North Carolina Sea Grant researchers have identified naturally-occurring antibiotics in channel catfish that may be a promising indicator for monitoring fish health in the expanding aquaculture industry nationwide. Nonspecific immunity protects against many different diseases at once.
Specific immunity protects against only a single pathogen.
So these HLPs appear to be everywhere. This is significant because it suggests that HLPs may be important in protecting against many diseases. We also have found these types of antibiotics in rainbow trout and hybrid striped bass. Noga's co-investigator was David W. Robinette, a former graduate student at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. In the study, catfish were exposed to chronic stress from overcrowding and elevated ammonia for several weeks.