Bacterial population in intestines of white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei fed a synbiotic containing Lactobacillus plantarum and galactooligosaccharide

The aims of this study were to unravel the intestinal microbiota of Litopenaeus vannamei after being fed a diet without (control) or with the synbiotic (SYN) for 60 days using next‐generation sequencing technology to see if changes in the intestinal microbiota were involved in the improved growth performance and health status of the shrimp. Next‐generation sequencing data showed that six phyla, 11 classes, 19 orders, 30 families, 58 genera and 73 species with taxonomic names assigned were detected. The majority of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was shared between the SYN and control shrimp and comprised 37 OTUs. However, intestinal biodiversity analyses revealed that SYN‐fed shrimp had a higher species richness, evenness and Shannon–Weaver index than did shrimp fed the control diet, but without reaching statistical significance. Interestingly, shrimp fed the SYN diet exhibited improved colonization of Lactobacillus plantarum and reduced prevalences of Vibrio harveyi and Photobacterium damselae in the intestines. These findings indicate that the SYN was able to modulate the intestinal bacterial community of shrimp and could be used to control vibriosis in shrimp.     

低聚半乳糖干预缓解肠道炎症的研究进展

肠道炎症已成为我国社会健康的难题和挑战，其发病率在我国迅速增长。肠道炎症发病原因复杂，目前尚缺乏有效的缓解药物，因此加强肠道炎症有效缓解物质的研发至关重要。低聚半乳糖（galactooligosaccharide，GOS）是一种食疗益生性较优的乳源功能性低聚糖，能够有效促进肠道内益生菌的增殖，改变肠道菌群结构，刺激免疫应答，进而改善肠黏膜屏障功能，缓解肠道炎症。本文综述近年来国内外有关肠道炎症及GOS干预缓解肠道炎症作用的研究进展，并对其应用前景进行展望，为此领域的研究提供科学依据。     

Effects of a highly purified fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida on growth performance and intestine health status of gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio

A six‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of different concentrations of fucoidan (1 g/kg, 10 g/kg and 30 g/kg; w/w) from Undaria pinnatifida on gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Our results demonstrated that 30 g/kg fucoidan significantly increased (p < .05) growth performance, intestinal digestive enzyme activities, acid phosphatase activity and immunoglobulin M content. Histological examinations revealed that gibel carp receiving 30 g/kg fucoidan had significant higher abundance of mucin‐containing goblet cells in middle and distal intestine as compared with control treatment (p < .05). Intestinal microbiota analysis showed that 30 g/kg fucoidan supplementation significantly increased (p < .05) the abundance of Cetobacterium and Aeromonas, but lowered (p < .05) the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria Plesiomonas and a mucin‐degrading bacterium Mucinivorans. Furthermore, RNA‐seq and RT‐qPCR analysis indicated that 30 g/kg fucoidan caused significant changes (p < .05) in the expression of genes involved in immune regulation (such as interleukin‐8 and cyclooxygenase), signal transduction (such as phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate 3‐kinase and protein kinase B) and nutrition utilization (maltase–glucoamylase and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 3). Together, the current study shows that fucoidan supplementation could elevate the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes, modulate intestinal microbial communities and potentiate a higher state of immune readiness, which might consequently improve growth performance and intestine health status of gibel carp.     

Effects of fish meal replaced by fermented soybean meal on growth performance,intestinal histology and microbiota of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of replacing fish meal (FM) with fermented soybean meal (FSM) and soybean meal (SM) on growth performance, intestinal histology and microbiota of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The basal diet contained 350 g/kg FM (CON), and then, FM was replaced with SM and FSM at the ratios of 30% and 60% (SM‐30, SM‐60, FSM‐30 and FSM‐60), respectively. The largemouth bass (4.43 ± 0.13 g) were fed for 8 weeks. The results showed that weight gain of fish fed with FSM‐60 and SM‐60 diets was significantly lower, and feed conversion ratio of SM‐30, SM‐60 and FSM‐60 groups was significantly higher than the CON group (p < .05). The intestinal villus height of SM‐60 group and the villus width of SM‐60 and FSM‐60 group were significantly lower than the CON group (p < .05). The 30% FM replacement by SM and FSM significantly increased the abundance of Cetobacterium and Mycoplasma, respectively (p < .05). In conclusion, FSM could replace 30% FM in diet without negative impacts on the growth performance of largemouth bass, while the SM should be controlled below 30%.     

Effect of Bacillus cereus as a water or feed additive on the gut microbiota and immunological parameters of Nile tilapia

We evaluated the effects of Bacillus cereus, as an additive in water and feed, on the gut microbiota and immunological parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Experiments were performed in tanks and net cages respectively. Experiment 1: Tilapia were housed in tanks for 42 days, and B. cereus was added to the water at 1.0 × 10⁴ cfu mL^?1 (Treatment 1) and 1.0 ×10⁵ cfu mL^?1 (Treatment 2) weekly. For the control, no probiotic was added. Experiment 2: Tilapia were housed in cages for 42 days, and the feed was supplemented with B. cereus at 1.0 × 10⁷ cfu g^?1 (Treatment 1) and 1.0 × 10⁸ cfu g^?1 (Treatment 2) weekly. For the control, no probiotic was added. Each treatment contained three replicates, with 50 male tilapias per replicate. The fish from the probiotic treatments in both tank and cage experiments had significantly higher serum lysozyme and peroxidase activities than the control. In the cage experiment, alkaline phosphatase and total superoxide dismutase activities in tilapia were significantly higher in probiotic treatments compared with the control. The results of polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed that B. cereus supplementation in the feed and water affected the autochthonous gut bacteria community of tilapia and stimulated various potentially beneficial bacteria. Therefore, B. cereus, as a water or feed additive, could enhance the immune status and affect the gut microbiota of tilapia. Bacillus cereus was more effective as a feed supplement rather than a water additive for enhancing the immune status of tilapia.     

Impacts of diet on hindgut microbiota and short‐chain fatty acids in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Diet is known to influence intestinal microbiota in fish, but the specifics of these impacts are still poorly understood. Different protein/fibre ratio diets may result in differing structures and activities of gut microbiota. We examined the hindgut microbiome of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fed three different diets: fish meal (FM, high protein – low fibre), Sudan grass (SG, high fibre – low protein) and compound feed (CF, intermediate). Microbial profiles of fish fed on FM were significantly different from profiles of fish fed CF and SG (F = 18.85, p < .01). Cetobacterium, known to be positively associated with protein digestion, was the dominant microbial group in FM samples (approximately 75.7%), while Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, thought to be involved in fermentation of plant polysaccharides, were dominant in CF and SG samples (46.8% and 42.9% respectively). Network analyses indicated that the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae was in a significantly positive correlation (r = .895, p = .001). Short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels may indicate that the digestibility of diet by microbiota in the grass carp gut decreased from FM to SG (FM>CF>SG). Overall low SCFA levels indicate that hindgut fermentation probably provides a low proportion of energy requirements in grass carp.     

Clostridium butyricum as probiotic for promoting growth performance,feed utilization,gut health and microbiota community of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus)

The feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the potentials of Clostridium butyricum in the diet of tilapia. Fish (~14 g) were fed with basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control), 0.5 (C‐1), 1 (C‐2), 2 (C‐3), 4 (C‐4) and 8 (C‐5) g/kg commercial probiotic‐containing C. butyricum (1.5 × 10⁸ CFU/g) for 8 weeks. The results showed that weight gain significantly increased, and feed conversion ratio decreased in the C‐2, C‐3 and C‐4 groups (p < .05). The protein retention (except C‐1 group), lipid retention and apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter in probiotic supplementation groups were significantly enhanced, and ADC of protein in the C‐4 group was also improved (p < .05). The supplementation of probiotic significantly increased villus height in anterior intestines and reduced the numbers of intestinal Escherichia coli (p < .05). High‐throughput sequencing showed that top three phyla namely Planctomycetes in all probiotic‐containing groups, Proteobacteria in the C‐1 and C‐2 groups and Chloroflexi in the C‐3 group had higher level than the NC group. The cumulative mortality was reduced by dietary probiotic after challenging with Aeromonas hydrophila (p < .05). In conclusion, C. butyricum can be supplemented at 1–2 g/kg feed for promoting the growth, feed utilization, gut health and microbiota of tilapia.     

Intestinal microbiota of white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei,fed diets containing Bacillus subtilis E20‐fermented soybean meal (FSBM) or an antimicrobial peptide derived from B. subtilis E20‐FSBM

The purpose of the present study is to profile the microfloral structure in the intestines of the white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, after being fed a control diet, in comparison with the diets containing Bacillus subtilis E20‐fermented soybean meal (FSBM) or an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) isolated from B. subtilis E20‐FSBM (diets designated FSBMD and AMPD, respectively) for 60 days. Metagenomic data showed detection of eight phyla, 20 classes, 40 orders, 68 families and 96 genera. Despite no statistically significant difference, an evaluation of microbial diversity recorded higher species richness, Shannon–Weaver diversity index and evenness in the AMPD and FSBMD groups, compared to the control diet group. Venn diagrams showed that 58 of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were shared among the control, FSBMD and AMPD groups, but additional beneficial microbes were only found in the FSBMD and AMPD groups. In addition to the augmentation of beneficial bacteria in the FSBMD and AMPD groups, the abundance of potential pathogens, Vibrio and Flavobacterium, was lower in the gut of shrimp fed the FSBMD and AMPD. The results clearly suggest that the FSBMD and AMPD have the capability to change the microfloral structure of shrimp intestines and could be used for disease prevention in shrimp aquaculture.     

Selecting the hologenome to breed for an improved feed efficiency in pigs—A novel selection index

Most traits in animal breeding, including feed efficiency traits in pigs, are affected by many genes with small effect and have a moderately high heritability between 0.1 and 0.5, which enables efficient selection. Since the microbiota composition in the gastrointestinal tract is also partly heritable and was shown to have a substantial effect on feed efficiency, the host genes affect the phenotype not only directly by altering metabolic pathways, but also indirectly by changing the microbiota composition. The effect of the microbiota composition on the breeding value of an animal is the conditional expectation of its breeding value, given the vector with microbiota frequencies, that is The breeding value of an animal can therefore be decomposed into a heritable contribution that arises from an altered microbiota composition and a heritable contribution that arises from altered metabolic pathways within the animal, so Instead of selecting for breeding value , an index comprising the two components and with appropriate weights, that is , can be used. The present study shows how this breeding strategy can be applied in pig genomic selection breeding scheme for two feed efficiency traits and daily gain.