Senthil Kumar
Associate Professor, College of Applied Sciences
Title: Antibiotics from marine bacteria associated with seaweeds against fish pathogens – A possible probiotic application
Biography
Biography: Senthil Kumar
Abstract
Aquaculture is a worldwide activity and considered as a major economic and food production sector as it is an increasingly important source of protein available for human consumption. According to FAO, the supplies of fi sh, crustaceans, and molluscs from aquaculture increased from 3.9% of total production by weight in 1970 to 27.3% in 2000, and aquaculture is growing more rapidly than all other animal-food-producing sectors. Th e use of probiotics has gained signifi cance in aquaculture practices, particularly the disease outbreak. At present, the coastal aquaculture practices in Oman are centered on shrimps and eff orts are being made to diversity into fi nfi sh culture. In this context, the disease management is considered as of vital importance for the successful culture practices. Th e use of antibiotics in farming operations is not only costly but also considered as impractical. So, the probiotics has much role to play in disease management of fi nfi sh and shellfi sh aquaculture systems. In lieu of this increased attention has been turned to symbiotic marine microorganisms associated with seaweeds as a promising source for natural product isolation. Th is symbiotic marine microorganisms (endo & ectosymbiotic) were able to produce antibiotics against common fi sh pathogens, that can lead to isolate a novel secondary metabolites. Th e aim of this study was to identify symbiotic marine microorganisms which is associated in the seaweeds with antibacterial activity against common fi sh pathogens, in order to identify a possible alternative to the commonly used antibiotics in aquaculture.