Fungus Compounds May Help Fight Fish Disease
Fish can get sick, just like humans, and those illnesses can come at a price. For the catfish aquaculture industry, fish disease can amount to $100 million annually in lost revenue. To help the industry fight fish diseases, ARS researchers at the Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit in Stoneville, MS, partnered with Villanova University researchers to look at fungus for answers.
The team modified the chemical structures of a compound from a fungus to produce novel compounds called pyranopyrans that have significant antibacterial properties against a certain fish pathogen. Using natural or nature-based compounds to combat disease may help the catfish industry reduce bacterial pathogens, improve fish health and welfare, and avoid contributing to the threat of antibacterial resistance.
