Molecular properties of postbiotics and their role in controlling aquaculture diseases

Abstract

Aquaculture accounts for 8% of animal protein intake in the human diet globally, and per capita consumption is expanding faster than meat and dairy consumption. Antibiotic usage has been recorded in the rapidly developing aquaculture business, which may contribute to the growth of antimicrobial resistance, with possible ramifications for animal, human and ecosystem health. Among the several proposed alternatives, one of the investigated tactics was postbiotics. Although several studies on other alternative tactics have been published, the use of postbiotics in aquaculture is scarce. Recognizing aquaculture's rapid rise as a global source of animal nutrition, postbiotics could be a need to improve antimicrobial stewardship in a fast‐growing industry with broad ties to aquaculture and ecosystem health. This review focuses on various postbiotics as microbially produced postbiotics metabolites and their use as an infectious disease management agent in aquaculture.

Postbiotic production: harnessing the power of microbial metabolites for health applications

“…There will be the emergence of new postbiotics, both inside and outside of the current classifications, testing the limits of science and regulation. Numerous metabolites will be obtained from novel sources that satisfy economic and environmental goals in order to fulfill a variety of compositional and functional areas in the microbiome ( Sudhakaran et al, 2022 ). Postbiotics are extracts of dead bacteria and microorganisms that can strengthen the probiotics’ biological effects on the host.…”

Carotenoids modulate stress tolerance and immune responses in aquatic animals

“…The receptors on the target immune cells indiscriminately identify diversified PAMPs located on carotenoids as high-risk or foreign molecules, leading to the activation of innate and adaptive defence mechanisms by a cascade of cellular signals, which is crucial in developing a hostile environment for pathogens. [271][272][273][274] This initiated an overall defence response, consequently expediting the detection and clearance of a broad spectrum of infectious agents. In fact, the defence system remains reinforced even after returning to the pre-stimulation level, as noticed in shrimps.…”

“…Most importantly, immunostimulants, particularly carotenoids, possess the capability to directly trigger the defence pathway against diseases via their action on PRRs as signalling molecules. The receptors on the target immune cells indiscriminately identify diversified PAMPs located on carotenoids as high‐risk or foreign molecules, leading to the activation of innate and adaptive defence mechanisms by a cascade of cellular signals, which is crucial in developing a hostile environment for pathogens 271–274 . This initiated an overall defence response, consequently expediting the detection and clearance of a broad spectrum of infectious agents.…”

Quorum sensing signals: Aquaculture risk factor

“…QS inhibition using QQ enzymes and analogue-based inhibitors was considered a promising alternative strategy over antibiotics. Employing bacteria that exert both QS inhibitory activity and probiotic effect 135,136 could be the most effective way for controlling aquatic pathogens while promoting the growth of aquatic animals. Recent research suggests that QQ enzymes have numerous advantages over analogue-based inhibitors.…”