Effects of dietary supplementation of A3α-peptidoglycan on innate immune responses and defense activity of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

To determine the effect of dietary supplementation of A3α-peptidoglycan (A3α-PG), extracted from Bifidobacterium sp. cell wall, on the immune responses of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and explore a possible influence of doses and administration length, a 40-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate graded levels (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 g A3α-PG/kg diet) in the diet of juvenile Japanese flounder, followed by a challenge with Vibrio anguillarum by intraperitoneal injection. Growth, serum lysozyme, hemolytic complement activity, blood leucocyte phagocytic activity, respiratory burst, and total serum protein were monitored at intervals of 10, 20, 30 and 40 days.Growth, serum lysozyme, hemolytic complement activity, blood leucocyte phagocytic activity of juvenile Japanese flounder were generally enhanced by dietary supplementation of 1, 2, 4 and 8 g A3α-PG/kg diet and also enhanced immune responses, but not growth. The beneficial influence of A3α-PG on most of the tested immune responses were dose- and/or administration length-dependent except serum lysozyme, which was only stimulated by higher doses (more than 2 g A3α-PG/kg) after 40 days feeding. No significant influence of dietary supplementation of 0.5 g A3α-PG/kg on innate immunity was observed on juvenile fish. The highest dose explored in the present study, 16 g A3α-PG/kg, also failed to show any significant influences, although no obvious pathology was observed. Dietary supplementation of A3α-PG showed protection against V. anguillarum. The present study showed an immunomodulatory effect of dietary supplementation of A3α-PG and the potential use in health management of cultured economic fish species such as Japanese flounder.