Temperature regulates sex determination and growth in the paralichthid flatfish California halibut.

California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) is a candidate species for aquaculture and stock enhancement. These applications rely on sex control, either to maximize the production of faster growing females or to match sex ratios in the wild. Other paralichthids exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), but the presence and pattern of TSD is not well defined in California halibut.

A case study to engage students in the research design and ethics of high-throughput metagenomics.

Case studies present students with an opportunity to learn and apply course content through problem solving and critical thinking. Supported by the High-throughput Discovery Science & Inquiry-based Case Studies for Today's Students (HITS) Research Coordination Network, our interdisciplinary team designed, implemented, and assessed two case study modules entitled "You Are What You Eat." Collectively, the case study modules present students with an opportunity to engage in experimental research design and the ethical considerations regarding microbiome research and society.

Nutritional programming in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Effect of low dietary protein on growth and the intestinal microbiome and transcriptome.

Nutritional programming is the idea that early nutrient contributions can influence organismal structure or function and is documented in a variety of vertebrates, yet studies in fish are largely lacking. Tilapia are an important foodfish, with global production having increased rapidly since the 1990s. They exhibit high disease-resistance and grow well on formulated feeds which makes them an ideal aquaculture species, however incorporating high quality proteins into feeds can be costly.

The effect of piscidin antimicrobial peptides on the formation of Gram-negative bacterial biofilms.

Fish-derived antimicrobial peptides are an important part of the innate immune system due to their potent antimicrobial properties. Piscidins are a class of antimicrobial peptides first described in hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x Morone saxatilis) but have also been identified in many other fish species. Previous work demonstrated the broad antimicrobial activity of piscidins against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species.

Enhanced biodiversity of gut flora and feed efficiency in pond cultured tilapia under reduced frequency feeding strategies.

Feed constitutes 50-70% of total production costs of tilapia, one of the most widely cultured finfishes in the world. We evaluated reduced-feeding strategies for improving production efficiency of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In a 12-week pond trial, fish were fed daily, every other day, every third day, or not at all.

Tissue localization of piscidin host-defense peptides during striped bass (Morone saxatilis) development.

Infectious diseases are a major cause of larval mortality in finfish aquaculture. Understanding ontogeny of the fish immune system and thus developmental timing of protective immune tissues and cells, may help to decrease serious losses of larval fishes when they are particularly vulnerable to infection. One component of the innate immune system of fishes is the host-defense peptides, which include the piscidins.

A Diverse Family of Host-Defense Peptides (Piscidins) Exhibit Specialized Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Protozoal Activities in Fishes.

Conventional antibiotics and other chemical-based drugs are currently one of the most common methods used to control disease-related mortality in animal agriculture. Use of the innate immune system to decrease disease related mortalities is a novel alternative to conventional drugs. One component of the innate immune system is the host-defense peptides, also known as antimicrobial peptides.

Proportional accumulation of yolk proteins derived from multiple vitellogenins is precisely regulated during vitellogenesis in striped bass (Morone saxatilis).

We quantified three vitellogenins (VtgAa, VtgAb, VtgC) or their derived yolk proteins (YPs) in the liver, plasma, and ovary during pre-vitellogenic (PreVG), mid-vitellogenic (MVG), and late-vitellogenic (LVG) oocyte growth and during post-vitellogenesis (PostVG) in the striped bass (Morone saxatilis) using label-free quantitative mass spectrometry (MS). Western blotting of the samples using antisera raised against gray mullet (Mugil cephalus) lipovitellins derived from VtgAa, VtgAb, and VtgC confirmed the MS results. Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed liver as the primary site of expression for all three Vtgs, with extra-hepatic transcription weakly detected in ovary, foregut, adipose tissue, and brain.

Differential expression and biological activity of two piscidin paralogues and a novel splice variant in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.).

The piscidin (pis) family of potent antimicrobial peptides with broad-spectrum activity has an important role in innate host defence. We have identified and characterized two pis paralogues in Atlantic cod (pis1 and pis2), as well as a novel splice variant of pis2, termed pis2-β. Pis1 and pis2 genes have most likely originated from a recent duplication event, since they share the same four-exon structure with up to 91% identity at the intron level.

Survival of eastern oysters Crassostrea virginica from three lines following experimental challenge with bacterial pathogens.

Shellfish production is often affected by bacterial pathogens that cause high losses in hatcheries and nurseries. We evaluated the relative survival of larvae and juveniles of 3 Crassostrea virginica oyster lines: (1) GHP, a Rhode Island line; (2) NEHY, a line resistant to dermo and multinucleated sphere X diseases; and (3) FLOWERS, a line resistant to Roseovarius oyster disease, experimental challenge with Vibrio spp. isolates RE22 and RE101, causative agents of bacillary necrosis in Pacific oyster larvae, and the type strain of Roseovarius crassostreae, causative agent of Roseovarius oyster disease.