PAGE-MS provides quantitative analysis of Moraxella sp in bream

Quantitative analysis of Moraxella sp in sea bream has been performed using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with mass spectrometry (PAGE-MS).

An Italian team writing in Proteome Science explain that, while the coccobacilli are not detrimental to fish farming directly, they can have unwanted outcomes for farmers.

For instance, the presence of Moraxella sp in internal organs can lead to stunted growth, low average weight in farmed fish and poor conversion of food.

Using PAGE-MS to conduct quantitative analysis of 960 gilthead sea breams in Sardinian lagoons and offshore sea cage farms, 13 were found to be infected with Moraxella sp.

Proteomic responses similar to those exhibited by other species of fish were seen in the infected subjects, leading the scientists to conclude that Moraxella sp may be driving metabolic alterations in the infected population.

The researchers include scientists from the Universita degli Studi di Sassari, State Veterinary Institute at IZS of Sardinia and Porto Conte Ricerche.

Proteome Science is edited by Martin Latterich of the Proteogenomics Research Institute for Systems Medicine and says it is "ready" to welcome submissions of studies into structural and functional proteomics.