CONSEIL DES RECHERCHES EN PÊCHE
RAPPORT DE
RECHERCHE
ET EN AGROALIMENTAIRE DU QUÉBEC
(CORPAQ)
No 4633
Optimization of biotechnological methods for producing antimicrobial peptides from fish
skins
RÉSUMÉ DE LA RECHERCHE
This project was on optimizing biotechnological methods for producing anti-microbial peptides
from fish skins. The interest in anti-microbial agents is based on their capacity to prevent or
interfere with growth of microorganisms, particulary pathogens and food spoilage organisms.
The metabolism of these organisms invariably lead to gross putrefaction of foodstuffs and/or
production of harmful toxins in foods to endanger human life. Thus far, the harmful effects of
food pathogens/spoilage organisms had been controlled with traditional antibiotics. The use of
antibiotics in foods is necessary to enable mass production operations that entail maintenance of
thousands of animals simultaneously, to enhance the growth of animals, minimize production
costs, and assure wholesome products that are acceptable to (and affordable by) consumers.
However, the routine use of antibiotics as prophylactics in the production of foodstuffs is of
concern for various reasons – such as ingestion by humans of residuals in animal-derived human
foods that could potentially result in the development of resistance to anti-microbials by humans;
direct toxic effects of the compounds to humans; and development of allergic and hypersensitive
reactions in some individuals. In addition to these apprehensions, pathogens are growing
increasingly resistant to anti-microbials, and this development is arguably of utmost concern to
human health and safety. Thus, there is the urgence to develop or discover novel sources of more
potent anti-miocrobial agents that are non-toxic to humans and do not lead to cross-resistance
with medical antibiotics. This project was specifically focused on the development of novel antimicrobial agents from fish skins for potential food and agricultural uses. The choice of fish skins
as source material for the anti-microbial substances was to take advantage of the natural defense
systems of living organisms, since a number of "natural" compounds with broad spectrum of
inhibitory activity towards various microorganisms have been detected in various animal and
human tissues (e.g. from the skins of frogs, humans, from the hemolymphs of insects and from
the trachea/pulmonary organs of cow and rabbits). However, the introduction on "new" or novel
proteins into foods and/or humans poses important health concerns, as some of these molecules
elicit allergic type reactions in certain individuals. Thus, the molecules produced in the study
were to be evaluated for potential allergenicity and safety for use in foods and in humans.
PROJET
No 4633
Optimization of biotechnological methods for producing antimicrobial peptides
from fish skins
NOM DE L'ENTREPRISE
OU DE L'INSTITUTION :
Université McGill
À L'ATTENTION DE :
Madame Diane Mather
Vice-doyenne à la recherche
Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de
l'environnement
Université McGill
21111, chemin Lakeshore
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (Québec) H9X 3V9
RESPONSABLE DU PROJET :
Benjamin K. Simpson
COLLABORATEURS :
B. Lee, S. Kubow, M. Simpson et X. Zhao
DURÉE DU PROJET :
3 ans
SUBVENTIONS TOTALES
ACCORDÉES :
85 500 $