Gut Microbiota in Aquatic Animals

Dear Colleagues,

Microbiome research in aquatic animals is vital for understanding the intricate balance between hosts (aquatic animals) and their interactions with bacteria. The gut microbiome for instance, plays a crucial role in the digestion, nutrient absorption, immune function and overall health of aquatic species. By unraveling the complexities of these microbial communities, researchers can develop targeted interventions to enhance growth, disease resistance and sustainability in aquaculture systems. Understanding the microbiome allows for the optimization of feed formulations, management practices and environmental conditions, leading to improved production efficiency and reduced environmental impact. In essence, microbiome studies pave the way for innovation and advancement in the field of aquaculture.

This Special Issue of the journal Animals aims to explore the intricate relationship between nutrition, physiology, environmental and intestinal microbiota in aquatic animals’ production. The scope of this issue encompasses various aspects, including the impact of nutrition on microbiota development and the consequent host–microbe interactions. It delves into different stages of aquatic animal production, ranging from larvae, juveniles and outgrowth phase. The primary goal is to elucidate the dynamic interplay between feeding practices, physiological responses and gut microbiota composition, with a keen focus on their implications for animal health and production efficiency. The key objectives include enhancing production outcomes, optimizing feed conversion ratios and minimizing antibiotic usage through the strategic modulation of host and environmental interactions. This Special Issue will feature a blend of comprehensive reviews and original research papers, offering valuable insights into the optimization of aquatic animal production systems.

Dr. Gabriella do Vale Pereira
Dr. Fernando Yugo Yamamoto
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• gut microbiota
• aquatic animals
• nutrition
• physiology
• host–microbe interaction
• production efficiency
• feed conversion ratio
• antibiotics