Investigations into the use of pre and probiotics to promote the performance and
health of cultured marine invertebrates.
Background: World aquaculture output is valued at $110 billion with increasing dependence
on limited world resources. This has led to a consequent rise in scientific developments and
strategic policies due to concerns led by consumers and environmental agencies within a
national and international framework (e.g. FAO, EU, WHO and individual governments).
Demand for fish and shellfish produced through aquaculture is projected to increase rapidly in
the coming decades (FAO) and improvements in methods of production and sustainability are
a key priority. Considering the known benefits of seafood, as a rich source of Omega-3 fatty
acids, in regards to human health (e.g. cardiovascular health, brain development, lowering
cholesterol and blood pressure etc) the provision of this protein source is of high importance.
However, a significant limitation on production in aquaculture is the incidence of infectious
disease and the lack of effective therapeutic methods to control disease outbreaks. In light of
the EU moratorium that bans use of antibiotic growth promoters (EU Regulation no.
1831/2003), environmentally friendly alternatives for disease prevention and growth
enhancement must be sought. Promising among these alternatives is the enhancement of
fish and shellfish welfare and immune response by the addition of dietary prebiotics (nondigestible polysaccharides/oligosaccharides) and probiotics (beneficial microbes).
Research Aims: Our aim is to investigate the effects of pre and probiotics in in sea urchins
initially and to define some of the mechanisms behind their action that may be applicable to
other marine invertebrates.
This will be achieved by addressing the following objectives:
1: Identify endogenous gastrointestinal microbiota
2: Assess the interaction between the pre and probiotics and autochthonous microbiota
3: Determine the effects of pre and probiotics on host immune system
4: Assessing the effects of pre and probiotics on systemic health and production
The research will be carried out with the support of :
THE AQUACULTURE & FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, UCC
The Aquaculture & Fisheries Development Centre is a 1200m 2 complex with facilities to carry
out fisheries and aquaculture research including two tank rooms with tropical marine system
freshwater and marine recirculation units, broodstock conditioning units, shellfish on-growing
units, a larval culture system and live food culture facilities.
AQUACULTURE RESEARCH GROUP - Prof. Gavin Burnell Principal Investigator.
Research at the Aquaculture Research Group continues on the central theme of sustainable
development of aquaculture and fisheries in Ireland. In 2009 Maria O’Mahoney was awarded
a PhD for a thesis entitled: Development of a novel binder for aquaculture: application of a
konjac glucomannan-xanthan gum binder to formulated feed development for the sea urchin
Paracentrotus lividus and abalone Haliotis discus hannai (Supervisors: Prof. Gavin Burnell, Dr
Gerry Mouzakitis, Prof. Edwin Morris). A worldwide patent has resulted from a series of
research projects on the feeds and feeding of the purple sea urchin. Currently the
commercialisation of the UrchinPlatterTM System continues on a global scale with Gourmet
Marine Ltd. (a UCC spin-off company).
The following researchers will be advising and assisting the project:
Co-Supervisors
Prof Gavin Burnell (UCC)
Dr Sarah Culloty (UCC)
Prof Simon Davies (Plymouth University)
Dr Daniel Merrifield (Plymouth University)
Collaborators
Dr Joe Kerry (UCC)
Dr Valeria Matranga (Training) - CNR – Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology,
Palermo, Italy
Some preliminary work has been carried out using the purple sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus
as a model. The findings are summarised in the following Abstract which has recently been
submitted to the AQUA 2012 Conference (EAS/WAS) in Prague (Sept 1-5, 2012)
A FIRST ATTEMPT TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF DIETARY PRO AND PREBIOTICS ON
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF AN ECHINODERM - THE PURPLE SEA URCHIN
Paracentrotus lividus.
Gavin Burnell*, Paul Ryan, Daniel Merrifield and Valeria Matranga
Aquaculture and Fisheries Development Centre
School of Biological Earth and Environmental Science
University College Cork
Ireland
g.burnell@ucc.ie
Abstract
The demand for urchin roe has increased significantly in recent times and wild stocks have
been depleted by overfishing. For this reason the closed cycle production of farmed sea
urchins is increasing and at the same time commercial fishermen are developing techniques
for augmenting the gonad of wild urchins. Intensive culture will increase the risk of disease
outbreaks and the stress arising from transportation of wild fished urchins could lead to
increased mortality. Efforts in aquaculture are now aimed at optimizing production levels and
finding alternatives to antibiotic and antifungal chemicals by using prebiotics and probiotics.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the probiotic bacterium Pediococcus
acidilactici and the prebiotic mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) confer a beneficial immune
response effect on Paracentrotus lividus, against a vibrio challenge. Urchins (45 ± 5mm test
diameter) were fed a standard salmonid diet (commercial diet: 45% protein, 24% lipid), a
probiotic supplemented diet (the standard diet with P. acidilactici at 0.9 x 106 CFU g-1) or a
prebiotic supplemented diet (the standard diet with mannan oligosaccharide at 0.5%) for
fifteen days. Following this, half the urchins were inoculated with Vibrio anguillarum. Red
spherule and philopodial cell counts and lysozyme analyses were performed daily over the
subsequent six days during which time the urchins were not fed. No significant difference
was identified in cellular and lysozyme immune response between the diets (P>0.05),
although there was a trend towards suppression of the cellular immune response in probiotic
and prebiotic-fed individuals. Standard protocols were successfully established for the
administration of diet, sampling of coelomic fluid and administration of a bacterial stressor.
*Presenting author