Assessments of fish gut microbiota during development, and in response to environmental and dietary change

背景：随着人口以惊人的速度增长，以及目前生活在这个星球上的数十亿人正在挨饿或遭受营养缺乏，生产更多的鱼可以做出重要的贡献。在发展中国家，食用鱼类的营养益处与提高粮食安全和降低贫困率有着积极的联系。鱼，特别是通过水产养殖生产的鱼，通常比其他动物饲料便宜，可供低收入个人消费。鱼还含有更高的蛋白质含量，以及其他重要的矿物质和维生素。鱼类供应的增加意味着更好的健康和更多样化的饮食。毫无疑问，促进和保持鱼类健康对提高鱼类产量至关重要。广泛的研究表明，肠道内的微生物在维持和促进宿主健康方面发挥着重要作用。它们可以将一些食物物质分解成一些必需的营养素和维生素，对维持宿主的免疫力、健康和幸福很重要。这些微生物还能保护肠道免受致病菌的侵袭。鱼类肠道微生物组成的特性以及它们如何受到环境、饮食和发育因素的影响尚处于起步阶段。有肉食性、草食性和杂食性鱼类，它们自然地选择特定的饮食。我们不知道它们的消化生理是否能适应消费商品饲料。这一知识对于制定合适的饲料以避免消化问题是很重要的。在这个项目中，一组在营养学、肠道生理学/微生物学和肠道适应饮食变化方面知识渊博的科学家旨在评估i)栖息地（养殖场）、ii)不同饮食习惯的鱼类、iii)饮食和iv)鱼类成熟对鱼类肠道微生物种群的影响。将使用从不同地点（养殖场）获得的成年肉食性、草食性和杂食性鱼类（1)和同一物种的鱼苗(2)的肠道内容物，这些鱼苗在控制条件下生长，并以不同的规定饲料维持）。利用现代技术，微生物种群的精确组成及其产生的营养物质将被确定。其他身体参数，如生长、食物转化率和肠道形态将被评估。预期的结果是：证明了居住在草食性、肉食性和杂食性鱼类肠道中的微生物种群的信息。确定环境、饮食和鱼类对肠道微生物组成和活性的影响。了解优势微生物种群对环境、饮食、宿主和发育信号的反应。影响：在鱼类成熟期间和不同饮食习惯的鱼类中肠道微生物群的特征将使基于科学的饲料（饲料补充）配方能够增强选择性的肠道微生物群，从而促进鱼类的生长、健康和生产力。这项研究的好处是：鱼：正确的饮食将保持和促进鱼的健康和福利，预防疾病和提高生产力。公众：越来越多的鱼意味着更好的健康和更多样化的饮食。社会和经济：为创造财富和经济繁荣作出贡献。商业水产养殖具有刺激经济增长和创造就业机会的潜力。来自全球企业的研发投资。科学知识的商业化和利用，导致与工业的互动。

Background: With human population proliferating at an ever alarming rate, and with billions of individuals presently living on the planet starving or suffering from nutrient deficiencies, producing more fish can make an important contribution. The nutritional benefits of fish consumption have a positive link to increased food security and decreased poverty rates in developing countries. Fish, particularly produced through aquaculture, is commonly cheaper than other animal feed, and can be consumed by lower income individuals. Fish also contains much higher protein levels, as well as other important minerals and vitamins. Increased availability of fish can mean better health and a more diverse diet.Undoubtedly promoting and maintaining fish health is paramount for enhancing fish production.Extensive research has shown that microbes that reside in the intestine have important roles in maintaining and promoting the health of the host. They can breakdown some food materials to some essential nutrients and vitamins important to maintaining immunity, health and well-being of the host. The microbes also protect the gut from colonization by pathogenic bacteria. The identity of fish gut microbial composition and how they can be influenced by environmental, dietary and developmental factors is in its infancy. There are carnivorous, herbivorous and omnivorous fish which naturally select specific diets. We do not know if their digestive physiology can adapt to consume commercial feed. This knowledge is important of formulation of appropriate feed to avoid digestive problems.In this project, a group of scientists knowledgeable in nutrition, intestinal physiology/microbiology and intestinal adaptation to dietary change aim to assess the impact of i) habitat (farms), ii) fish species of different dietary habits, iii) diet and iv) fish maturation, on the microbial populations that reside in the fish intestine.The intestinal content of 1) adult carnivorous, herbivorous and omnivorous fish obtained from different locations (farms) and 2) fry of the same species, grown under controlled conditions and maintained on different defined diets, will be used. Using modern technologies, the precise composition of microbial populations, and the nutrients they produce, will be determined. Other bodily parameters such as growth, food conversion ratio, and gut morphology will be assessed.Anticipated outcomes are: Proving information on microbial populations that reside in intestines of herbivorous, carnivorous and omnivorous fish.Identifying contributions of environment, diet and fish species on the composition and activity of gut microbes.Gaining knowledge on the responses of predominant microbial populations to environment, diet, host and developmental signals.Impact: Characterization of gut microbiota during fish maturation and in fish with different dietary habits will allow scientifically-based feed (feed supplement) formulation to enhance selective gut microbial populations that promote fish growth, health and productivity.Benefits from this research are to:Fish: The correct diet will maintain and promote fish health and welfare, prevent disease and increase productivity.The public: Increasing availability of fish means better health and more diverse diet.Society and Economy: Contributing towards wealth creation and economic prosperity. Commercial aquaculture has the potential to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.R&D investment from global business.The commercialisation and exploitation of scientific knowledge, leading to interaction with industries.