The hybrid striped bass is a 'potent source of antibiotics. ' 



Researchers Conduct 



Breakthrough Studies on 



Fis 



tibioucs 



A 



By Ann Green Photographs by Ken Taylor 



J. X.s several silver and black hybrid 

 striped bass swim around in a round tank, North 

 Carolina Sea Grant researcher Ed Noga scoops 

 up a tiny fish. 



Although the hybrid sniped bass is less 

 than an inch long, it is a "potent source of 



antibiotics," according to Noga, professor at the 

 North Carolina State University College of 

 Veterinary Medicine. 



In groundbreaking research, Noga and NC 

 State veterinary medicine graduate student 

 Umaporn Silphaduang discovered a new 



antibiotic in hybrid sniped bass — which are 

 raised on fish farms — that may have implica- 

 tions for treating diseases in humans and animals. 



Named "piscidins" after the Latin won 

 "pisces" or fishes, the antibiotics were isol 



