Biological Control of Sea Lice Infestation in the Norwegian Salmon Aquaculture:Are Cleaner Fish a Solution?

Symposium mini revie

Current Challenges in the Norwegian Salmon Aquaculture:Are Cleaner Fish a Solution?

Oral Session

Inference of potential genetic risks associated with large-scale releases of red sea bream in Kanagawa prefecture, Japan based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analysis

Since 1978, millions of hatchery-reared red sea bream (Pagrus major) juveniles have been released in Sagami Bay and Tokyo Bay in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The stock enhancement program has contributed to total catch; however, no information regarding the genetic interactions with wild counterparts is available. Here, we combined 15 microsatellite loci and mitochondrial D-loop sequencing to characterize the genetic resources of red sea bream in Sagami Bay and Tokyo Bay and to elucidate the potential harmful genetic effects associated with fish releases. Both types of markers evidenced higher levels of genetic diversity in wild samples (SB and TB) compared with offspring before stocking (H07 and H08) as well as a hatchery-released sample recaptured in Sagami Bay (HR). Microsatellite F (ST) estimates and Bayesian clustering analysis found significant genetic differences among samples (F (ST) = 0.013-0.054), except for the two wild samples (F (ST) = 0.002) and HR vs. H07 (F (ST) = 0.007). On the other hand, mitochondrial-based Dcurrency sign (ST) suggested haplotypic similarity between SB, H07, and HR. The low effective number of females contributing to the offspring over multiple generations may be responsible for the lack of haplotypic differentiation. Moreover, the putative hatchery origin to three fish (8 %) without deformity in the inter-nostril epidermis was inferred for the first time. Our results showed the usefulness of combining nuclear and mitochondrial markers to elucidate genetic interactions between hatchery-released and wild red sea bream and warned about potential harmful genetic effects should interbreeding takes place

Introducing a Human Activity Recognition Dataset Gathered on Real-Life Conditions

Cursos e Congresos, C-155[Abstract] Human activity recognition (HAR) has garnered significant scientific interest in recent years. The widespread use of smartphones enabled convenient and cost-effective data collection, eliminating the need for additional wearables. Given that, this paper introduces a novel HAR dataset in which participants had freedom in choosing smartphone orientation and placement during activities, ensuring data variability. It also includes contributions from diverse individuals, reflecting unique smartphone usage habits. Moreover, it comprises measurements from accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, and GPS, corresponding to one of four activities: inactive, active, walking, or driving. Unlike other datasets, the collected data in this study were obtained from smartphones used in real-life scenariosThis work was funded by CITIC is funded by the Xunta de Galicia through the collaboration agreement between the Consellería de Cultura, Educación, Formación Profesional e Universidades and the Galician universities for the reinforcement of the research centres of the Galician University System (CIGUS), Xunta de Galicia/FEDER-UE (ConectaPeme, GEMA: IN852A 2018/14), MINECO-AEI/FEDER-UE (Flatcity: TIN2016-77158-C4-3-R) and Xunta de Galicia/FEDER-UE (AXUDAS PARA A CONSOLIDACION E ESTRUTURACION DE UNIDADES DE INVESTIGACION COMPETITIVAS.GRC: ED431C 2017/58 and ED431C 2018/49).Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2017/58Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2018/4

The development of the Norwegian wrasse fishery and the use of wrasses as cleaner fish in the salmon aquaculture industry

Norway leads the world aquaculture production of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and farmed Norwegian Atlantic salmon is currently consumed around the globe. However, sea lice infestation is a major problem faced by the salmon aquaculture industry in Norway and elsewhere. The use of wild-caught cleaner fish, mainly wrasses, has been recommended over the other available methods as the most economical and environmentally friendly option to control sea lice infestation in salmon farming. Here, we review the development of the Norwegian wrasse fishery and the use of wrasses as cleaner fish. In this document, we address the sea lice problem and introduce the main wrasse species employed as cleaner fish, document the cleaning behaviour of wrasses, present the development of a new wrasse fishery associated with the salmon aquaculture industry, and finally, we identify the main challenges associated with the intensive use of wild-caught cleaner wrasses and provide some insight for future directions of the wrasse fishery and further development of aquaculture techniques to supply salmon facilities with domesticated cleaner fish.publishedVersionNivå

Histone acetylation and histone deacetylase activity of magnesium valproate in tumor and peripheral blood of patients with cervical cancer. A phase I study

BACKGROUND: The development of cancer has been associated with epigenetic alterations such as aberrant histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. It was recently reported that valproic acid is an effective inhibitor of histone deacetylases and as such induces tumor cell differentiation, apoptosis, or growth arrest. METHODS: Twelve newly diagnosed patients with cervical cancer were treated with magnesium valproate after a baseline tumor biopsy and blood sampling at the following dose levels (four patients each): 20 mg/kg; 30 mg/kg, or 40 mg/kg for 5 days via oral route. At day 6, tumor and blood sampling were repeated and the study protocol ended. Tumor acetylation of H3 and H4 histones and HDAC activity were evaluated by Western blot and colorimetric HDAC assay respectively. Blood levels of valproic acid were determined at day 6 once the steady-state was reached. Toxicity of treatment was evaluated at the end of study period. RESULTS: All patients completed the study medication. Mean daily dose for all patients was 1,890 mg. Corresponding means for the doses 20-, 30-, and 40-mg/kg were 1245, 2000, and 2425 mg, respectively. Depressed level of consciousness grade 2 was registered in nine patients. Ten patients were evaluated for H3 and H4 acetylation and HDAC activity. After treatment, we observed hyperacetylation of H3 and H4 in the tumors of nine and seven patients, respectively, whereas six patients demonstrated hyperacetylation of both histones. Serum levels of valproic acid ranged from 73.6–170.49 μg/mL. Tumor deacetylase activity decreased in eight patients (80%), whereas two had either no change or a mild increase. There was a statistically significant difference between pre and post-treatment values of HDAC activity (mean, 0.36 vs. 0.21, two-tailed t test p < 0.0264). There was no correlation between H3 and H4 tumor hyperacetylation with serum levels of valproic acid. CONCLUSION: Magnesium valproate at a dose between 20 and 40 mg/kg inhibits deacetylase activity and hyperacetylates histones in tumor tissues

Demographic history has shaped the strongly differentiated corkwing wrasse populations in Northern Europe

Understanding the biological processes involved in genetic differentiation and divergence between populations within species is a pivotal aim in evolutionary biology. One particular phenomenon that requires clarification is the maintenance of genetic barriers despite the high potential for gene flow in the marine environment. Such patterns have been attributed to limited dispersal or local adaptation, and to a lesser extent to the demographic history of the species. The corkwing wrasse (Symphodus melops) is an example of a marine fish species where regions of particular strong divergence are observed. One such genetic break occurred at a surprisingly small spatial scale (FST ~0.1), over a short coastline (<60 km) in the North Sea‐Skagerrak transition area in southwestern Norway. Here, we investigate the observed divergence and purported reproductive isolation using genome resequencing. Our results suggest that historical events during the post‐glacial recolonization route can explain the present population structure of the corkwing wrasse in the northeast Atlantic. While the divergence across the break is strong, we detected ongoing gene flow between populations over the break suggesting recent contact or negative selection against hybrids. Moreover, we found few outlier loci and no clear genomic regions potentially being under selection. We concluded that neutral processes and random genetic drift e.g., due to founder events during colonization have shaped the population structure in this species in Northern Europe. Our findings underline the need to take into account the demographic process in studies of divergence processes

Antineoplastic effects of the DNA methylation inhibitor hydralazine and the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid in cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND: Among the epigenetic alterations occurring in cancer, DNA hypermethylation and histone hypoacetylation are the focus of intense research because their pharmacological inhibition has shown to produce antineoplastic activity in a variety of experimental models. The objective of this study was to evaluate the combined antineoplastic effect of the DNA methylation inhibitor hydralazine and the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid in a panel of cancer cell lines. RESULTS: Hydralazine showed no growth inhibitory effect on cervical, colon, breast, sarcoma, glioma, and head & neck cancer cell lines when used alone. On the contrary, valproic acid showed a strong growth inhibitory effect that is potentiated by hydralazine in some cell lines. Individually, hydralazine and valproic acid displayed distinctive effects upon global gene over-expression but the number of genes over-expressed increased when cells were treated with the combination. Treatment of HeLa cells with hydralazine and valproic acid lead to an increase in the cytotoxicity of gemcitabine, cisplatin and adriamycin. A higher antitumor effect of adriamycin was observed in mice xenografted with human fibrosarcoma cells when the animals were co-treated with hydralazine and valproic acid. CONCLUSION: Hydralazine and valproic acid, two widely used drugs for cardiovascular and neurological conditions respectively have promising antineoplastic effects when used concurrently and may increase the antitumor efficacy of current cytotoxic agents