Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CENTEX Shrimp) : Faculty of Science, Mahidol University

Research Centers

Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CENTEX Shrimp)

Centex Shrimp, which is an abbreviation for the Center for Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. It is a multidisciplinary laboratory that was formed in October 2001 by the amalgamation of research laboratories from the Departments of Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology of the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University. It is jointly supported by the Faculty of Science, Mahidol University and the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), NSTDA.

Vision :

To help maintain Thai global leadership in the production of high-quality cultured fish and shrimp without negative environmental impacts.

Mission :

"Premier Science for Premium Shrimp and Fish"

The mission statement for Centex Shrimp is "Premier science for premium shrimp and fish". This means that its aim is to carry out academically excellent research on molecular biology and biotechnology of shrimp and fish for application in the production of the highest quality of consumer shrimp and fish.

Strategy :

To serve as a coordination center for cooperative research on shrimp and fish among Mahidol University, BIOTEC, and other national and international institutions.
To become a national and regional focal point for research and training in molecular biology and biotechnology for the shrimp and fish industry.
To operate in close consultation with the Thai shrimp and fish industry, ensuring that our work is not only academically sound but also relevant to industry needs.

Current Research Platforms :

Pathogen discovery and characterization platform group
Protein interaction platform group
Shrimp immunology platform group
RNA interference platform group
Viral infectious clones and EVE (genome inserts) platform group
Bioinformatic platform group
Pathogen biochemistry and physiology platform group
Histopathology and electron microscopy platform group
Shrimp reproductive biology and endocrinology platform group
Fish health platform group
Development of CRISPR detection methods for diseases in aquaculture
Microalgal biotechnology for aquaculture disease control
Bacterial biofilms, their controls, and quorum sensing

Services :

Annual international regional training course on shrimp biology and pathology
On-demand training on technical issues
Fish and shrimp disease diagnosis
Product Testing and Consultation Services
Product Testing
Consultation Services

Facilities :

Cell and tissue culture facility
Facility for histopathology and transmission electron microscopy
PCR and qPCR analysis
Wet laboratory

Staff :

Prof. Timothy W. Flegel, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise :
- Pathogen discovery in shrimp
- Shrimp pathology

Research Profile :
- https://science.mahidol.ac.th/expertise/
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1913-213X
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tim-Flegel

E-mail : tim.flegel@gmail.com

Assoc. Prof. Rapeepun Vanichviriyakit, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise :
- Shrimp histology and histopathology
- Reproductive biology

Research Profile :
- https://science.mahidol.ac.th/expertise/
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8712-7578
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rapeepun-Vanichviriyakit

E-mail : rapeepun.van@mahidol.ac.th

Assoc. Prof. Siripong Thitamadee, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise :
- Developmental Biology in plants and animals
- Nutrition and shrimp health

Research Profile :
- https://science.mahidol.ac.th/expertise/
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1980-0046
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Siripong-Thitamadee

E-mail : siripong.thi@mahidol.ac.th

Assoc. Prof. Ornchuma Itsathitphaisarn, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise :
- RNAi technology
- Shrimp molecular biology
- Interactions between shrimp and pathogen proteins
- Endocytosis pathway in shrimps

Research Profile :
- https://science.mahidol.ac.th/expertise/
- https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0371-3877
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Orn-Itsathitphaisarn

E-mail : ornchuma.its@mahidol.ac.th

Lecturer Vanvimon Saksmerprome, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise :
- RNAi technology for aquaculture disease control
- Microalgal biotechnology for controlling aquaculture disease

Research Profile :
- https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3007-9226
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vanvimon-Saksmerprome

E-mail : vanvimon.sak@biotec.or.th

Lecturer Saengchan Senapin, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise :
- Molecular characterization of emerging and re-emerging pathogens of fish
- Fish immunity and vaccination

Research Profile :
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5599-4343
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Saengchan_Senapin

E-mail : saengchan@biotec.or.th

Asst. Prof. Thawatchai Chaijarasphong, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise :
- Development of CRISPR diagnostics for diseases in shrimp and fish
- Genome editing using CRISPR technologies

Research Profile :
- https://science.mahidol.ac.th/expertise/
- https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1302-0863
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thawatchai-Chaijarasphong

E-mail : thawatchai.chi@mahidol.edu

Chumporn Soowannayan, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise :
Viral and Bacterial Diseases of Shrimp and Fish, Bacterial Biofilms and Their Controls, Bacterial communication, Shrimp Response to Viral Infection and Probiotics

Research Profile :
- https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2236-9151
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chumporn-Soowannayan

E-mail : chumporn@biotec.or.th

Wilawan Thongda, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise :
Molecular and NGS tool utilisation to solve the problem that relates to aquatic animal health, breeding program, and conservation.

Research Profile :
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5611-8441
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wilawan-Thongda

E-mail : wilawan.tho@biotec.or.th

Asst. Prof. Thanapong Kruangkum, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise :
Anatomical based research in aquatic animals, neuroanatomy and neuroendocrine in crustaceans, Neurogenesis and differentiation in crustacean

Research Profile :
- https://science.mahidol.ac.th/expertise/
- https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3191-5564
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thanapong-Kruangkum

E-mail : thanapong.kru@mahidol.edu

Lecturer Anuphap Prachumwat, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise :
- Bioinformatics
- Genomics
- Microbiome
- Molecular Evolution
- Genomics of shrimp and their pathogens
- Emerging and re-emerging shrimp diseases
- Molecular biotechnology for shrimp aquaculture

Research Profile :
- https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=We_NkHEAAAAJ
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2009-5524
- https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=9939200600
- https://zebra.nstda.or.th/rcv/rcv_des.php?id=MTU4

E-mail : anuphap.pra@biotec.or.th, anuphap.pra@mahidol.ac.th

Lecturer Patai Charoonnart, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise : Microalgal biotechnology for controlling aquaculture disease

Research Profile :
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3532-6575
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Patai-Charoonnart

E-mail : patai.cha@biotec.or.th

Warachin Gangnonngiw, Ph.D.

Area of Expertise : Using of the cell culture technique, construction of infectious clones, and using insect cell models to explore the virus-host response in aquaculture research or related fields.

Research Profile :
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5533-3254
- https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Warachin-Gangnonngiw-39795495

E-mail : warachin.gan@biotec.or.th

CONTACT ADDRESS :

Centex Shrimp, Chalerm Prakiat Building, Floor 4,
Faculty of Science, Mahidol University,
Rama VI Road, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Tel : (66)2 201 5870-72 Fax : (66)2 247 7051
Facebook : www.facebook.com/centexshrimp/