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

背景：随着人类人口以惊人的速度激增，以及地球上目前生活在饥饿或营养缺乏的数十亿人，生产更多的鱼可以做出重要的贡献。食用鱼类的营养益处与加强发展中国家的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，可以供低收入个人消费。鱼还含有更高的蛋白质水平，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，促进和维持鱼类健康对提高鱼类产量至关重要。大量研究表明，寄生在肠道中的微生物在维持和促进宿主健康方面具有重要作用。它们可以将一些食物原料分解成一些对维持宿主的免疫力、健康和福祉至关重要的基本营养素和维生素。这些微生物还可以保护肠道免受病原菌的侵袭。鱼类肠道微生物组成的一致性以及它们如何受到环境、饮食和发育因素的影响还处于初级阶段。有肉食性、草食性和杂食性鱼类，它们自然会选择特定的食物。我们不知道它们的消化生理是否能适应商业饲料的消费。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有知识的科学家旨在评估i)栖息地(养殖场)、ii)不同饮食习性的鱼类物种、iii)饮食和iv)鱼类成熟对鱼类肠道中微生物种群的影响。1)从不同地点(养殖场)获得的成年食肉、草食和杂食性鱼类的肠道内容物，以及2)在受控条件下生长并以不同定义的饲料维持的同种鱼苗。利用现代技术，将确定微生物种群的准确组成及其产生的营养物质。将评估其他身体参数，如生长、食物转化率和肠道形态。反解放的结果是：证明关于草食性、肉食性和杂食性鱼类肠道中微生物种群的信息。确定环境、饮食和鱼类物种对肠道微生物组成和活动的贡献。获得主要微生物种群对环境、饮食、宿主和发育信号的响应的知识。影响：鱼类成熟期间和不同饮食习性的鱼类肠道微生物区系的特征将允许基于科学的饲料(饲料补充剂)配方来增强促进鱼类生长的选择性肠道微生物种群，健康和生产力。这项研究的好处是：鱼：正确的饮食将维持和促进鱼的健康和福利，预防疾病和增加产量。公众：增加鱼的可获得性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做出贡献。商业水产养殖具有刺激经济增长和创造就业的潜力。来自全球企业的研发投资。科学知识的商业化和开发，导致与行业的互动。

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.