牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)仔稚幼鱼肠道菌群结构比较分析

采用MiSeq 16S rRNA高通量测序技术和生物信息学分析方法,构建了牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)工厂化人工育苗模式下仔稚幼鱼阶段6个不同发育时期18个样品的16SrRNA基因测序文库,共获得7462个OTU (Operational Taxonomic Unit),分类为42个菌门972个菌属.对肠道菌群的形成过程及结构多样性变化分析显示,牙鲆初孵仔鱼的菌群组成多样性丰富,体内的优势菌为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes);在9日龄和21日龄摄食轮虫(Rotifer)和卤虫(Artemia sp.)幼体样品中,肠道的优势菌群结构较单一,变形菌门成为此时期肠道的优势菌群;45日龄摄食配合饲料后,肠道中变形菌门的相对丰度显著降低,厚壁菌门和拟杆菌门的相对丰度明显增大,成为肠道菌群的优势菌群.在属水平的菌群结构中发现,牙鲆仔稚幼鱼肠道优势菌群的种类和数量都发生了较大变化,在9日龄和21日龄时期肠道中弧菌属(Vibrio)相对丰度最高,到45日龄后相对丰度锐减到最低水平;拟杆菌属(Bacteroides)和普氏菌属(Prevotella)在80日龄后达到较高水平,成为肠道优势菌属;厚壁菌门的8个菌属在80-115日龄时期均发展成为优势菌属,定植于牙鲆的肠道.本研究揭示了工厂化人工育苗模式下牙鲆仔稚幼鱼肠道菌群结构及演替规律.     

Evaluation of relationship between Chilean octopus (Octopus mimus Gould, 1852) egg health condition and the egg bacterial community

The objective of this study was to evaluate how bacterial community associated with Chilean octopus (Octopus mimus) egg was related to egg health condition using a culture dependent method and PCR‐DGGE fingerprinting technique. Total heterotrophic bacterial number of fresh egg was much lower than infected egg. However, biodiversity of culturable bacterial community associated with the fresh egg exhibited a higher diversity than the infected egg. Result of a culture dependent method showed that Roseobacter clade was predominant in the fresh egg, while predominant species in the infected egg was γ‐proteobacteria. DGGE fingerprinting technique showed that fresh egg associated unculturable bacterial community was constituted of Roseobacter clade and Bacteroidetes, whereas Bacteroidetes was predominant bacteria in the infected egg. These results suggest that there might be some sort of relationship between octopus eggs associated bacterial community and egg health condition. Moreover, Roseobacter clade and Bacteroidetes might be potential symbiotic bacteria associated with the octopus egg, and some γ‐proteobacteria might be involved in octopus egg disease. In particular, Roseobacter clade may play an important role in octopus egg health and it raises the possibility that this clade can be utilized as potential probiotics for octopus aquaculture.     

PCR‐DGGE analysis of the autochthonous gut microbiota of grouper Epinephelus coioides following probiotic Bacillus clausii administration

The autochthonous microbiota in the foregut, midgut and hindgut of juvenile grouper Epinephelus coioides following the dietary administration of probiotic Bacillus clausii for 60 days were assessed using polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE). A complex and generally similar bacterial composition along the digestive tract of E. coioides was detected in the DGGE profiles, while several bacteria showed regional specialization. Similarity dendrogram revealed that the bacterial composition of the foregut was more similar to the midgut than the hindgut. Samples collected from the probiotic group and the control group showed generally similar DGGE patterns, while no significant difference in the total number of bands and Shannon index were observed between the probiotic group and the control group, suggested that probiotic B. clausii exerted no significant effect on the gut microbiota of E. coioides. However, various potentially beneficial bacteria, such as Enterococcus sp.‐like and Bacillus pumilus‐like bacterium were selectively stimulated by probiotic B. clausii, while some potential harmful species, like Staphylococcus sp.‐like and Vibrio ponticus‐like bacterium were depressed. These indicated that the gut microbiota was modified to some degree by probiotic B. clausii. Sequences analysis showed that the autochthonous gut bacteria of E. coioides could be classified into four groups, i.e. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and unclassified bacteria.     

Sodium alginate supplementation modulates gut microbiota,health parameters,growth performance and growth‐related gene expression in Malaysian Mahseer Tor tambroides

This study investigated the effects of sodium alginate supplementation on gut microbiota composition, health parameters, growth performances and growth‐related gene expression of Malaysian mahseer. Five test diets were formulated by supplementing 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8% sodium alginate. Triplicate groups of juvenile Tor tambroides (2.19 ± 0.05 g) were stocked in 15 aquaria (20 individuals per aquarium) and fed at 3.0% body weight per day for 60 days. PCoA and UPGMA analysis showed that gut bacterial community were more convergence in higher sodium alginate‐supplemented diets. The percentage of Porphyromonadaceae, Bacteroides, Plesiomonas and Shewanella were substantially higher and Aeromonas, Entomoplasmatales and Prevotellaceae were drastically lower in higher sodium alginate (0.2%–0.8%) diets. Sodium alginate supplementation (≥0.2%) significantly improved the haematocrit value and respiratory burst activity of T. tambroides. Growth performances and feed utilization were significantly higher in 0.2%–0.4% sodium alginate‐supplemented diets. The increased growth rate of T. tambroides was governed by both hyperplastic and hypertrophic muscle growth. Real‐time PCR data demonstrated that most of the growth‐related genes were significantly upregulated in 0.2%–0.4% sodium alginate‐supplemented diet. Finally, it can be concluded that sodium alginate should be supplemented at 2 g/kg in practical fish feed formulation.     

Effect of Chitosan on Intestinal Bacteria of Allogynogenetic Crucian Carp,Carassius auratus gibelio,as Depicted by polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

A 16S rDNA‐based polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE) method was applied to detect intestinal bacterial communities of juvenile allogynogenetic crucian carp, Carassius auratus gibelio, fed with chitosan‐containing diet. This is the first time to use the molecular method to analyze the bacterial communities in the allogynogenetic crucian carp intestine. The DGGE profile with universal bacterial primers revealed simple communities in all treatment groups. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of excised DGGE bands showed that the dominant bacteria belonged to class γ‐Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria. The relative abundance and diversity of detected bacteria suggested that 0.5 and 0.75% of chitosan in diet were optimum for juvenile allogynogenetic crucian carp. As in these concentrations, some detected pathogen bacteria either disappeared or decreased. However, the DGGE profile with Aeromonas‐specific primers showed a similar composition among all treatment groups, which suggested that Aeromonas was one of relative stable bacteria components in the intestine of juvenile allogynogenetic crucian carp.     

Modulation of gut microbiota associated with abalone Haliotis gigantea by dietary administration of host-derived Pediococcus sp. Ab1

In the present study, we evaluated how dietary administration of host-derived Pediococcus sp. Ab1 has an effect on the abalone gut microbiota using a culture-dependent method and 16S rRNA gene library analysis. The culturable lactic acid bacteria number in the probiotic sample was 10⁵ higher than that in the non-probiotic sample, and we speculate that this significant increase was due to colonization of Ab1 into abalone gut. The result of a culture-dependent method showed that the proportion of Vibrio halioticoli clade, which is known to be a beneficial resident bacterium to abalone, was much higher in the probiotic sample than in the non-probiotic sample. 16S rRNA gene clone sequences revealed that gut microbiota in the probiotic sample was obviously diverse compared to the non-probiotic sample, probably due to improvement of the gut environment by Ab1 colonization. In addition, some beneficial bacteria–like sequences such as V. halioticoli were only found in the probiotic sample. These results suggest that the dietary administration of Ab1 to abalone gut has a great effect on modulation of not only culturable but also unculturable gut microbiota. Our results are useful for future investigations into understanding the effect of probiotics on gut microbiota.     

Intestinal Microbiota in Large Yellow Croaker,Larimichthys crocea,at Different Ages

The polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE) of 16S ribosomal RNA gene was used to investigate bacterial communities in the intestines of large yellow croaker at six different ages (12 d, 18 d, 26 d, 40 d, 3 mo, and 1 yr old) as well as within the corresponding feed and culture water. In addition, Illumina Miseq sequencing was utilized to compare intestinal microbiota between 12‐d‐old and 1‐yr‐old individuals. PCR‐DGGE results revealed that the culture water had the highest bacterial diversity, followed by the feed, while the intestines had the lowest diversity. The intestinal microbiota at six ages changed severely; however, the change did not follow any trend. The large yellow croaker intestines harbored specific bacterial communities that differed from those in both feed and water. Illumina Miseq sequencing results revealed that the diversity of intestinal bacteria in 12‐d‐old fish was higher than that in 1‐yr‐old fish, and the bacterial composition differed significantly between them. γ‐Proteobacteria and Pseudoalteromonas supplied the most abundant phylum and genus in the 12‐d‐old fish intestine. However, in the 1‐yr‐old fish intestine, Firmicutes and Clostridium were the most dominant, respectively. The study may contribute to a better understanding of gut microbiota and dynamics of the large yellow croaker and the relationship with their surrounding environment.     

Myofibrillar proteins in white muscle of the developing African catfish Heterobranchus longifilis (Siluriforms, Clariidae)

Developmental changes in myofibrillar protein composition were investigated in the myotomal muscle of the African catfish, Heterobranchus longifilis (Clariidae), by several electrophoretic techniques. The main muscle fibres of larvae and the fast-white muscle fibres of juvenile and adult fish were found to express distinct myosin heavy chain and myosin light chain 2 (LC2) isoforms. Three myosin LC2 chains were successively detected, differing by their isoelectric points. In contrast, the alkali light chains remained qualitatively and quantitatively unchanged during fish growth. Actin, -tropomyosin, and troponin-C (TN-C) were also similar in larval, juvenile, and adult white muscle, but an additional larval tropomyosin isoform was found in the first developmental stages. Two isoforms of troponin-T (TN-T) and troponin-I (TN-I) were synthesised in the course of fish growth. Transition from the larval to the adult isoform was much faster for TN-T than for TN-I. Slow-red muscle myofibrils from adult H. longifilis showed no common component (except actin) with larval, juvenile, or adult fast-white muscle myofibrils. Red myofibrils displayed a single TN-T and a single TN-I isoform, but two isoforms of TN-C. The myofibrillar protein isoforms synthesised at any given developmental stage almost certainly reflect changes in the functional requirements of swimming muscles in the course of fish development.     

Diversity of autochthonous bacterial communities in the intestinal mucosa of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) (Valenciennes) determined by culture‐dependent and culture‐independent techniques

Traditional culture‐based technique and 16S rDNA sequencing method were used to investigate the mucosa‐associated autochthonous microbiota of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). Twenty‐one phylotypes were detected from culturable microbiota, with Aeromonas, Shewanella, Lactococcus, Serratia, Brevibacillus, Delftia, Pseudomonas, Pantoea, Enterobacter, Buttiauxella and Yersinia as their closest relatives. Genomic DNA was directly extracted from the gut mucosa of C. idellus originating from six different geographical regions, and used to generate 609 random bacterial clones from six clone libraries and 99 archaeal clones from one library, which were grouped into 67 bacterial and four archaeal phylotypes. Sequence analysis revealed that the intestinal mucosa harboured a diversified bacterial microbiota, where Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were dominant, followed by Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and Deinococcus‐Thermus. The autochthonous bacterial communities in the gut mucosa of fish from different aquatic environments were not similar (C_s < 0.80), but γ‐Proteobacteria was a common bacterial class. In comparison to bacterial communities, the archaeal community obtained from one library consisted of Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota. These results demonstrate that molecular methods facilitate culture‐independent studies, and that fish gut mucosa harbours a larger bacterial diversity than previously recognized. The grass carp intestinal habitat selects for specific bacterial taxa despite pronounced differences in host environments.     

First report on the autochthonous gut microbiota of brown trout (Salmo trutta Linnaeus)

A study was conducted to characterize the autochthonous gut microbiota present in the pyloric caeca (PC), anterior mucosa (AM) and posterior mucosa (PM) of brown trout (Salmo trutta). Total viable counts (TVC) bacterial populations were enumerated using tryptone soy agar, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) levels were enumerated on de Man, Rogosa & Sharpe agar and PCR‐DGGE was employed as a culture‐independent method to assess the total communities. No significant differences were observed between the different gut regions for TVC or LAB levels. 16S rRNA sequencing identified all LAB isolates as Carnobacterium maltaromaticum. In contrast, the TVC community was more diverse; Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were present but all gut regions were dominated by Proteobacteria, accounting for 88.4–92.6% of the communities. Citrobacter freundii was the dominant species and accounted for 51.0–57.8% of the isolates. Complex bacterial communities were observed using PCR‐DGGE and a trend towards the reduction in the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs), microbial richness and microbial diversity was observed from the PC to the PM. The similarity between regions was low (52–68%) and cluster analysis revealed that the communities grouped into two distinct clusters; one dominated by the PM samples and the other contained the AM and PC samples. OTUs from the DGGE were identified as members of the phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Many OTUs were detected in all gastrointestinal regions, however, some OTUs showed regional specialization. Further studies are required to elucidate the activity of these genera in situ and how their actions impact the host.     

Structural characteristics and succession of intestinal microbiota for Paralichthys olivaceus during the early life stage

The research of intestinal microflora structures for Paralichthys olivaceus larvae and juveniles will help us to master the ontogeny and developmental colonization of microflora during the larval rearing stage. In this study, we sequenced the total bacterial genomic DNA in larval and juvenile guts with an Illumina MiSeq PE300 system, and analysed the structural characteristics of these microbiota, feed and rearing water in live and formulated feeding periods. The structure of gut microbiota was gradually similar to those in wild P. olivaceus at the phylum level and the newly hatched ones with the growth, according to the distribution and abundance of intestinal microbiota. And the colonized rule of main microbial species in guts was decreased initially and then increased during the larvae and juveniles stage. Meantime, the core microflora of this study were obtained through the analysis of shared and dominant species, which included Bacteroides, Bacillus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Escherichia_Shigella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Vibrio, Nitrosomonas, and Glaciecola. The correlation analysis of microbiota between intestines and environmental factors suggested that microflora in feed and water could affect the distribution of larval and juvenile gut microbiota. Moreover, many species of Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Vibrio are treated as important potential pathogens in aquaculture. These all pointed out the microbial quality of feed and rearing water should be strictly controlled in fish breeding and farming, and supply theoretical bases for screening the native probiotics to artificially regulate the gut microbiota.     

鱼类肠道菌群影响因子研究进展

肠道菌群在维持肠道健康、促进肠道发育、抵抗病原入侵、调节机体能量吸收和脂质代谢过程中均发挥重要作用。在鱼类学研究中,由于种类繁多、食性差异大、生存环境复杂多变,导致鱼类肠道菌群方面的研究面临巨大挑战。本文在总结常见鱼类肠道微生物组成的基础上,着重介绍了鱼类饵料组成、水环境因子、物种、基因型、发育阶段、养殖模式及投喂策略对鱼类肠道菌群影响的相关研究进展,并对目前研究中存在的问题进行了剖析,以期为鱼类肠道菌群研究提供一定的参考依据。     

A spatiotemporal study of bacterial community profiles associated with Atlantic bluefin tuna larvae,Thunnus thynnus L., in three Mediterranean hatcheries

During the first 2 years of larval rearing trials with Atlantic bluefin tuna, survival was a challenging issue. As bacterial colonization of the gut has been shown to play a key role for other species, we studied the profiles of the microbiota associated with individual larvae at different stages in three distant hatcheries. The Bacterial Community Profile (BCP) was quantified based on PCR‐DGGE analyses of partial amplicons from 16S rDNA. Considerable individual variability in BCP was observed before onset of feeding, and the BCP did not show regular fluctuation during ontogenesis. Microalgae were added to the rearing tanks in two of the three hatcheries, but it was not possible to distinguish the effect of location from the effect of algal addition on BCP. In one hatchery, the larvae were reared either with algal addition or in mesocosm, but due to high individual variability, no significant difference in BCP was detected between the two groups. It was hypothesized that this variability was caused by differences in health, physiological status and developmental stage of the larvae. A practical conclusion from the study is the need to analyse a considerable number of individuals to reflect statistically significant differences between the microbial communities associated with rearing groups.     

凡纳滨对虾和罗氏沼虾肠道微生物及抗生素抗性基因多样性分析

探究凡纳滨对虾和罗氏沼虾肠道微生物及抗生素抗性基因(antibiotic resistance genes, ARGs)种类的差异。通过高通量测序和变性梯度凝胶电泳(denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, DGGE)技术分析2种虾肠道微生物群落结构差异和微生物多样性,并运用PCR方法检测了2种虾肠道细菌常见38种ARGs的携带情况。结果显示,获得凡纳滨对虾和罗氏沼虾肠道细菌有效序列分别为42 795和40 713条,物种注释单元(operational taxonomic unit, OTU)数目分别为124和82,分类地位明确的细菌种类分别隶属5个门、17个属和5个门、16个属。凡纳滨对虾肠道细菌的优势类群为变形菌门,所占比例为75.45%,优势菌属为副球菌属(25.83%)和不动杆菌属(25.24%);罗氏沼虾肠道细菌的优势类群是厚壁菌门(49.74%),优势菌属为乳球菌属(49.01%)和弧菌属(29.98%)。凡纳滨对虾肠道细菌(2.19)Shannon指数高于罗氏沼虾肠道细菌(1.78),表明前者肠道细菌多样性大于后者。DGGE图谱的分析结果与高通量测序一致,2种虾肠道细菌种类差异很大。PCR结果显示,凡纳滨对虾肠道细菌携带15种ARGs,罗氏沼虾肠道细菌携带14种ARGs。本实验表明凡纳滨对虾肠道细菌的群落种类多样性、OTU丰富度、物种总数和ARGs种类均高于罗氏沼虾肠道细菌,为后续肠道微生物资源的挖掘提供了理论依据。     

养殖刺参早期发育阶段体内可培养细菌的菌群特征及其与环境菌群相关性分析

采用传统细菌培养方法,对养殖刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)早期发育各阶段幼体体内及环境(投入饵料及培育用水)菌群的组成与结构展开研究,对分离的优势细菌进行分子鉴定,在此基础上,进行了刺参幼体体内菌群结构与环境菌群结构相关性分析。幼体各发育期的细菌培养结果显示,在幼体开口前的各发育时期(性腺、卵、受精卵、原肠胚)均无可培养细菌,在投饵以后,耳状幼体、樽形幼体体内可分离到可培养细菌,幼体发育到稚参以后,消化道可培养细菌总数急剧增加,并在4月龄时达到108 CFU/g数量级。在幼体体内可培养细菌中,弧菌(Vibrio)占比为2.2%~77.3%。对环境菌群的细菌培养结果显示,培育用水中细菌含量变化不显著,随着幼体发育期饵料的转变,不同时期饵料中细菌含量差异显著。整个养殖系统中共分离到65株优势细菌,16S rDNA鉴定结果显示,所分离的65株优势菌鉴定为14个属43种细菌。相关性分析结果显示,随着幼体的发育,生物饵料中的细菌对消化道中的菌群结构影响越来越大。本研究结果为解析刺参消化道菌群的形成过程和演替规律以及养殖用益生菌的筛选与应用奠定了基础。     

不同生长发育阶段方格星虫氨基酸组成的研究

以方格星虫（Sipunculus nudus）幼虫、稚虫和成虫为试验材料,比较分析了不同生长发育阶段方格星虫的主要营养成分及氨基酸组成的变化。结果显示,幼虫、稚虫和成虫的粗蛋白含量分别为56.46%、66.40%和74.84%,粗脂肪含量分别为2.51%、2.65%和2.95%,粗灰分含量分别为30.89%、18.88%和7.86%,总糖含量分别为8.35%、5.81%和5.62%,水分分别为93.54%、89.04%和85.95%。随着方格星虫的生长发育,粗蛋白和粗脂肪含量逐渐升高,粗灰分、总糖和水分含量逐渐降低。大部分氨基酸的百分含量在一定的阶段内随着个体的生长发育呈显著升高的趋势（P〈0.05）;3个生长阶段甘氨酸（Gly）和组氨酸（His）分别为2.90%、6.94%、5.57%和1.15%、1.51%、1.48%,在幼虫到稚虫阶段均显著增加（P〈0.05）,成虫阶段Gly显著降低（P〈0.05）,His则保持相对恒定。3个生长阶段必需氨基酸（EAA）/总氨基酸（TAA）分别为31.98%、27.56%和32.61%,差异显著（P〈0.05）,成虫最高;稚虫呈味氨基酸（DAA）/TAA最高,为58.76%,幼虫和成虫无明显差异（P〉0.05）。     

半滑舌鳎骨形态发生蛋白4基因的克隆和表达分析

本研究克隆了半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis)骨形态发生蛋白4(BMP4)基因的c DNA序列,并分析其在半滑舌鳎成鱼的组织表达分布及其在早期发育阶段的定位和表达变化趋势。结果表明,半滑舌鳎BMP4基因c DNA全长为1680 bp,包括了419 bp的5′非翻译区(5′UTR)、编码403个氨基酸的1212 bp的开放阅读框(ORF)以及49 bp的3′非翻译区(3′UTR)。同源性分析和分子进化聚类分析结果显示,半滑舌鳎与已报道慈鲷科(Cichlidae)各鱼种的同源性最高,并与之共同聚为鱼类BMP4分支。BMP4 m RNA在半滑舌鳎成鱼的13个组织中具有广泛的分布,并在鳃组织中表达量最高,其次在背鳍、软骨等组织具有中等水平的表达。此外,BMP4基因在早期胚胎发育阶段(卵裂期和原肠期)具有极高水平的表达,此后其表达水平逐渐降低;但在后期仔鱼期(孵化后3日龄和4日龄),其表达水平再次升高。整体原位杂交检测结果表明,BMP4 m RNA在早期仔鱼期主要在头部及躯干前部表达;后期仔鱼BMP4基因主要在冠状幼鳍、上下颌及胸鳍处表达;进入稚鱼期后在鳃盖骨及各鳍均有表达。上述研究结果揭示了BMP4在半滑舌鳎早期骨骼发育中的重要作用,为揭示海水硬骨鱼类骨骼发生、发育的调控机制奠定了理论基础。     

The effect of spray‐dried porcine plasma on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) intestinal microbiota

The effect of spray‐dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on the intestinal histological organization and autochthonous microbiota composition was evaluated in Sparus aurata. Fish were fed a basal diet (51 g/kg protein, 17 g/kg fat, 20.6 MJ/kg gross energy) and a diet containing 3 g/kg SDPP for 95 days (initial body weight, BW = 9.5 ± 0.2g, mean ± SD). The inclusion of SDPP promoted growth (p < .05), being fish fed the SDPP diet 6.2% (BW = 88.2 ± 1.6 g) heavier than the control (BW = 82.7 ± 3.2 g). SDPP increased the density of intestinal goblet cells (p < .05), whereas no differences in villi height were found (p > .05) between both groups. Intestinal microbiota was dominated by Proteobacteria (>85%) and Firmicutes (5%–12%), whereas Bacteroidetes never represented more than 1.5%. γ‐Proteobacteria, and Bacilli and Clostridia were the predominant classes. The short administration of SDPP (20 days) resulted in changes in microbiota diversity and richness associated with an increase in the sequences of the genus Lactobacillus and to a decrease in the genus Vibrio, whereas these changes were reverted at 95 days. Intestinal goblet cell density was not correlated to microbiota diversity and richness changes rather than to the immunostimulatory effect of the SDPP.     

Application of prospective probionts at early stages of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) rearing

This work aimed at validating the use of two prospective probionts (Arthrobacter sp. and Enterococcus sp.) at early stages of cod (Gadus morhua L.) rearing. Ova at late post‐fertilized stage and larvae during their first 4 weeks of life were bathed with both probionts, isolated previously from the cod‐rearing environment. This treatment was compared with groups fed rotifers supplemented with a commercial probiotic (Remus^®) and those untreated. Microbiological analyses (total viable counts, presumptive Vibrio and lactic acid bacteria) were performed in rearing systems and larval survival, growth and development were assessed. Larval development was evaluated by proteolytic activity of larval lysates and immunological analysis of important proteins: apolipoprotein A‐I, haemoglobin, C‐reactive protein, C3 and cod serum proteins. Bacterial bathing led to a significantly higher larval weight, length and culturable microbial load in larval gastrointestinal (GI) tract when compared with the control and Remus groups. Development occurred earlier in bathed larvae. However, their survival was negatively affected compared with the control group, but was significantly higher than for the Remus group. The non‐pathogenicity of both probionts was demonstrated by intraperitoneal injection of 13 g cod juveniles. The results suggest that Arthrobacter and Enterococcus probionts affected the larval GI microbiota and contributed to growth, development and digestion, either directly or indirectly.