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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Aquatic Animal Health Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #399490
Research Project: Integrated Research to Improve Aquatic Animal Health in Warmwater Aquaculture

Location: Aquatic Animal Health Research

Title: The impact of antimicrobial peptides on the biofilm formation of aquaculture-relevant pathogens

Author
item Lange, Miles
item SALGER, SCOTT - Barton College
item READING, BENJAMIN - North Carolina State University
item PEATMAN, ERIC - Auburn University
item Beck, Benjamin

Submitted to: Aquaculture America Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2023
Publication Date: 2/23/2023
Citation: Lange, M.D., Salger, S.A., Reading, B.J., Peatman, E., Beck, B.H. 2023. The impact of antimicrobial peptides on the biofilm formation of aquaculture-relevant pathogens [ABSTRACT]. Aquaculture America Conference. New Orleans, LA, February 23-26, 2023

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: As food fish production continues to increase, the frequency of disease will only continue to rise within the aquaculture industry. Add to this an increase in the regulation of treatments and resistance to available antibiotics means that alternative methods of disease protection will be required. Fish-derived antimicrobial peptides are an important part of the innate immune system because they often demonstrate 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 has shown broad antimicrobial activity of piscidins against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species. This study sought to determine the extent to which class I and class II piscidins inhibit biofilm formation of different Gram-negative bacteria. In general, the class I and II piscidins demonstrate potent activity against Escherichia coli and Flavobacterium columnare biofilms. The class II piscidins showed more activity against E. coli and F. columnare isolates than did the class I piscidins. The piscidins in general were much less effective against inhibiting Aeromonas hydrophila and A. veronii biofilm growth. Only the class I piscidins showed significant growth inhibition among the Aeromonas spp. examined. The potential use of antimicrobial peptides for disease prevention in food fish production will be discussed.