• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.227-235
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• 2009

The marine toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella has been implicated in numerous paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) events in many countries. Due to difficulties in rapidly identifying A. catenella, field-based study of this species has been problematic. The present study developed a TaqMan format A. catenella-specific probe for real-time PCR assay (specific to Korean genotype) based on LSU rDNA sequence information for studying geographic and temporal distribution of the species in surface sediments and water columns of Jinhae Bay, Korea. The field survey from 2007 to 2008 revealed that A. catenella occurred in most seasons at low densities, mostly below 1 cell $mL^{-1}$, and was more abundant in spring (maximum cell density of 2 cells $mL^{-1}$) when shellfish exceed the quarantine toxin level for PSP toxins in Jinhae Bay.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

In an effort to discover an alternative therapeutic agent against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), several medicinal plants and seaweeds were evaluated for its antibacterial activity against MRSA. A methanolic extract of the Phaeophyta Ecklonia stolonifera exhibited significant antibacterial activity against MRSA. To perform more detailed investigation on antibacterial activity, the methanol extract of E. stolonifera was further fractionated with organic solvents such as hexane, dimethylchloride, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. Among them, the hexane fraction showed the strongest antibacterial activity against MRSA strains with MIC from 500 to $600 {\mu}g/mL$. The fraction also exhibited a bactericidal activity against MRSA, indicating that E. stolonifera contains a bactericidal substance against MRSA.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.187-193
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• 2003

The performance of a foam fractionator to remove TAN, $NO_2,\;NO_3$, TSS, protein, and $PO_4-P$ at different superficial air velocities and foam overflow heights was evaluated in a lab-scale seawater recirculating system for culture of Korean rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli). The foam overflow rates increased with the increase of superficial air velocities, but decreased with the increase of foam overflow heights. Concentrations of all the water quality variables in the foam condensates increased with the increase of foam overflow height, but decreased with the increase of superficial air velocities. TSS, protein, and phosphate enrichment factors were within the range of 6.4-39.4, 1.6-7.3 and 1.2-3.9, respectively. Low values of TAN, $NO_2,\;and\;NO_3$ enrichment factors were obtained and they indicate that foam fractionation is rot an effective way to remove dissolved inorganic nitrogen. The calculated maximum daily removal values for TSS and protein were 10.9 and 1.4g, respectively.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.6-9
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• 2005

Two new cyclic peroxides were isolated from an undescribed sponge of the genus Plakortis sp. collected at Discovery Bay, Jamaica. The molecular structures were elucidated by interpreting ID and 2D NMR and HRMS data. The cyclic peroxides, Compound 1 and 2, exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi with IC$_${50} values of 0.9-5.0$\mug/mL and 0.7-8.0$\mug/mL, respectively.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2003

A chitinolytic enzyme-producing bacterium was isolated from sea water on the coast of Busan. The bacterium was identified as Aeromonas sp. based on its morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics and designated Aeromonas sp. J-5003. The strain produced two chitinoloytic enzymes: chitinase and chitobiase. The optimum culture conditions of the strain for production of chitinoloytic enzymes were investigated. For the production of chitinase, the major components of medium were colloidal chitin $0.5\%$, glucose $0.2\%$, yeast extract $0.25\%$ and peptone $0.25\%$ while for the production of chitobiase, they were colloidal chitin $0.5\%$, galactose and tryptone $0.2\%$. The optimum cultural temperature and initial pH for the production of chitinase and chitobiase were $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 7.0, respectively.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2003

A bacterial strain was isolated from seawater to screen for phytase activities. A colony had the highest activity and was identified as an Escherichia coli strain. Using primers derived from E. coli acid phosphatase appA sequence, we cloned a 1,495 bp DNA fragment connected with the pGEM-T vector. It was over-expressed under lac promoter combined with its native promoter in E. coli $DH5\alpha$. The expression of the phytase gene occurred during late exponential growth and the intracellular phytase production was 16.9 units/ml. The yield of recombinant phytate was 412-fold higher than that of wild type E. coli K13.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2003

Ninety nine random complementary DNA clones from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver cDNA library were partially sequenced as one approach to analyze the transcribed sequences of its genome. Of the sequence generated, $64.0\%$ of the ESTs were represented by 29 known genes. Thirty six clones of the unknown gene products potentially represent 31 unique genes. Serum albumin $(16.1\%)$ was the most abundant in the liver. The structural genes in the liver $(19\%)$ were the highly expressed functional category. This research is helpful to understand tissue specific gene expression profile and basic relationship between tissue and functional categories of the genes.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.71-75
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• 2008

The shell of Reeve's turtle has been used as a traditional folk medicine in Korea. We produced a hot water extract from Reeve's turtle shell according to the traditional medical practice. To release bioactive peptides, the hot water extract was enzymatically hydrolyzed with various proteases, and the free radical scavenging activity of the hydrolysate was investigated against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals. The free radical scavenging activity of the enzymatic hydrolysates varied from 1 to 79% depending on the enzymes, free radical species, and concentration. The $EC_{50}$ values demonstrated that the enzymatic hydrolysates of hot water extract from the shell of Reeve's turtle are potential antioxidants.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.219-223
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• 2008

To increase the level of $CoQ_{10}$ production in mass culture, the effects of pH and light irradiation on $CoQ_{10}$ production by Rhodobacter sphaeroides were investigated in a 1-L bioreactor. $CoQ_{10}$ production was growth-associated, and the highest production of $CoQ_{10}$ (1.69 mg/g dry cell) was obtained under uncontrolled pH: this production was 1.7 times higher than that obtained at controlled pH 7. Therefore, pH was a key factor affecting $CoQ_{10}$ production. The effect of light irradiation on $CoQ_{10}$ production was negligible. This result offers an advantage for mass production of $CoQ_{10}$.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2010

To determine whether long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) induces RNA interference and type I interferon (IFN) responses in fish, long dsRNAs encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), GFPuv, and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid sequences were co-injected with an EGFP expressing plasmid, into rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus). We investigated the EGFP mRNA and protein levels, and the transcriptional responses of dsRNA-dependent protein kinase and Mx1 genes. Long dsRNAs were strong inducers of a type I IFN response in rock bream, resulting in nonspecific suppression of exogenous gene expression. Furthermore, sequence-specific knockdown of exogenous gene expression at the mRNA level was detected at an early phase (24 h). These results suggested that long dsRNA may inhibit exogenous gene expression through an early mRNA interference response and a later type I IFN response in fish.