Title: Food Toxicology and Microbial aspects of food

Abstract:

Aquaculture is a worldwide activity and considered as a major economic and food production sector as it is an increasingly important source of protein available for human consumption. According to FAO, the supplies of fi sh, crustaceans, and molluscs from aquaculture increased from 3.9% of total production by weight in 1970 to 27.3% in 2000, and aquaculture is growing more rapidly than all other animal-food-producing sectors. Th e use of probiotics has gained signifi cance in aquaculture practices, particularly the disease outbreak.  At present, the coastal aquaculture practices in Oman are centered on shrimps and eff orts are being made to diversity into fi nfi sh culture. In this context, the disease management is considered as of vital importance for the successful culture practices. Th e use of antibiotics in farming operations is not only costly but also considered as impractical.  So, the probiotics has much role to play in disease management of fi nfi sh and shellfi sh aquaculture systems. In lieu of this increased attention has been turned to symbiotic marine microorganisms associated with seaweeds as a promising source for natural product isolation. Th is symbiotic marine microorganisms (endo & ectosymbiotic) were able to produce antibiotics against common fi sh pathogens, that can lead to isolate a novel secondary metabolites. Th e aim of this study was to identify symbiotic marine microorganisms which is associated in the seaweeds with antibacterial activity against common fi sh pathogens, in order to identify a possible alternative to the commonly used antibiotics in aquaculture.

Biography:

S. Senthil Kumar is presently working as associate Professor in College of Applied Sciences - Sur (Ministry of Higher Education - Sultanate of Oman) Sur, Oman. His background is Food safety management and marine biotechnology.  He has been awarded Department of Biotechnology (DBT - India) postdoctoral fellowship at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB, Hyderabad, India). In his 14 years of experience (research, teaching and industry) includes various programs, contributions and participation in different events for diverse fi elds of study.  He taught more than 18 undergraduate and post graduate courses. He published more than 25  papers in national and international scientifi c journals and participated at more than 40 scientifi c conferences, workshops and meetings.