The aptitude of probiotics and prebiotics of banana pseudo-stem flour in fish feed: a pilot study

• Grant number: 21/07441-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2022
• End date: April 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Technology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Lúcia Barretto Penna
• Grantee: Ana Lúcia Barretto Penna
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de São José do Rio Preto. São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Carlos Ricardo Soccol ; Danielle de Carla Dias ; Giovani Sampaio Gonçalves ; João Cláudio Thoméo ; Juliano De Dea Lindner ; Leonardo Tachibana ; Luiz Henrique Florindo ; Marcia Maria de Souza Moretti
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/11463-0 - Technical training for food management of Nile tilapia and sampling techniques of material for histological, microbiological and immunological analysis., BP.TT

Abstract

It has been shown that the high non-digestible polysaccharide content in vegetal, like banana pseudo-stem (BPS), is related to potential prebiotic effect. These carbohydrates act as substrate for lactic acid bacteria (LAB), not only during its cultivation but also in the intestinal microbiota, when consumed as food. In this context, agro-industrial by-products used as food have the potential to modulate intestinal composition through many mechanisms. Additionally, the use of agricultural byproducts is advantageous since it is a cheap and abundantly available material. Thus, we intend to use inexpensive sources of nutrients, such as alternative culture medium based on BPS flour and other by-products, aiming booster the bacteria growth, since the cultivation step until the surviving under human intestinal conditions. The technological variables, such as pH during the growth and growing phase at harvesting time will be also studied. In this step, the fermentation tests will be carried out on a small scale and then, scaled-up into pilot plant fermenters, under ideal conditions for the bacteria, considering temperature, pH, and culture media. The study of growth for probiotic bacteria biomass production will be evaluated. LAB cultures will be freeze-dried for preservation. Other interesting output that can be expected is the production of antimicrobial compounds by the probiotics against pathogens. In this regard, in vitro test for evaluating the reduction of pathogens growth by the production of antimicrobial compounds by LAB will be performed. To evaluate the in vivo effect, the prebiotic and the probiotic bacteria will be incorporated into Nile tilapia diets. The fish will be fed with different diets and evaluated for growth performance, intestinal microbiota modulation, and immune response. Lastly, challenge tests will be performed with pathogens under controlled conditions, simulating the conditions of fishes rearing to confirm the protection of the probiotic bacteria against pathogens. (AU)