Rock bream iridovirus (RBIV) is a megalocytivirus widely infected in various fish species in Korea, causing symptoms of acute inflammation and enlargement of spleen. In our previous study, RBIV induced the initial upregulation but later down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines and IFN1 gene expression. Signal transducers and activators of transcriptions (STAT) are transcription factors involved in the regulation of immune genes including IFNs. This study was conducted to analyse the expression of STAT2. The expressional study of STAT2 gene was performed in head kidney and spleen upon RBIV infection and immune stimulants like LPS or poly I:C in vitro. Consequently, STAT2 gene expression pattern was different in head kidney and spleen as it was significantly up-regulated by LPS from 4 h to 8 h but down-regulated at 24 h while up-regulated by poly I:C at 8 h in head kidney while, in spleen, STAT2 gene expression was down regulated by LPS but significantly up-regulated by poly I:C. Upon RBIV stimulation, STAT2 gene expression was significantly down-regulated by high dose RBIV at 4 h but up-regulated at 8 h and 24 h in head kidney. In spleen cells, it was up-regulated by medium dose RBIV at 4 h and by high dose RBIV at 4 h and 8 h but down regulated later then. In vivo, STAT2 gene expression was not significantly affected by RBIV infection while significant up-regulated by vaccination at day 7 post-vaccination, indicating STAT2 gene can be involved in adaptive immune response in rock bream.

In order to study for the growth of fish in the aquaculture industry, the behavior analysis of rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) depending on the temperature and LED lights was conducted. In this study, water temperatures from 10 to 30 degrees were used. One red light (wave length: 622 nm; light power: 811 mW) and one green light (wave length: 518 nm; light power: 648 mW) were used. Behavior of the rock bream was analyzed at an average moving distance for one minutes (AMD) and a rate of movement. The mean AMD were respectively 5.3 m, 7.3 m and 3.0 m in the red LED light, green LED light and control condition. The mean rates of movement were 77%, 88% and 61% respectively in the red LED light, green LED light and control condition. The mean AMD during 24 hours were 3.1 m, 3.1 m and 3.3 m respectively in the red LED light, green LED light and control condition.