• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.123-130
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• 2004

Apidaecin Ⅰb, an antimicrobial peptide isolated from lymph fluid of the honeybee (Apis mellifera), is a basic non-helical peptide composed of eighteen amino acid residues. In this study, we have investigated the algicidal effect of Apidaecin Ⅰb against harmful algae blooms (HABs) causative Alexandrium tamarense, Chattonella marina, Cochlodinium polykrikoides and Gymnodinium catenatum. The algicidal effect of Apidaecin Ⅰb showed in the concentration of 12.5 $\mu{g}/mL$ to 50$\mu{g}/mL$ against 4 HAB species and observed cell lysis or cell ecdysis by microscopy. Apidaecin Ⅰb reacted more sensitive to C. marina than A. tamarense, C. polykrikoides and G. catenatum. The algicidal study of Apidaecin Ⅰb against HABs will provides much insight into development of new algicidal substances.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.115-122
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• 2012

Apidaecin Ib had strong antimicrobial activity against several tested Gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, and Shigella flexneri (MECs; $0.3-1.5{\mu}g/mL$), but showed no activity against all the tested Gram-positive bacteria including Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus and one yeast, Candida albicans (MECs; > $125{\mu}g/mL$). Interestingly, this peptide showed potent antibacterial activity only against Edwardsiella species (MECs; $0.6-3.6{\mu}g/mL$) among the tested fish pathogenic bacteria through a bacteriostatic process and showed no significant hemolytic activity. Apidaecin Ib took an unordered structure in all environments and also had very weak membrane perturbation activity even at $25{\mu}M$. Anti-Edwardsiella activity of apidaecin Ib is stronger than those of other antimicrobial polypeptides or antibiotics, but its activity is salt-sensitive. These results suggest that apidaecin Ib has Edwardsiella speciesspecific antibacterial activity and could be applied as new preventive or control additives for Edwardsiella species infection in freshwater fish aquaculture.