, growth performance, nutrient digestibility and utilization, and immune-related biomarkers in the distal intestine. Full text in Research Archive
Hooft, Jamie Marie; Morales_Lange, Byron Maximiliano; Montero, Ruth; Mensah, Dominic Duncan; Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick & Javed, Sana [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2023). Paecilomyces variotii in novel feeds for Atlantic salmon: Effects on pellet quality, growth performance, nutrient digestibility and utilization, and immune-related biomarkers in the distal intestine. Full text in Research Archive
Montero, Ruth; Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick; Klau, Leesa Jane; Hooft, Jamie Marie; Morales-Lange, Byron & Aarstad, Olav Andreas [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2023). IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECTS OF LAMINARIN FROM Laminaria hyperborea ON ATLANTIC SALMON LEUKOCYTES– FIRST STEPS TOWARDS NOVEL FUNCTIONAL FEED APPLICATION FOR SALMON. Full text in Research Archive
Montero, Ruth; Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick; Klau, Leesa Jane; Hooft, Jamie Marie; Morales-Lange, Byron & Aarstad, Olav Andreas [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2023). First insights into the immunomodulatory effects of the b-glucan Laminarin on Atlantic salmon leukocytes. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2023). NBS Winter meeting 2023. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 1. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick & Montero_Meza, Ruth Tamara (2023). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 2. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2023). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 1. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick & Montero_Meza, Ruth Tamara (2023). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 4. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick & Montero_Meza, Ruth Tamara (2023). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 3. Full text in Research Archive
Montero, Ruth; Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick; Fu, Lele; Klau, Leesa Jane; Aarstad, Olav Andreas & Aachmann, Finn Lillelund [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2022). Laminaria hyperborea-derived laminarin – immunomodulatory effects in Atlantic salmon cells. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2022). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 2. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2022). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 3. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2022). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 4. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2022). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 1. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2021). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 4. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2021). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 3. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2021). Dear readers of NBS-Nytt, dear friends. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 2. Full text in Research Archive
Blihovde, Veronica Fitzpatrick (2019). Proteostasis in Health and Disease, Oslo Symposium 2019. NBS-nytt. ISSN 0801-3535. 4. Full text in Research Archive

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Published June 7, 2016 1:18 PM - Last modified Aug. 17, 2018 2:26 PM

Research groups

Cell signaling and cancer - Saatcioglu