We report the development of new PCR assays and loading panels for the Atlantic salmon using 15 microsatellite loci. A total of 8, 3 and 4 loci were coamplified in three separate PCRs using labeled primers and loaded on the ABI DNA analyzer in two separate panels. Amplified alleles were clearly typed, and easily interpretable results were obtained. The method was successfully applied in different laboratories, even when different types of DNA polymerase were employed. The method is useful for analyzing paternity, population genetics and conservation as well as for selective breeding programs.
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The aerobic respiratory chain of the thermohalophilic bacterium Rhodothermus marinus, a nonphotosynthetic organism from the Bacteroidetes/Chlorobi group, contains a high-potential iron – sulfur protein (HiPIP) that transfers electrons from a bc1 analog complex to a caa3 oxygen reductase. Here, we describe the crystal structure of the reduced form of R. marinus HiPIP, solved by the single-wavelength anomalous diffraction method, based on the anomalous scattering of the iron atoms from the [4Fe – 4S]3+/2+ cluster and refined to 1.0 Å resolution. This is the first structure of a HiPIP isolated from a nonphotosynthetic bacterium involved in an aerobic respiratory chain. The structure shows a similar environment around the cluster as the other HiPIPs from phototrophic bacteria, but reveals several features distinct from those of the other HiPIPs of phototrophic bacteria, such as a different fold of the N-terminal region of the polypeptide due to a disulfide bridge and a ten-residue-long insertion.
The purpose of this work was to develop a conceptual framework that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of traceability systems at food producers based on information from process mapping. The framework was based on a broad literature review from the food processing industry. The proposed framework was then applied to evaluate the traceability system at a Vietnamese fresh farmed Pangasius catfish producer and validated by evaluating the ability to track and trace through the company. In addition, the studied traceability system was analyzed on its compliance with regulation on traceability of importing countries such as EU regulation No. 178/2002, as well as with the TraceFish standard. The paper also aimed to propose how to use recorded data more efficiently to improve quality management and supply chain management. The results show that the framework works well in the specified case, but further investigation for other cases is desirable. The company traceability system meets with EU regulation No. 178/2002, but not with the TraceFish standard as global trade item numbers (GTIN) are not used for dispatched products. It is suggested that the company also stores recorded data in electronic form in parallel with paper form to facilitate data access. It is proposed that the temperature data during storage and transportation are used to estimate the warm up time and the remaining shelf life (RSL) of the products.
Purpose
The aim of this study is to explore potential barriers to seafood consumption by young adults and the parents of young children. Knowledge of these barriers will be used to assist the development of new seafood product concepts that fulfill the needs of consumers.
Design / methodology / approach
To gather this information, 28 infrequent consumers of seafood participated in three semi ‐ structured two ‐ hour focus group discussions in Denmark, Norway, and Iceland. The results were then linked to the Stage ‐ Gate model for consumer ‐ based new product development (NPD).
Findings
The participants thought of seafood as either healthy or convenient, although there were concerns about the amount of effort required to prepare it. These concerns resulted in an expression of their need for products that are attractive, healthy, palatable, and convenient. In particular, the newly developed products should be accompanied by clear advice on preparation methods and materials. An increase in seafood availability coupled with lower prices would encourage these consumers to add seafood to their diet.
Research limitations / implications
Purchase ‐ point ‐ marketing and habitual behavior were found to implicitly skew planned behavior.
Practical implications
Inputs for NPD related to convenience, attractiveness, quality, trustworthiness, knowledge and requirements about seafood preparation are discussed.
Originality / value
The present study combines qualitative methods to lead to practical input for NPD focusing on overcoming the barriers that keep consumers from choosing existing healthy seafood products. The importance of consumers' confidence in their ability to successfully prepare a seafood meal was revealed and can be used in Stage ‐ Gate based NPD.
This work aimed at validating the use of two prospective probionts (Arthrobacter sp. and Enterococcus sp.) at early stages of cod (Gadus morhua L.) rearing. Ova at late post-fertilized stage and larvae during their first 4 weeks of life were bathed with both probionts, isolated previously from the cod-rearing environment. This treatment was compared with groups fed rotifers supplemented with a commercial probiotic (Remus®) and those untreated. Microbiological analyzes (total viable counts, presumptive Vibrio and lactic acid bacteria) were performed in rearing systems and larval survival, growth and development were assessed. Larval development was evaluated by proteolytic activity of larval lysates and immunological analysis of important proteins: apolipoprotein AI, haemoglobin, C-reactive protein, C3 and cod serum proteins. Bacterial bathing led to a significantly higher larval weight, length and culturable microbial load in larval gastrointestinal (GI) tract when compared with the control and Remus groups. Development occurred earlier in bathed larvae. However, their survival was negatively affected compared with the control group, but was significantly higher than for the Remus group. The non-pathogenicity of both probionts was demonstrated by intraperitoneal injection of 13 g cod juveniles. The results suggest that Arthrobacter and Enterococcus probionts affected the larval GI microbiota and contributed to growth, development and digestion, either directly or indirectly.
Climate change is having a significant impact on the biology and ecology of fish stocks and aquaculture species and will affect productivity within seafood supply chains in the future. The challenges are further amplified when actors within the fisheries and aquaculture sectors have very different ideas and assumptions about climate change and what risks and opportunities they entail. In order to address the challenges of climate change, several countries have developed national adaptation plans. However, fisheries and aquaculture are rarely included in these plans, resulting in a general lack of documented adaptation strategies within these sectors in most countries. This paper introduces guidelines for the development of climate adaptation plans (CAPs) within fisheries and aquaculture, applying a co-creation approach that requires the participation of scientists, industry representatives, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders. The objective is to provide a stepwise approach to facilitate and enable stakeholders to plan strategies toward climate adaptation. The guidelines are based on practical experience and include a three-step process: (1) assessment of risks and opportunities; (2) identification of adaptation measures, and (3) operationalization of CAPs. The three-step process is also part of a larger cycle, including implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, again generating iterative feedback loops over time. Lessons learned are discussed, and we highlight the advantages and challenges of developing CAPs. While the guidelines are designed for and tested within fisheries and aquaculture systems, the CAP approach is also employable for other natural resource-based systems.
BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have demonstrated that in vitro controlled enzymatic hydrolysis of fish and shellfish proteins leads to bioactive peptides. Ultrafiltration (UF) and / or nanofiltration (NF) can be used to refine hydrolysates and also to fractionate them in order to obtain a peptide population enriched in selected sizes. This study was designed to highlight the impact of controlled UF and NF on the stability of biological activities of an industrial fish protein hydrolyzate (FPH) and to understand whether fractionation could improve its content in bioactive peptides.
RESULTS: The starting fish protein hydrolyzate exhibited a balanced amino acid composition, a reproducible molecular weight (MW) profile, and a low sodium chloride content, allowing the study of its biological activity. Successive fractionation on UF and NF membranes allowed concentration of peptides of selected sizes, without, however, carrying out sharp separations, some MW classes being found in several fractions. Peptides containing Pro, Hyp, Asp and Glu were concentrated in the UF and NF retentates compared to the unfractionated hydrolyzate and UF permeate, respectively. Gastrin / cholecystokinin-like peptides were present in the starting FPH, UF and NF fractions, but fractionation did not increase their concentration. In contrast, quantification of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) -like peptides demonstrated an increase in CGRP-like activities in the UF permeate, relative to the starting FPH. The starting hydrolyzate also showed a potent antioxidant and radical scavenging activity, and a moderate angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) -1 inhibitory activity, which were not increased by UF and NF fractionation.
CONCLUSION: Fractionation of an FPH using membrane separation, with a molecular weight cut-off adapted to the peptide composition, may provide an effective means to concentrate CGRP-like peptides and peptides enriched in selected amino acids. The peptide size distribution observed after UF and NF fractionation demonstrates that it is misleading to characterize the fractions obtained by membrane filtration according to the MW cut-off of the membrane only, as is currently done in the literature. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
The objective of this research was to examine how various factors in Icelandic cod fishing can influence the quality of the raw material, using traceability systems to link these factors, and how to transfer that knowledge and techniques to the Brazilian seafood industry. Data were collected in 2007 and analyzed, to find a functional relationship between various quality factors. The analysis, showed, that there is a correlation between the number of parasites in the fillets and location of the fishing ground. It also showed that fishing ground and volume in haul can influence gaping, and that fillet yield differs between fishing grounds. These conclusions could only be drawn because of the ability to trace the fish from catch and all the way through processing. Recommendations drawn from this research to the Brazilian Competent Authority are to revise the countries fisheries legislation in order to enable the implementation of a traceability system that could be used as a tool to improve the quality of the raw material.
Bacteria dominating the cultivable gut community of overall successful first feeding halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) larvae were tested for their in vitro growth inhibition activity against selected fish pathogenic bacteria and isolates dominating the cultivable gut community of larvae with an overall poor success. A mixture containing equal numbers of three isolates was selected for the treatment of halibut eggs through repeated bathing, and larvae through grazing of live prey in a mixture of the selected isolates prior to offering to larvae. The isolates were found as a part of the dominating bacterial community of treated eggs and treatment was not found to affect egg survival. Improved larval growth was observed as a result of offering bacteria-treated live prey to larvae, and improved larval growth was observed in one of the two experiments that were carried out in commercial size production units. The bacterial community structure of the live prey, analyzed using PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, was only partially reflected in larvae after one week in feeding. A successful colonization of fertilized eggs by the isolates used for treatment entails the possibility to establish a favorable bacterial environment already prior to hatching.
The effect of various protease and carbohydrase treatments on the extraction of polyphenols and other antioxidant ingredients from the red algae Palmaria palmata (dulse) was investigated. In addition, the relative contribution of different fractions to the overall antioxidant capacity of the hydrolyzate was evaluated. Considerable differences were observed both in total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities of the hydrolysates evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferrous ion-chelating ability assays . All the proteases tested had significant enhancing effect on the extraction of polyphenols and other active components compared to carbohydrases and cold water extraction (control). The Umamizyme extract had the highest TPC and consequently exhibited the strongest scavenging capacity against DPPH and peroxyl radicals. Further fractionation of the Umamizyme extract revealed that the crude polyphenol fraction possessed the highest peroxyl radical scavenging activity, whereas the crude polysaccharide fraction was more effective for chelating ferrous ions. The data from this study suggest the potential of protease treatment to improve value-added utilization of dulse extracts as antioxidants in functional foods and nutraceuticals.