Effects of dietary Bacillus subtilis, Tetraselmis chuii, and Phaeodactylum tricornutum, singularly or in combination, on the immune response and disease resistance of sea bream (Sparus aurata L.)

Combined or individual effects of two microalgae (Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Tetraselmis chuii) and Bacillus subtilis on immune response, gene expression, and survival to challenge with Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida of gilthead sea bream were investigated. To test the capacity of B. subtilis to grow employing the microalgae polysaccharides as energy and carbon source, an in vitro assay was defined, and demonstrated that the digestion product of microalgae, mainly P. tricornutum, supported the growth of B. subtilis much better than glucose. For the in vivo study, fish were distributed in six equal groups (each of two replicates) and received one of the following experimental diets: C) control, non-supplemented diet; T) T. chuii 100 g kg−1; P) P. tricornutum 100 g kg−1; B) B. subtilis (107 cfu g−1); BT) B. subtilis (107 cfu g−1)+T. chuii (100 g kg−1); and BP) B. subtilis (107 cfu g−1)+P. tricornutum (100 g kg−1). The complement activity, serum IgM level, respiratory burst, phagocytic activity, and expression of seven selected immune-related genes in head-kidney were evaluated following two and four weeks of treatment. At the end of the feeding trial, fish were challenged by intraperitoneal injection of LD50 concentration of P. damselae subsp. piscicida and mortality was recorded. This is the first study testing the immunomodulatory capacity of the microalgae used in the present work. The dietary applications of B. subtilis, T. chuii, and P. tricornutum, singly or in combination, may exhibit up-regulating effects on gilthead sea bream immune parameters. P. tricornutum demonstrated the highest immunostimulant activity. There were no significant differences between combination feeding and feeding ingredients separately. Our results demonstrated the potential of microalgae as immunostimulants for fish, although further studies regarding the implications and effects of a stimulated immune system against pathogens, especially the protective capacity against specific diseases, are necessary.

► Effects of microalgae and Bacillus subtilis, single or combined, on immune parameters.
► Experimental diets exhibit up-regulating effects on studied activities.
► No significant differences between combination and separate feeding were observed.
► Phaeodactylum tricornutum demonstrated the highest immunostimulant activity.