5-aminolevulinic Acid’s Effects on Immune-related Gene Expression and Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) Protection in Pacific White Shrimp <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i>

Abstract

5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is an endogenous non-protein amino acid that is widely used in medicine, pharmacy products, agriculture, and aquaculture. In this study, the aim is to investigate the effects of 5-ALA on feeding Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) with a diet supplemented with 5-ALA on their growth performance, immune responses, and resistance to acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) caused by Vibrio paraheamolyticus. Shrimp were fed with different diets, including a commercial diet (control) and diets supplemented with 15 ppm (ALA15) and 30 ppm (ALA30) of 5-ALA for 15 and 30 days before bacteria challenge. Anti-lipopolysaccharide factor, crustin, and penaeidin3 immune genes had significantly increased expression level after 15 and 30 days of feeding with 5-ALA. The mortality rate of L. vannamei fed with 5-ALA for 15 and 30 days significantly decreased after V. parahaemolyticus infection. These results indicated that the diet supplemented with 5-ALA enhanced the innate immune response and consequently shrimp's pathogen tolerance. Thus, 5-ALA can be used as immunostimulant additive for Pacific white shrimp cultivation.

Natural 5-Aminolevulinic Acid: Sources, Biosynthesis, Detection and Applications

“…It was found that adding appropriate amounts of 5-ALA to animal feed can significantly improve their growth. In invertebrate aquaculture, dietary administration of 5-ALA effectively improved the immune system, ATP levels and acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease resistance in pacific white shrimp (Direkbusarakom et al, 2021). Dankook University studied the effects of 5-ALA on the growth performance, blood status, and immune system of weaned piglets, sows, broilers and hens in South Korea.…”

“…Therefore, 5-ALA is successfully used in the treatment of tumors and others diseases (Millesi et al, 2016;Pepa et al, 2020;Suero Molina et al, 2021;Ubbink et al, 2021). 5-ALA is also used as an animal feed additive to improve iron status and immune response in livestock (Wang et al, 2009;Hendawy et al, 2019;Direkbusarakom et al, 2021). It also has functions in higher plants, such as stimulating physiochemical processes, regulating plant growth and development in seed germination, vegetative growth and fruit coloring (Wu et al, 2018).…”