• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.330-336
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• 2016

Pollution caused by fecal solids released from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) is a growing global concern requiring immediate attention. Thus, this study investigated the physicochemical characteristics of fecal solid feed from RASs used for eel and rainbow trout farming. The concentrations of proteins, lipids, crude ash, and moisture in eel fecal solids were 10.9%, 1.2%, 85.8%, and 72.2%, respectively, while those in rainbow trout fecal solid feed were 20.5%, 3.2%, 70.9%, and 87.0%, respectively. The control group was fed a mixture of sea cucumber and dried sea mud. The protein digestibilities of eel and rainbow trout fecal solids were 25.43% and 23.96%, respectively, while the respective lipid digestibilities were 35.62% and 36.80%, respectively.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.264-275
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• 2022

A non-destructive environmental DNA protocol for the genetic analysis of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) resources DNA was established. Among the several commercial DNA extraction kits, the DNeasy^® Plant Mini Kit was selected as the best choice to obtain the high-quality genomic DNAs from the mucous sea cucumber. As the temperature and incubation time increased, the amount of extracted environmental DNA was also large, but it was judged that the increased amount did not affect as much as 2-3 times. Therefore, these conditions were not considered to be the main factors to consider in actual environmental DNA extraction. However, the amount of seawater relative to the size of the sample was judged as a major consideration, and a sufficient amount of environmental DNA for analysis was secured when stored within 1 min while stirring the volume of seawater corresponding to the total sea cucumber weight (g). In securing the environmental DNA of sea cucumbers, the mortality rate of sea cucumbers in all experiments was 0, and it was judged that the effects of sea cucumbers were not significant through this treatment. Through the results of this study, sea cucumber DNA research, which has been conducted in a destructive method, can be conducted non-destructively through environmental DNA analysis. Through this study, we have secured a standard protocol that can successfully extract the sea cucumber DNA through environmental DNA. It is not only excellent in terms of time and cost of traditional DNA analysis method currently used, but it is completely non-destructive in the ecosystem of the survey area. It is believed that the system can be transformed in a way that does not affect it. However, it is thought that various standard protocols should be established considering the characteristics of each type.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1753-1762
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• 2017

Sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) is a popular seafood source in Asia, including South Korea, and its consumption has recently increased with recognition of its medicinal properties. However, because raw sea cucumber contains various microbes, its ingestion can cause foodborne illness. Therefore, analysis of the microbiota in the whole body of sea cucumber can extend our understanding of foodborne illness caused by microorganisms and help to better manage products. We collected 40 sea cucumbers from four different sites in August and November, which are known as the maximum production areas in Korea. The microbiota was analyzed by an Illumina MiSeq system, and bacterial amounts were quantified by real-time PCR. The diversity and bacterial amounts in sea cucumber were higher in August than in November. Alpha-, Beta-, and Gammaproteobacteria were common dominant classes in all samples. However, the microbiota composition differed according to sampling time and site. Staphylococcus warneri and Propionibacterium acnes were commonly detected potential pathogens in August and November samples, respectively. The effect of experimental Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection on the indigenous microbiota of sea cucumber was analyzed at different temperatures, revealing clear alterations of Psychrobacter and Moraxella; thus, these shifts can be used as indicators for monitoring infection of sea cucumber. Although further studies are needed to clarify and understand the virulence and mechanisms of the identified pathogens of sea cucumber, our study provides a valuable reference for determining the potential of foodborne illness caused by sea cucumber ingestion and to develop monitoring strategies of products using microbiota information.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.24.1-24.8
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• 2017

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different algae in diet on growth, survival, and interleukin-10 productions of sea cucumber. At first, a 9-week feeding trail was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and survival of the sea cucumber fed one of the six experimental diets containing ST (Sargassum thunbergii), UL (Ulva lactuca), UP (Undaria pinnatifida), LJ (Laminaria japonica), SS (Schizochytrium sp.), and NO (Nannochloropsis oculata) in a recirculating aquaculture system. The result showed that survival was not significantly different among the dietary treatments, and the specific growth rate (SGR) of sea cucumber fed the UL diet ($1.58%d^{-1}$) was significantly higher than that of sea cucumber fed the other diets (P < 0.05), except for the LJ and NO diets. Secondly, interleukin (IL)-10 gene expression was determined where mice splenocytes were stimulated with $10{\mu}g\;ml^{-1}$ of sea cucumber extracts for 2 h. The result showed that IL-10 gene expression levels were significantly increased in UL, LJ, and NO diets fed sea cucumber extracts compared to other experimental diets. The results suggest that dietary inclusion with Ulva lactuca, Laminaria japonica, and Nannochloropsis oculata algae may improve the growth of juvenile sea cucumber and could upregulate IL-10 gene expression in mice splenocytes. Such detailed information could be helpful in further development of more appropriate diets for sea cucumber culture.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.1006-1013
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• 2016

The observed external injury, movement and survival rate according to storage and recovery of the juvenile sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus(wet weight $1.0{\pm}0.2g$). The investigated application possibility of external injury(grade I~IV) and movement variation(buccal tentacle, motion, obversion, movement) for estimate of survival rate. The survival rate was observed through the recovery after storage of the sea cucumber in various water temperature(10, 15, 20, $25^{\circ}C$) and hours(3, 6, 12, 24 hour). Grade of external injury lower in the 24 hour experiment group of $20^{\circ}C$ water temperature and 12 hour experiment group of $25^{\circ}C$ water temperature. Buccal tentacle and movement strong related survival rate and external injury. In the case of $20^{\circ}C$ water temperature, survival rate was observed decrease 24 hours experiment. $25^{\circ}C$ water temperature was high to 6 hours but 12 hours experiment group observed decrease of the survival rate. The lethal time(LT10) of the juvenile sea cucumber was 15.73 hours($20^{\circ}C$) and 5.57 hours($25^{\circ}C$). The results of this study provided various measurement method of survival rate according to transportation of the juvenile sea cucumber for release.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.433-440
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• 2015

The Apostichopus japonicus is an important species in some Asia countries including Korea, China and Japan. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the differential gene expression of heat shock protein90 (Hsp90) and ferritin as a biomarker for the thermal stress during water temperature rising in the sea cucumber, A. japonicus. The A. japonicus (1.4 g) was cultured in incubator of separate temperature ($15^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$) for each 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours. The mRNA expression levels of Hsp90 and ferritin were examined using RT-PCR assay. Results showed that, the expression of Hsp90 mRNA was not significantly changed at $15^{\circ}C$. The expression of Hsp90 mRNA was significantly increased at high temperature such as $20^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, Hsp90 mRNA was early increased at $25^{\circ}C$ than $20^{\circ}C$. The ferritin mRNA was similar expression pattern with Hsp90. But, Hsp90 mRNA was more sensitive than ferritin mRNA at high thermal stress. These results indicate that Hsp90 and ferritin mRNAs were involved in the temperature changes response and may be play an important role in mediating the thermal stress in A. japonicas.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1360-1365
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• 2013

Juvenile sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus(wet weight $1.0{\pm}0.2g$, n=250) acclimated to environmental conditions($17^{\circ}C$, 33 psu) during 4 weeks for observation of survival and structural variation of integumentary system according to various salinity concentration. After that, it was exposed 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 psu in 96h, and recovered during 7 days. In this results, The 96-h lethal concentration(LC50) for sea cucumber was a salinity of 21.05 psu. Integumentary system of the sea cucumber exposed to below the salinity of 20 psu mainly observed thickness reduction of epidermal layer, nucleus condensation of epithelial cells, decreased of mucous cells and loose arrangement of connective tissue in dermal layer. Integumentary system of the sea cucumber exposed a salinity of 40 psu mainly observed nucleus hypertrophy of epithelial cells, increase of mucous cells and tight arrangement of connective tissue in dermal layer. Also, observed secretory cells showing the alcian blue(pH 2.5) positive. During 96-h exposure, this cells decreased after increase below the salinity of 20 psu but increased in the salinity of 40 psu compared with 25-35 psu.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.203-208
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• 2009

A factorial feeding trial of different levels of three carbohydrate sources (wheat flour, $\alpha$-potato starch, and sodium alginate) was conducted to determine proper sources and levels of dietary carbohydrate for juvenile sea cucumbers. Three replicate groups of juvenile sea cucumbers (770 mg average weight) were fed the experimental diets once a day for 10 weeks. After feeding trial, survival of sea cucumbers was not significantly different between diets. The body weight of sea cucumbers was significantly (P<0.01) affected by both source and level of dietary carbohydrate, tending to decrease as dietary carbohydrate level increased. Body weight of sea cucumbers fed a 25% wheat flour diet was the highest but was not significantly different from that of sea cucumbers fed diet containing 10% wheat flour with 15% sodium alginate (P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in contents of moisture, crude protein, crude lipid and ash of sea cucumbers among dietary treatments. These results suggest that sea cucumbers utilize wheat flour and sodium alginate more efficiently than they do $\alpha$-potato starch, and that a formulated diet containing 43-60% carbohydrate may be suitable for juvenile sea cucumber culture.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.118-121
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• 2009

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of different substrates in rearing tank on growth and body composition of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichophus japonicus. Sea cucumber (average weight 3.6) were randomly distributed at a density of 10 juvenile per tank into nine tanks providing three different substrates including free-substrates, sand and wave-shaped plastic sheet as (shelter). Juveniles were fed with a commercial feed once in every 2 days for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, survival of sea cucumber was not affected by the presence of substrates (P>0.05). Weight gain and specific growth rate of sea cucumber reared in the tanks with sand were significantly higher than those of sea cucumber reared in the tanks with shelter and without substrate (P<0.05). Crude protein and crude lipid of whole body in sea cucumber reared in free-substrate tanks were significantly higher than those of juvenile reared in the tanks with other substrates (P<0.05). Higher ash content was obtained in sea cucumber reared in the tanks with sand compared to that of juvenile reared in the tanks with other substrates (P<0.05). The results of this study suggest that growth and proximate composition of whole body of sea cucumber was significantly affected by substrates. Among materials tested, sand may be a proper substrate for sea cucumber culture.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2013

Bacterial diversities in the guts of sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus) and shrimps (Litopenaeus vannamei) were investigated using barcoded or tag-encoded 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes. In sea cucumbers, most of sequences were related to two genera, the genus Propionigenium in the phylum Fusobacteria and an unclassified genus in the family Flavobacteriaceae of phylum Bacteroidetes. Shrimps showed various kinds of genera including Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Prochlorococcus, and Vibrio as well as the unclassified genera in the families, Flavobacteriaceae, Rhodobacteraceae, Desulfobulbaceae, and Helicobacteraceae and in the order Mycoplasmatales. Unclassified genera containing environmental sequences only are more than half of genera from sea cucumbers and shrimps. Sea cucumbers and shrimps could be unexplored sources of novel microbes and the bacterial diversity of them was revealed by high throughput 454 pyrosequencing.