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15 pages, 7674 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Mandibular Bone Microstructure and Blood Minerals Bioavailability in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum 1792) from Freshwater

by Karina Godoy, Cristian Sandoval, Carlos Manterola-Barroso, Claudio Vásquez, Noelia Sepúlveda, Mariana Rojas and Luis A. Salazar

Animals 2022, 12(12), 1476; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12121476 - 7 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2523

Abstract

Farmed salmonids show alterations in bone structure that result in skeletal deformities during formation, repair, and regeneration processes, with loss of mineralization at the level of the axial skeleton, mainly the head and spine, affecting their quality of life and even causing death. [...] Read more.

Farmed salmonids show alterations in bone structure that result in skeletal deformities during formation, repair, and regeneration processes, with loss of mineralization at the level of the axial skeleton, mainly the head and spine, affecting their quality of life and even causing death. Despite improving factors, such as farming conditions, diets, and genetics, bone alterations appear more frequently in farmed fish than in wild fish. Thus, we used SEM-EDX, and TGA-DSC to study bone mineralization in farmed and wild rainbow trouts. As expected, we found significant differences in the nutritional parameters of farmed and wild fish (p < 0.05). Microstructural analyses indicated that farmed fish have a more robust mineral structure (p < 0.05), confirming the differences in mineralization and microstructure between both groups. However, the mechanisms regulating absorption and distribution in the organism and their effect on bone mineralization remain to be known. In our study, the combined use of techniques such as SEM-EDX and TGA-DSC allows a clearer assessment and detailed characterization beneficial to understanding the relationship between diet control and bone microstructure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Aquaculture Research)

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17 pages, 4221 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Characterization, Tissue Distribution and Differential Nutritional Regulation of Three n-3 LC-PUFA Biosynthesis-Related Genes in Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂)

by Qingjun Wu, Zhi Zheng, Chuijin Wang, Yao Wang, Yuejia Sun and Yujie Gao

Animals 2022, 12(3), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030234 - 19 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1838

Abstract

Elongases of very long-chain fatty acids (Elovls) and fatty acid desaturases (Fads) are crucial enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). In this paper, we report the molecular cloning and characterization of three genes from the marine teleost Epinephelus [...] Read more.

Elongases of very long-chain fatty acids (Elovls) and fatty acid desaturases (Fads) are crucial enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). In this paper, we report the molecular cloning and characterization of three genes from the marine teleost Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂, and analyzed tissue distribution and their expression in response to dietary n-3 LC-PUFA levels after a 42-day feeding experiment. The elovl5, elovl8 and fads2 genes encoded 294, 263 and 445 amino acids, respectively, which exhibited all the characteristics of the Elovl and Fads family. Tissue distribution analysis revealed that elovl5, elovl8 and fads2 were widely transcribed in various tissues, with the highest level in the brain, as described in other carnivorous marine teleosts. The transcript levels of elovl5, elovl8 and fads2 in the liver were significantly affected by dietary n-3 LC-PUFA, and higher LC-PUFA levels repressed their expression. These results demonstrated, for the first time, the presence and nutritional modulation of elovl5, elovl8 and fads2 cDNA in the juvenile hybrid grouper. Further studies are needed to determine the functional characterization of these genes and explore the mechanism of these genes when regulated by dietary fatty lipid profiles in this species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Aquaculture Research)

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16 pages, 3036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Probiotics on Growth, Survival, Water Quality and Disease Resistance of Red Hybrid Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) Fingerlings in a Biofloc System

by Aimi Zabidi, Fatimah Md Yusoff, Nurul Amin, Nur Jasmin Mohd Yaminudin, Puvaneswari Puvanasundram and Murni Marlina Abd Karim

Animals 2021, 11(12), 3514; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123514 - 9 Dec 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5428

Abstract

Biofloc technology has shown positive effects in aquaculture, especially on the growth performance of cultured animals. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of adding different probiotic strains in a biofloc system on the growth performance and disease resistance of [...] Read more.

Biofloc technology has shown positive effects in aquaculture, especially on the growth performance of cultured animals. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of adding different probiotic strains in a biofloc system on the growth performance and disease resistance of red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis spp.). Three different probiotics (Lysinibacillus fusiformis SPS11, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens L9, and Enterococcus hirae LAB3), commercial probiotics (MG1) and a mixed probiotics (MP) combining all three strains were used in this study. The in vitro assay results showed that the mixed probiotic (MP) was able to inhibit the growth of Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus iniae significantly compared to the single and commercial probiotic. The efficacy of MP was further tested in in vivo tilapia culture challenged with S. agalactiae. The best specific growth rate (3.73 ± 0.23% day⁻¹) and feed conversion ratio (0.76 ± 0.04) were recorded in the group of biofloc with addition of MP. After being challenged with S. agalactiae, the group of biofloc with MP had significantly higher survival (83 ± 1.43%) compared to the other groups. Furthermore, the nitrogen concentration (NO₂-N and NH₄-N) was significantly lower in all the biofloc groups compared to the control. Hence, the addition of probiotics was able to provide beneficial effects to red hybrid tilapia culture in the biofloc system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Aquaculture Research)

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15 pages, 1871 KiB

Open AccessArticle

RNA-Seq-Based Analysis of Cortisol-Induced Differential Gene Expression Associated with Piscirickettsia salmonis Infection in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Myotubes

by Rodrigo Zuloaga, Phillip Dettleff, Macarena Bastias-Molina, Claudio Meneses, Claudia Altamirano, Juan Antonio Valdés and Alfredo Molina

Animals 2021, 11(8), 2399; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082399 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3681

Abstract

Salmonid rickettsial septicemia (SRS) is the major infectious disease of the Chilean salmonid aquaculture industry caused by Piscirickettsia salmonis. Intensive farming conditions generate stress and increased susceptibility to diseases, being skeletal muscle mainly affected. However, the interplay between pathogen infection and stress [...] Read more.

Salmonid rickettsial septicemia (SRS) is the major infectious disease of the Chilean salmonid aquaculture industry caused by Piscirickettsia salmonis. Intensive farming conditions generate stress and increased susceptibility to diseases, being skeletal muscle mainly affected. However, the interplay between pathogen infection and stress in muscle is poorly understood. In this study, we perform an RNA-seq analysis on rainbow trout myotubes that are pretreated for 3 h with cortisol (100 ng/mL) and then infected with P. salmonis strain LF-89 for 8 h (MOI 50). Twelve libraries are constructed from RNA samples (n = 3 per group) and sequenced on Illumina HiSeq 4000. A total of 704,979,454 high-quality reads are obtained, with 70.25% mapped against the reference genome. In silico DETs include 175 total genes—124 are upregulated and 51 are downregulated. GO enrichment analysis reveals highly impacted biological processes related to apoptosis, negative regulation of cell proliferation, and innate immune response. These results are validated by RT-qPCR of nine candidate transcripts. Furthermore, cortisol pretreatment significantly stimulated bacterial gene expression of ahpC and 23s compared to infection. In conclusion, for the first time, we describe a transcriptomic response of trout myotubes infected with P. salmonis by inducing apoptosis, downregulating cell proliferation, and intrinsic immune-like response that is differentially regulated by cortisol. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Aquaculture Research)

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20 pages, 1980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diet and Exercise Modulate GH-IGFs Axis, Proteolytic Markers and Myogenic Regulatory Factors in Juveniles of Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata)

by Miquel Perelló-Amorós, Isabel García-Pérez, Albert Sánchez-Moya, Arnau Innamorati, Emilio J. Vélez, Isabel Achaerandio, Montserrat Pujolà, Josep Calduch-Giner, Jaume Pérez-Sánchez, Jaume Fernández-Borràs, Josefina Blasco and Joaquim Gutiérrez

Animals 2021, 11(8), 2182; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082182 - 23 Jul 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4101

Abstract

The physiological and endocrine benefits of sustained exercise in fish were largely demonstrated, and this work examines how the swimming activity can modify the effects of two diets (high-protein, HP: 54% proteins, 15% lipids; high-energy, HE: 50% proteins, 20% lipids) on different growth [...] Read more.

The physiological and endocrine benefits of sustained exercise in fish were largely demonstrated, and this work examines how the swimming activity can modify the effects of two diets (high-protein, HP: 54% proteins, 15% lipids; high-energy, HE: 50% proteins, 20% lipids) on different growth performance markers in gilthead sea bream juveniles. After 6 weeks of experimentation, fish under voluntary swimming and fed with HP showed significantly higher circulating growth hormone (GH) levels and plasma GH/insulin-like growth-1 (IGF-1) ratio than fish fed with HE, but under exercise, differences disappeared. The transcriptional profile of the GH-IGFs axis molecules and myogenic regulatory factors in liver and muscle was barely affected by diet and swimming conditions. Under voluntary swimming, fish fed with HE showed significantly increased mRNA levels of capn1, capn2, capn3, capns1a, n3, and ub, decreased gene and protein expression of Ctsl and Mafbx and lower muscle texture than fish fed with HP. When fish were exposed to sustained exercise, diet-induced differences in proteases’ expression and muscle texture almost disappeared. Overall, these results suggest that exercise might be a useful tool to minimize nutrient imbalances and that proteolytic genes could be good markers of the culture conditions and dietary treatments in fish. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Aquaculture Research)

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18 pages, 1776 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Musculoskeletal Growth Modulation in Gilthead Sea Bream Juveniles Reared at High Water Temperature and Fed with Palm and Rapeseed Oils-Based Diets

by Sara Balbuena-Pecino, Natàlia Riera-Heredia, Esther Gasch-Navalón, Albert Sánchez-Moya, Ramon Fontanillas, Joaquim Gutiérrez, Isabel Navarro and Encarnación Capilla

Animals 2021, 11(2), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020260 - 21 Jan 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3012

Abstract

The upward trend of seawater temperature has encouraged improving the knowledge of its consequences on fish, considering also the development of diets including vegetable ingredients as an approach to achieve a more sustainable aquaculture. This study aims to determine the effects on musculoskeletal [...] Read more.

The upward trend of seawater temperature has encouraged improving the knowledge of its consequences on fish, considering also the development of diets including vegetable ingredients as an approach to achieve a more sustainable aquaculture. This study aims to determine the effects on musculoskeletal growth of: (1) a high-water temperature of 28 °C (versus 21 °C) in gilthead sea bream juveniles (Sparus aurata) fed with a diet rich in palm oil and, (2) feeding the fish reared at 28 °C with two other diets containing rapeseed oil or an equilibrated combination of both vegetable oils. Somatic parameters and mRNA levels of growth hormone-insulin-like growth factors (GH-IGFs) axis-, osteogenic-, myogenic-, lipid metabolism- and oxidative stress-related genes in vertebra bone and/or white muscle are analyzed. Overall, the data indicate that high-water rearing temperature in this species leads to different adjustments through modulating the gene expression of members of the GH-IGFs axis (down-regulating igf-1, its receptors, and binding proteins) and also, to bone turnover (reducing the resorption-activity genes cathepsin K (ctsk) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (mmp9)) to achieve harmonic musculoskeletal growth. Moreover, the combination of palm and rapeseed oils seems to be the most beneficial at high-water rearing temperature for both balanced somatic growth and muscular fatty acid uptake and oxidation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Aquaculture Research)

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19 pages, 2699 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combination of Freezing, Low Sodium Brine, and Cold Smoking on the Quality and Shelf-Life of Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) Fillets as a Strategy to Innovate the Market of Aquaculture Products

by Concetta Maria Messina, Rosaria Arena, Giovanna Ficano, Laura La Barbera, Maria Morghese and Andrea Santulli

Animals 2021, 11(1), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010185 - 14 Jan 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2759

Abstract

Aquaculture is playing a leading role in both meeting the growing demand for seafood and increasing the sustainability of the fish production sector. Thus, innovative technologies that improve its sustainability, competitiveness, and safety are necessary for growth in the sector. This study aimed [...] Read more.

Aquaculture is playing a leading role in both meeting the growing demand for seafood and increasing the sustainability of the fish production sector. Thus, innovative technologies that improve its sustainability, competitiveness, and safety are necessary for growth in the sector. This study aimed to develop cold smoked sea bass fillets from aquaculture. The aptitude of frozen and fresh fillets for cold smoking was investigated by processing both fresh and thawed fillets kept previously at −20 °C for 15, 30, 60, and 90 days. Moreover, to develop a low-salt product, fillets were immersed in low-sodium or standard brine. Sensory, biochemical, and physical-chemical analyses were performed on both the raw fillets and the smoked fillets during vacuum packaged storage for 35 days at 1 ± 0.5 °C. Young modulus values, representative of texture and sensory evaluation, showed that the quality of fresh fillets was better compared to the thawed ones, thus affecting the quality of the final product as the correlation between parameters showed (principal component analysis). Cold smoking was effective in both maintaining the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) below the threshold for spoilage and preventing lipid peroxidation. Moreover, partial sodium replacement by potassium did not alter the sensory attributes of smoked fillets, which maintained high scores up to 21 days. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Aquaculture Research)

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13 pages, 317 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Muscle Plasticity in Fish

by Prasanthi Koganti, Jianbo Yao and Beth M. Cleveland

Animals 2021, 11(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010061 - 30 Dec 2020

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 3831

Abstract

Growth rates in fish are largely dependent on genetic and environmental factors, of which the latter can be highly variable throughout development. For this reason, muscle growth in fish is particularly dynamic as muscle structure and function can be altered by environmental conditions, [...] Read more.

Growth rates in fish are largely dependent on genetic and environmental factors, of which the latter can be highly variable throughout development. For this reason, muscle growth in fish is particularly dynamic as muscle structure and function can be altered by environmental conditions, a concept referred to as muscle plasticity. Myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) like Myogenin, MyoD, and Pax7 control the myogenic mechanisms regulating quiescent muscle cell maintenance, proliferation, and differentiation, critical processes central for muscle plasticity. This review focuses on recent advancements in molecular mechanisms involving microRNAs (miRNAs) and DNA methylation that regulate the expression and activity of MRFs in fish. Findings provide overwhelming support that these mechanisms are significant regulators of muscle plasticity, particularly in response to environmental factors like temperature and nutritional challenges. Genetic variation in DNA methylation and miRNA expression also correlate with variation in body weight and growth, suggesting that genetic markers related to these mechanisms may be useful for genomic selection strategies. Collectively, this knowledge improves the understanding of mechanisms regulating muscle plasticity and can contribute to the development of husbandry and breeding strategies that improve growth performance and the ability of the fish to respond to environmental challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Aquaculture Research)

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