Innovative Approaches to Modulate Fish Gut Microbiota for Disease Management in Aquaculture

Interactions between the microbiota, the host (cultured organisms), and the environment play a crucial role in ensuring the healthy growth and productivity of aquatic systems. These interactions involve the gut of fish and shellfish, the environment that modulates the composition of the gut microbiota, and the core gut microbial community, which colonizes the gut in the organism's early stages of development. The fish microbiome communities, comprising various microorganisms, are found in the mucosal tissues, including the skin, olfactory system, gill, and gut. The importance of the fish microbiome, especially in the gut tissue, in managing various physiological activities is well-documented. In the aquaculture industry, meeting the growing demand for animal protein requires innovative approaches to boost production. However, the expansion of the fish industry can lead to increased vulnerability to diseases and financial losses. Antibiotics, commonly used to control diseases, pose several restrictions in fish and shellfish farming. As an alternative, probiotics or their products have gained prominence in aquaculture for disease management and are regarded as fitting substitutions for antimicrobial compounds. The intestinal microbiota can be modulated through environmental parameters and additives in water and feed, such as probiotics, prebiotics, bioremediators, immunostimulants, and vaccines, which improve metabolic responses, growth, immunity, and stress and disease resistance. Manipulation of the gut microbiome using diets supplemented with Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, microalgae, and yeasts has been tested as potential probiotics in fish. The composition of the fish gut microbiota is also determined by the microbiota present in the ambient water and sediment.

This research topic aims to explore the intricate interactions between the microbiota, host, and environment in aquaculture systems. Specifically, it seeks to understand how these interactions can be harnessed to improve the health, growth, and productivity of cultured aquatic organisms. Key objectives include identifying effective dietary additives and food supplements, evaluating the benefits of probiotics in fish and shellfish health, and understanding the pathways through which microbiota influence host health. By addressing these questions, the research aims to provide innovative solutions for disease management and enhanced aquaculture productivity.

To gather further insights into the complex interactions between microbiota, host, and environment, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Dietary additives and food supplements
- Probiotic benefits in fish and shellfish health in aquaculture
- Screening of microbial products for biological activities
- Beneficial potentials of bacteria
- Microbial products in intestinal health
- Understanding the pathways of microbiota in health
- The relationship between microbial community and health
- The relationship among microorganisms, environment, and host
- Reshaping host gut microbiota