Bioprospecting and application of a consortium of probiotic bacteriocinogenic bacteria in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochomis niloticus).

• Grant number: 20/06376-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2023
• End date: April 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Fishery Resources and Fishery Engineering - Aquaculture
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Pinheiro de Souza Oliveira
• Grantee: Elionio Galvão Frota
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/25511-1 - Bioprospecting of bacteriocin-producing bacteria: from culture optimization to the application in animal production systems, AP.TEM

Abstract

The use of probiotic microorganisms in the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections in animals for human consumption has been considered an efficient alternative to the use of antibiotics. In addition, recent studies demonstrate that certain biomolecules produced by these microorganisms, such as bacteriocins, vitamins, fatty acids, exopolysaccharides, among others, provide improved immunity and the development of their hosts. The probiotic microorganisms most used today in the food and pharmaceutical industries are those belonging to the group of acid lactic bacteria (LABs), since they are considered safe by the regulatory agencies in this area. However, it is known that the beneficial effects generated by probiotics are specific to each host and that, frequently, each biomolecule of interest is synthesized, in greater quantity, by a certain bacterial strain. In this context, the present project has as main objective the isolation and identification of probiotic LABs present in the intestinal microbiota of Nile tilapia (Oreochomis niloticus) aiming at the development of encapsulated biotechnological products with antibiotic action. For that, strains with a high capacity to produce bacteriocins will be selected and from this selection, compatibility tests between the strains will be carried out and a mix of probiotics will be made later. The strains that compose it will be individually microencapsulated and administered daily in the fish diet, through feed, in order to ascertain the probiotic efficacy of this mixture. The results obtained will make it possible to expand knowledge about the composition and function of the intestinal microbiota in the health of these animals, in addition to contributing to the development of processes and products with large-scale application.