The National Institute of Fisheries Science (previous called National Fisheries Research and Development Institute or NFRDI), is a scientific body operated by the South Korean government, under the authority of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. It was first established in 1921. Subsidiary institutes operate in each of the major Korean fisheries.The NFRDI is headquartered in Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, northern Busan..
Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is a significant viral pathogen that affects salmonids, leading to high mortality and substantial economic losses in aquaculture. The current vaccine strategies focus on use of DNA and inactivated vaccines. However, these strategies face limitations concerning biosafety and efficacy. Therefore, in this work, we employed an approach based on the immunoinformatic platform to develop a multi-epitope vaccine against IHNV. For that purpose, we analyzed the glycoprotein of IHNV and identified highly antigenic and non-allergenic cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), helper T lymphocyte (HTL), and B-cell epitopes. The different epitopes were assembled with rational linkers, and the N-terminal flagellin FliC adjuvant was added to enhance immunogenicity. The designed vaccine showed favorable physicochemical properties and high structural stability, which was validated through modeling and refinement. Moreover, the molecular docking of the designed vaccine with toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) and molecular dynamics simulation revealed stable and strong interactions between the vaccine and TLR5, demonstrating that the designed vaccine can activate innate immunity. Furthermore, in silico immune simulations demonstrate a robust humoral and cellular immune response following multiple doses. These findings provide a promising framework for the development of a novel, safe, and effective vaccine against the IHNV infection in Atlantic salmon.
The Korean seahorse, Hippocampus haema, was formerly misidentified as H. coronatus but has since been described as a distinct species, and its ecology remains poorly understood. This study examined the morphological characteristics of H. haema to enhance ecological understanding. A total of 913 seahorses collected from Geoje-Hansan Bay, Republic of Korea were measured for snout length (SnL), head length (HL), coronet height (CH), trunk length (TrL), tail length (TaL), height (Ht), and standard length (SL). Specimens were further categorized by sex and maturity to assess morphological differences. Males had significantly larger size-adjusted dimensions than females, with the exception of trunk length (t-test and Mann–Whitney U test, p < 0.01). Immature seahorses displayed significantly lower SnL/SL but higher HL/SL, CH/SL, and Ht/SL compared to mature individuals (Mann–Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction, p < 0.01). Seasonal variations were evident across all groups: males showed significant differences in HL/SL, CH/SL, TrL/SL, and TaL/SL, while females displayed seasonal variations in all morphometric proportions except for TaL/SL (Kruskal–Wallis test, p < 0.01). Immature seahorses exhibited significant seasonal changes in HL/SL, CH/SL, and TaL/SL (Kruskal–Wallis test, p < 0.01). Morphological variations in H. haema were associated with reproductive activity, feeding behavior, and attachment ability. These findings provide valuable insights into the species’ ecological adaptations and contribute to its conservation and management.
With their hydrophobic properties, microplastics can disperse in water, carrying pollutants such as heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd), a non-essential metal that can cause oxidative stress and cell death in fish. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of single and combined exposure to polystyrene microbeads (MBs) and Cd on their accumulation, oxidative stress status, and apoptosis in Sebastes schlegeli. The results revealed that the accumulation of MBs and Cd in the gills and intestines increased, and the mRNA expression of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, catalase, and cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A polypeptide 1 in the liver was confirmed. Furthermore, caspase-3 mRNA expression and TUNEL analyses demonstrated that liver H2O2 and plasma malondialdehyde levels and apoptosis significantly increased following combined MB and Cd exposure. The study suggests that the combination of hydrophobic MBs and Cd can increase their accumulation in S. schlegeli, leading to oxidative stress and apoptosis. This combination of external toxic substances, such as Cd, with microplastics can negatively impact aquaculture and potentially affect humans.
Fish meal (FM) replacement with full-fat or defatted black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) larvae meal (FBSF and DBSF, respectively) in diet for Pacific white shrimp ( Penaeus vannamei ) was assessed. A control diet (Con) was formulated to contain 20% FM and 25%, 50% and 75% FM were replaced with FBSF or DBSF to prepare six other diets (designated as FBSF5, FBSF10, FBSF15, DBSF5, DBSF10 and DBSF15, respectively). Total of 560 juvenile shrimp (0.77 ± 0.02 g) were selected and randomly allocated to 28 tanks (240 L) in four replicates. The shrimp were fed one of the diets six times daily for a period of 8 weeks. Growth performance was significantly enhanced in FBSF or DBSF groups than in Con group. Phenoloxidase activity was significantly increased in DBSF10 and DBSF15 groups than in Con group. FBSF5 and DBSF15 groups showed significantly increased lysozyme activity compared to Con group. Glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly improved in FBSF10 and DBSF15 groups than in Con group. No significant difference was observed in muscle amino acid composition among all the groups. Relative expression of insulin–like growth factor-binding protein gene was significantly increased in DBSF10 and DBSF15 groups compared to Con group. Shrimp fed FBSF or DBSF diets showed significantly upregulated mRNA expression of prophenoloxidase gene than in shrimp fed Con diet. Lauric acid (12:0) level of hepatopancreas fatty acid profiles was significantly increased by the increase in FBSF and DBSF supplementation in diets. Eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) levels in both muscle and hepatopancreas were significantly lower in FBSF10 and FBSF15 groups than in Con group. These results indicate that FBSF or DBSF could be used as a promising ingredient for FM replacement in diet for the shrimp and DBSF would be better than FBSF for the shrimp performance.
The impact of climate change is significant, potentially threatening the growth and stability of future aquaculture and leading to economic shifts. Despite the expansion of aquaculture in Korea, rising sea temperatures are causing damage to species, making it essential to identify and mitigate potential future damage. We evaluated the damage cost of primary aquaculture species (e.g. Korean rockfish, mullet, red seabream, sea bass, black seabream, rock bream, kelp, laver, sea mustard, Pacific oyster, Mediterranean mussel, abalone, Japanese littleneck clam, bay scallop, sea squirt) by province taking into account damage probabilities and production value. The total damage costs are projected to range from 689,899 million KRW (515.97 million USD) to 1,630,130 million KRW (1,219.15 million USD), which represent 32% and 76% of the total production value, respectively, depending on the scenarios. Among the species, abalone is estimated to have the highest cost. To mitigate damage costs, it is crucial to establish appropriate adaptation measures tailored to different timeframes. These measures include selecting alternative production locations, switching to more resilient species that can withstand higher temperatures, and considering alternative production grounds, such as land-based infrastructure.
