Studies on antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties of natural substances/molecules for the control of fish infectious diseases

Supervisor: Marco Galeotti

The research is aimed to study novel natural molecules that could be used in aquaculture as alternatives to traditional drugs for the control of infectious diseases. Our work focuses on the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties of microalgae-derived products and fish antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Marine microalgae could be considered as natural "nutraceutic packages" as they supply vitamins, bio-active compounds, nucleotides and also show inhibitory effects against fish pathogens. AMPs are innate defence peptides that are active against bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. At least 80 AMPs have been reported in fish and they are extensively studied being considered as templates for the development of natural antibiotics. In our research the antibacterial and antiviral activities of algal extracts and synthetic AMPs against fish pathogens is evaluated through in vitro antimicrobial assays, fluorometric method and electron microscopy. Their biological effects on sea bass (D. labrax) purified leukocytes is investigated by in vitro functional assays. In vivo experimental trials are performed to study the effects of the dietary marine microalgae on haematological profile, humoral and cellular innate immune response, disease resistance of sea bass. The expression levels and localization of some AMPs in D. labrax tissues are determined using ELISA assay, quantitative PCR techniques, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. The most active microalgae-derived compounds and AMPs could be proposed in aquaculture as immunostimulants, adjuvants for vaccines or natural antibiotics. Furthermore, the most expressed AMPs could be useful indicators to select stocks of fish which are potentially more resistant to infectious diseases.

Fundings : This study has been financed within the MIPAAF research project entitled “Azione concertata per l’identificazione di contributi scientifici per lo sviluppo dell’acquacoltura biologica in Italia: aspetti alimentari e di prevenzione e cura delle malattie”, prog. N. 7C 09. (Scientific leaders prof. M. Galeotti) and the Cross-border Cooperation: programme Italy-Slovenia 2007-2013 N. 2/2009 - Innovaqua – Network for technological innovaction in aquaculture (Scientific leaders prof. M. Galeotti and M. Zanetti).

Biography and contacts
Chiara Bulfon was born in Udine in 1981. She graduated with honours (110/110) in Biological Science in 2006 at the University of Trieste (Italy). Since 2007 she worked as research collaborator at the University of Udine (Italy) and in 2012 started the doctoral course at the PhD school “Agriculture Science and Biotechnology” at the University of Udine.

chiara.bulfon@uniud.it
[Phone 0039-0432558173]