2010 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this cooperative research project is to discover and develop novel natural antimicrobial peptides that could be used to control fish diseases. This research project will allow USDA, Agricultural Research Service and Qingdao Agricultural University (QDAU) to implement cooperative research with a common goal to discover and develop novel natural antimicrobial peptides to control fish bacterial diseases. The fish pathogens to be investigated include but not limited to Edwardsiella ictaluri, Streptococcus iniae, and Flavobacterium columnare. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Antimicrobial peptides will be isolated through bioassay-guided fractionation that shows activity against important fish bacterial pathogens such as, but not limited to, Edwardsiella ictaluri, Streptococcus iniae, and Flavobacterium columnare. The source of antimicrobial peptides will be aquatic animals, such as bivalves, from which novel antimicrobial peptides have been discovered by Qingdao Agricultural University. Bioactive crude protein extracts will be initially tested for antimicrobial activity against fish pathogens. Various fractionation techniques, including HPLC, will be used to separate, purify, and determine the active antimicrobial ingredient guided by antimicrobial bioassays. 3.Progress Report Disease outbreaks caused by fish pathogens pose a serious problem to ensuring world food security. This collaboration to develop natural antimicrobial peptides to control fish pathogens. The development of natural antimicrobial peptides will result in safer alternative control strategy to the use of antibiotics in aquaculture. A site visit (October 2009) by the Research Dean of Qingdao Agricultural University to ARS has led to the establishment of this new agreement. Emails, phone calls, and meetings were used to define the objectives and approaches of this new NFCA. Emails, phone calls, and site visits will be used to monitor the progress of this project.