scholarly journals Phytogenics in Aquaculture: A Short Review of Their Effects on Gut Health and Microflora in Fish

Author(s):  
Christopher Marlowe A. Caipang

Increasing pace in aquaculture development to meet the growing food requirements of the population has greatly compromised the carrying capacity of the culture environment and has placed the aquacultured animals at heightened risk of getting diseases due to pathogens. At present, chemotherapy is widely used as means to prevent or treat infectious diseases in aquaculture; however, the use of these drugs poses multiple negative impacts on fish and human health, as well as the environment. Recently, research initiatives are focused on the use of plant products and their derivatives as a means of controlling diseases in aquaculture. They are regarded as a promising alternative to the use of chemical treatments for infectious diseases in fish. Plant-derived products or phytogenics have been shown to stimulate appetite and promote weight gain in farmed animals, act as immunostimulants, and possess potent anti-pathogenic properties in fish. Their potency is mediated by the presence of bioactive molecules including alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, and flavonoids, among others. Moreover, nutritional strategies are geared towards the use of these phytogenics in modulating immune and physiological responses, as well as promoting optimum health and microbial community in the gastrointestinal tract of fish. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on the use of phytogenic feed additives in aquaculture by focusing on how these substances act as modulators of health and bacterial community in the gut of fish.

Fishes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikko Cabillon ◽  
Carlo Lazado

The skin, gills, and gut are the most extensively studied mucosal organs in fish. These mucosal structures provide the intimate interface between the internal and external milieus and serve as the indispensable first line of defense. They have highly diverse physiological functions. Their role in defense can be highlighted in three shared similarities: their microanatomical structures that serve as the physical barrier and hold the immune cells and the effector molecules; the mucus layer, also a physical barrier, contains an array of potent bioactive molecules; and the resident microbiota. Mucosal surfaces are responsive and plastic to the different changes in the aquatic environment. The direct interaction of the mucosa with the environment offers some important information on both the physiological status of the host and the conditions of the aquatic environment. Increasing attention has been directed to these features in the last year, particularly on how to improve the overall health of the fish through manipulation of mucosal functions and on how the changes in the mucosa, in response to varying environmental factors, can be harnessed to improve husbandry. In this short review, we highlight the current knowledge on how mucosal surfaces respond to various environmental factors relevant to aquaculture and how they may be exploited in fostering sustainable fish farming practices, especially in controlled aquaculture environments.


Planta Medica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urszula Latek ◽  
Magdalena Chłopecka ◽  
Wojciech Karlik ◽  
Marta Mendel

AbstractAfter the European Union ban of antibiotic growth promoters, works on different methods of improving gut health have intensified. The poultry industry is struggling with problems that were previously controlled by antibiotic growth promoters, therefore the search for optimal solutions continues. Simultaneously, there is also increasing social pressure to minimize the use of antibiotics and replace them with alternative feed additives. A variety of available alternatives is considered safe by consumers, among which phytogenics play a significant role. However, there are still some limitations that need to be considered. The most questionable are the issues related to bioavailability, metabolism of plant derivatives in birds, and the difficulty of standardizing commercial products. There is still a need for more evidence-based recommendations for the use of phytogenics in livestock. On the other hand, a positive influence of phytogenic compounds on the health of poultry has been previously described by many researchers and practical application of these compounds has auspicious perspectives in poultry production. Supplementation with phytogenic feed additives has been shown to protect birds from various environmental threats leading to impaired intestinal barrier function. Phytogenic feed additives have the potential to improve the overall structure of intestinal mucosa as well as gut barrier function on a molecular level. Recognition of the phytogenicsʼ effect on the components of the intestinal barrier may enable the selection of the most suitable ones to alleviate negative effects of different agents. This review aims to summarize current knowledge of the influence of various phytogenic constituents on the intestinal barrier and health of poultry.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (40) ◽  
pp. 6815-6824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Jiang ◽  
Chuanshan Xu ◽  
Wingnang Leung ◽  
Mei Lin ◽  
Xiaowen Cai ◽  
...  

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a promising alternative treatment for malignancies based on photochemical reaction induced by Photosensitizers (PS) under light irradiation. Recent studies show that PDT caused the abundant release of exosomes from tumor tissues. It is well-known that exosomes as carriers play an important role in cell-cell communication through transporting many kinds of bioactive molecules (e.g. lipids, proteins, mRNA, miRNA and lncRNA). Therefore, to explore the role of exosomes in photodynamic anticancer therapy has been attracting significant attention. In the present paper, we will briefly introduce the basic principle of PDT and exosomes, and focus on discussing the role of exosomes in photodynamic anticancer therapy, to further enrich and boost the development of PDT.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 2213
Author(s):  
Natalia Diaz-Garrido ◽  
Cecilia Cordero ◽  
Yenifer Olivo-Martinez ◽  
Josefa Badia ◽  
Laura Baldomà

Communication between cells is crucial to preserve body homeostasis and health. Tightly controlled intercellular dialog is particularly relevant in the gut, where cells of the intestinal mucosa are constantly exposed to millions of microbes that have great impact on intestinal homeostasis by controlling barrier and immune functions. Recent knowledge involves extracellular vesicles (EVs) as mediators of such communication by transferring messenger bioactive molecules including proteins, lipids, and miRNAs between cells and tissues. The specific functions of EVs principally depend on the internal cargo, which upon delivery to target cells trigger signal events that modulate cellular functions. The vesicular cargo is greatly influenced by genetic, pathological, and environmental factors. This finding provides the basis for investigating potential clinical applications of EVs as therapeutic targets or diagnostic biomarkers. Here, we review current knowledge on the biogenesis and cargo composition of EVs in general terms. We then focus the attention to EVs released by cells of the intestinal mucosa and their impact on intestinal homeostasis in health and disease. We specifically highlight their role on epithelial barrier integrity, wound healing of epithelial cells, immunity, and microbiota shaping. Microbiota-derived EVs are not reviewed here.


2010 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. PRI.S3693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hang Fai Kwok ◽  
Craig Ivanyi ◽  
Andrew Morris ◽  
Chris Shaw

Traditionally man has looked to nature to provide cures for diseases. This approach still exists today in the form of ‘bio-prospecting’ for therapeutically-active compounds in venoms. For example, the venoms of many reptiles offer a spectacular laboratory of bioactive molecules, including peptides and proteins. In the last 10–15 years, there have been a number of major proteomic and genomic research breakthroughs on lizard venoms. In this current review, the key findings from these proteomic and genomic studies will be critically discussed and suggestions will be offered for future focused investigations. It is our intention that this article will not only provide a comprehensive picture of the state of current knowledge of the components of lizard venoms, but also engender awareness in readers of the need to protect and conserve such uniquely precious natural resources for several reasons, including the potential benefit of humankind.


2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (17) ◽  
pp. 5880-5888 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. De Maesschalck ◽  
V. Eeckhaut ◽  
L. Maertens ◽  
L. De Lange ◽  
L. Marchal ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTIn broiler chickens, feed additives, including prebiotics, are widely used to improve gut health and to stimulate performance. Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) are hydrolytic degradation products of arabinoxylans that can be fermented by the gut microbiota. In the current study, we aimed to analyze the prebiotic properties of XOS when added to the broiler diet. Administration of XOS to chickens, in addition to a wheat-rye-based diet, significantly improved the feed conversion ratio. XOS significantly increased villus length in the ileum. It also significantly increased numbers of lactobacilli in the colon andClostridiumcluster XIVa in the ceca. Moreover, the number of gene copies encoding the key bacterial enzyme for butyrate production, butyryl-coenzyme A (butyryl-CoA):acetate CoA transferase, was significantly increased in the ceca of chickens administered XOS. In this group of chickens, at the species level,Lactobacillus crispatusandAnaerostipes butyraticuswere significantly increased in abundance in the colon and cecum, respectively.In vitrofermentation of XOS revealed cross-feeding betweenL. crispatusandA. butyraticus. Lactate, produced byL. crispatusduring XOS fermentation, was utilized by the butyrate-producingAnaerostipesspecies. These data show the beneficial effects of XOS on broiler performance when added to the feed, which potentially can be explained by stimulation of butyrate-producing bacteria through cross-feeding of lactate and subsequent effects of butyrate on gastrointestinal function.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 235
Author(s):  
Bin Gu ◽  
Maxwell C. Hakun

NUT carcinoma (NC) is a type of aggressive cancer driven by chromosome translocations. Fusion genes between a DNA-binding protein, such as bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins, and the testis-specific protein NUTM1 generated by these translocations drive the formation of NC. NC can develop in very young children without significant accumulation of somatic mutations, presenting a relatively clean model to study the genetic etiology of oncogenesis. However, after 20 years of research, a few challenging questions still remain for understanding the mechanism and developing therapeutics for NC. In this short review, we first briefly summarize the current knowledge regarding the molecular mechanism and targeted therapy development of NC. We then raise three challenging questions: (1) What is the cell of origin of NC? (2) How does the germline analogous epigenetic reprogramming process driven by the BET-NUTM1 fusion proteins cause NC? and (3) How will BET-NUTM1 targeted therapies be developed? We propose that with the unprecedented technological advancements in genome editing, animal models, stem cell biology, organoids, and chemical biology, we have unique opportunities to address these challenges.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 77-78
Author(s):  
Trey A Kellner ◽  
Josh Ellingson ◽  
Ana L P de Souza ◽  
Janet C Remus

Abstract The response to probiotics and enzymes is often documented in research facilities with a high degree of control and via pigs with no insults to health or feed intake. However, in commercial conditions, the response to feed additives promoting advanced gut health and improved digestion must be consistent and defined over a wide range of health statuses, stocking densities, feed intakes, environments, and diet formulations. The objective of this experiment was to determine if a combined feed protease and probiotic system (Syncra® SWI 201, DuPont, Wilmington, DE) would improve growth performance and mortality under commercial conditions. A total of 127,092 pigs (6.0 ± 0.1 kg; PIC 337 sired, Hendersonville, TN) from a sow farm producing porcine reproductive and respiratory virus and rotavirus positive weaned pigs were placed in 53 2,400-head commercial wean-to-finish barns that were alternated to 1 of 2 treatments (a control treatment without Syncra® SWI (SSWI) or with SSWI included at 72.6 g/ton of finished feed from 22.7 kg of BW to harvest) in a rolling allotment over a 12-month period. Pigs were on the experiment for an average of 162 ± 1.0 days (until harvest). Throughout the 12-month experimental period, diets (outside of the SSWI inclusion) could change in order to maximize return over feed costs. Data were analyzed using Proc MIXED (SAS 9.4; Cary, NC) with treatment as the main effect and barn as the experimental unit. Compared to the control, adding SSWI improved mortality by 1.9% and percent grade 1 marketed pigs by 2.2% (P ≤ 0.025). Compared to the control, SSWI did not improve ADG (control = 0.75 vs. SSWI = 0.78 kg) or gain:feed (control = 0.401 vs. SSWI = 0.396). In conclusion, the inclusion of the SSWI combined feed protease and probiotic system can improve mortality and grade 1 marketed pigs, but not growth performance under commercial conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (8) ◽  
pp. 60-70
Author(s):  
A. A. Vikhrov ◽  
◽  
V. P. Zubov ◽  
S. Yu. Zaytsev ◽  
◽  
...  

It is well-known, due to the geological features in a number of regions of the Russian Federation, there may be a shortage of certain microelements and other important “nutrients” in animal diets. The main approach to solve this problem is to use special feed additives. At present, preparations based on organic sources, for example, metal-polymer complexes, are considered a promising alternative. The purpose of this study is to develop an improved method for preparation of the copper-containing polysaccharide complexes and to study their most important parameters. Using CuCl2 as an example, it was shown that the formation of chitosan hydrogels is possible without the usage of potentially hazardous cross-linking agents (for example, glutaraldehyde) or polyvalent anions (for example, SO4 2–), which provide non-covalent cross-linking of chitosan due to electrostatic interactions with NH3 + in its composition. It was found that, upon frontal «gelation» of a 2% chitosan solution (MM 400±100 kDa) in acetic acid (1 vol%), the formation of stable metal gels is observed provided that the content of CuCl2 and ethanol in the precipitant solution is more than 40 mg/ml or more than 24 vol.%, respectively (Vchitosan = Vprecipitant). The obtained complexes are stable in aqueous-alcoholic solutions and swell in water up to destruction (pH 5,5). After additional treatment with an aqueous 1,5% ammonia solution, complexes practically do not swell in solutions with ≥ pH 5,5 (at least τ = 6 days) and dissolve at pH ≤ 4,2. Thus, the use of these complexes is able to provide the release of Cu2 + not in the rumen (pH 6,3–7,2), but in the abomasum (pH ~ 3), which can increase the bioavailability of copper. The development of an improved method for obtaining metal-polysaccharide complexes in a gel form that does not contain «ballast» (in terms of nutritional value and physiology of farm animals) anions (for example, SO4 2–) opens up new opportunities for the development of highly effective feed additives for animal husbandry.


2006 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 1611-1617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Werner Kunz

A short review is given of current knowledge of ion effects in solutions, at interfaces, and in complex colloidal systems. Further to some key experiments, recent and new theoretical approaches are discussed and references of most important papers are given. Finally, an example of a dissipative, self-organizing system involving electrolyte solutions is mentioned.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document