**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** LARGEMOUTH BASS IS AN UP-AND-COMING CULTURED FISH SPECIES IN THE UNITED STATES, WITH GREATPOTENTIAL AS A PRODUCTION FOODFISH. THE EARLY LIFE STAGES REMAIN TO BE BETTER CLARIFIED FOR OPTIMIZED PRODUCTION IN BOTH POND AND INDOOR REARING SYSTEMS. LARGEMOUTH BASS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BACTERIAL DISEASES DURING THE EARLY REARING PERIODS, AND THERE IS LIMITED INFORMATION ON THERAPEUTICS FOR PRODUCERS. A MAJOR BACTERIAL PATHOGEN IS AEROMONASSPP., WHICH CAUSE MOTILEAEROMONASSEPTICEMIA. THESE BACTERIA ARE OFTEN SYNONYMOUS WITH REARING STRESSORS AND CAN LEAD TO HIGH LEVELS OF MORTALITY. AS SUCH, THIS DYNAMIC PROJECT TEAM AIMS TO INVESTIGATE DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY AND IMMUNOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF LARGEMOUTH BASS DURING THESE CRITICAL PRODUCTION STAGES. SPECIFICALLY, THE OUTLINED PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE TO 1) DEVELOP AND EVALUATE AN IMMERSION-BASED CHALLENGE MODEL FOR MOTILEAEROMONASSEPTICEMIA (MAS;AEROMONAS HYDROPHILAANDAEROMONAS VERONII) IN LARGEMOUTH BASS; 2) CHARACTERIZE DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY AND IMMUNE RESPONSES TO MAS INFECTIONS IN LARGEMOUTH BASS FRY AND FINGERLING ACROSS THE EARLY REARING STAGES; AND 3) ASSESS THE EFFICACY AND POTENTIAL FOR KILLED, IMMERSION-BASEDA. HYDROPHILAANDA. VERONIIBACTERINS WHEN ADMINISTERED AT VARIOUS TIMEPOINTS WITHIN THE EARLY LIFE STAGES, ALONG WITH POTENTIAL CROSS-PROTECTION. THE RESEARCH TEAM WILL TRANSLATE RESEARCH FINDINGS FOR COMMERCIAL LARGEMOUTH BASS PRODUCERS AND THE PROJECTOUTCOMES WILL BE USED TO ENHANCE U.S. FOODFISH PRODUCTION FOR DOMESTIC FOOD SECURITY.