Breakthrough in the fight against fish death

“Previously the substance malachite green was used as a means of exterminating pests at fish farms, but the use of this substance has been prohibited in many countries because malachite green penetrates fish body tissues and residues of the substance stored in fish are suspected of causing cancer in human beings. As a result, the problem of oomycetes has become even more important,” says Vincent Bulone, professor of biotechnology at KTH.

As fish cultivation has become a way of tackling overfishing in the world’s seas, it is rather pressing that a solution is found. In addition, fish farming is of major economic interest for a number of countries; Sweden, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Italy, Chile, China and the United States just to name a few.

Vincent Bulone together with five research colleagues have conducted detailed studies of two genes in the enzymes which make up the foundations in the cell walls of the oomycetes, and they have therefore have been able to identify these as especially good targets for pesticides.
The research results are preparing the way for the development of a stable and sustainable method of tackling the problems which oomycetes are causing for salmon farms.

“Present research results cannot be used immediately, they must be fine-tuned. But we believe that a working application within the next five years is possible,” says Vincent Bulone.

He hopes at the same time that the research that has been carried out will also be applicable to the parasite cousin within the family of oomycetes which causes crayfish pest.

The research is so important that the prestigious scientific journal PLoS Pathogens has accepted the work for publication.

For more information, contact Vincent Bulone at vincent.bulone@biotech.kth.se or 08 - 553 78 841

Peter Larsson