This Toxic Release Can Actually Help Rainbow Trout

This was after repeated field trials, as part of a larger 15-year study, showed that fewer fish were dying from Coldwater when boasting large populations of C6-6.

"We found C6-6 produces a toxic protein called an entericidin which inhibits the Coldwater bacteria," Cain said. "It could also present new opportunities for treatments against closely related pathogens."

The researcher and his colleagues added that the greatest benefit of this approach is that it's also inexpensive.

As things stand, "it costs the Idaho trout farm industry and Washington aquaculture facilities over $10 million each year to combat Coldwater Disease [with antibiotics]," Cain explained. However, "the bacteria that produce the entericidin are fast growing, cheap to produce and easy to put on food for the fish - all the attributes of an ideal preventative treatment."

Thanks to the discovery of the C6-6 produced toxin, Call said he is hopeful for regulatory approval and commercial licensing of the probiotic as well - a boon for experts concerned about things like widespread antibiotic resistance.

"If C6-6 is as effective as our research is showing," he added, "it will reduce disease losses for fish producers, improve animal welfare and reduce the demand for antibiotics in aquaculture."

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