The use of indwelling medical devices (e.g. pacemakers, prosthetic joints, catheters, etc) continues to increase, yet these devices are all too often complicated by infections with biofilm-forming microbes with increased resistance to antimicrobial agents and host defense mechanisms. We investigated the ability of chitosan, a polymer isolated from crustacean exoskeletons, to damage biofilms for...

Biocontamination within the international space station is ever increasing mainly due to human activity. Control of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria are important to maintain the well-being of the astronauts during long-term stay in space since the immune functions of astronauts are compromised under microgravity. For the first time control of the growth of an opportunistic pathogen, A...

Strawberries (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.) were coated with either 1% or 1.5% chitosan (CS) or chitosan combined with calcium gluconate (CaGlu). Following treatment, strawberries were stored at 10°C and 70±5% RH for one week. The effectiveness of the treatments in extending fruit shelf-life was evaluated by determining fungal decay, respiration rate, quality attributes and overall visual appearance...

With the increasing usage of indwelling medical devices in clinical practice, the frequency of fungal infections has increased, such as that of Candida albicans (C. albicans). Biofilms, a protected niche for microorganisms, are resistant to a range of current antifungal agents. Chitosan is a polyatomic biopolymer with advantageous biocompatibility, biodegradation, nontoxicity and antibacterial ...

Recently, the attention of researchers has been drawn toward the synthesis of chitosan derivatives and their nanoparticles with enhanced antimicrobial activities. In this study, chitosan derivatives with different azides and alkyne groups were synthesized using click chemistry, and these were further transformed into nanoparticles by using the ionotropic gelation method. A series of chitosan de...

Marine biofouling is a worldwide problem affecting maritime industries. Global concerns about the high toxicity of antifouling paints have highlighted the need to develop less toxic antifouling coatings. Chitosan is a natural polymer with antimicrobial, antifungal and antialgal properties that is obtained from partial deacetylation of crustacean waste. In the present study, nanocomposite chitos...

The antagonistic interaction between marine fungi and marine bacteria was investigated using 19 bacterial species isolated from marine biofilm and 46 waterborne fungal isolates obtained from Hong Kong waters. Of the 46 fungal isolates, 70% inhibited the growth of at least 1 target bacterial species. Active fungal strains belonged mainly to the genera Cladosporium, Paraphaeosphaeria, Trichoderma...

Fungal diseases are problematic in cultured fish and shellfish, their seeds, and sometimes wild marine animals. In this chapter fungal diseases found in marine animals, especially in Japan, are described. Pathogens in the fungal diseases are divided into two groups. One of them is marine Oomycetes, which cause fungal diseases in marine shellfish and abalones. The diseases caused by the fungi of...

Thailand is one of the major producers and exporters of shrimp and other marine products worldwide. Over 600,000 metric tons of marine products containing chitinous materials, shrimp, crab and squid, are produced yearly, which resulted in abundant amount of raw materials for the production of chitin-chitosan. Chitin-chitosan industry in Thailand has grown considerably in the past decade. Howeve...