Beneficial Effects of Microorganisms and Their Metabolites, Including Probiotics, Fungi and Microalgae, on the Growth and Physiological Health of Aquatic Animals

The proportion of aquaculture in the global production of capture fisheries and aquaculture has been increasing, from 25.7% in 2000 to 49.2% in 2020. Aquaculture plays an important role in the sustainable growth of aquatic animals for human consumption. However, with the increasing scale of aquaculture and the intensive nature of aquaculture operations, disease problems and issues inevitably arise. Diseases constitute major constraints to the sustainable development of aquaculture. The development of microbial resources is considered to be the main driving force for the sustainable development of aquaculture, which can improve the growth performance and immunity of aquatic animals and effectively prevent the abuse of antibiotics. Although there is good evidence to support the use of microorganisms in aquaculture, including algae, fungi, probiotics, etc., their use in aquaculture, particularly in natural drug development and therapeutics, remains limited.

Many studies show that the application of various microbial feeds are beneficial to the health of aquatic animals. However, there is a need for a broad discussion of the ways in which microorganisms are administered in aquaculture, including additives, water quality regulators, ingredients, etc., and the mechanisms that contribute to their beneficial effects on aquatic animals. Therefore, it is necessary to study the application potential of microorganisms in aquaculture and their interactions with hosts, which can bring considerable benefits to the aquaculture industry and feed producers.

The main focus of this Research Topic is to explore how microorganisms affect the growth and health of aquatic animals using molecular nutrition methods. It calls for original and novel papers related to the use of microorganisms in aquaculture in any of the following research topics:

• The role of microorganisms in the sustainable development of aquaculture
• The relationship between microorganisms and aquatic animal health
• Innovative strategies for microorganisms to boost the immune system of aquatic animals to overcome disease
• Innovative models of microbial application in aquaculture
• Application of fermentation products in aquaculture
• Probiotics in reared aquatic organisms
• Symbiotic relationships of beneficial microorganisms in aquaculture
• Application of molecular tools for enlightening the role of beneficial microorganisms in aquaculture and fisheries