Dietary Supplementation Effects on Aquatic Immune Responses

Dietary supplementation in aquaculture has emerged as a pivotal strategy to bolster the innate and adaptive immune systems of farmed aquatic species, thereby reducing reliance on chemotherapeutics and mitigating disease outbreaks. A diverse array of supplements—including microalgae, macroalgal extracts, probiotic bacteria, essential amino acids and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids—has been shown to modulate antioxidant defences, enhance barrier integrity of the gut, and fine-tune cytokine production. In many teleost models, inclusion of algal biomass or isolated bioactive compounds elevates activities of key antioxidant enzymes (such as superoxide dismutase and catalase), lowers markers of lipid peroxidation, and upregulates gene networks involved in cytokine–receptor signalling and tight-junction assembly. These effects translate into improved lymphoproliferative capacity, enhanced phagocytic activity and greater resistance to bacterial or fungal challenges. The global significance of such interventions spans improved food security in low-income regions, more sustainable intensification of finfish and shellfish cultures, and the potential to decrease antibiotic usage in aquaculture. Concrete applications range from optimised feed formulations for tilapia and bass to functional diets for model organisms such as zebrafish, illustrating the broad practical utility of dietary immunostimulants in aquatic health management.

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Dietary Supplementation Effects on Aquatic Immune Responses publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in dietary supplementation effects on aquatic immune responses across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Innate immunity: The first line of defence comprising non-specific cells and molecules (e.g., phagocytes, lysozyme) that respond rapidly to pathogens.

Antioxidant capacity: The ability of biological systems to neutralise reactive oxygen species, often measured via enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT).

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs): Essential fatty acids (e.g., arachidonic acid, EPA, DHA) that serve as precursors to lipid mediators regulating inflammation and immune responses.

Tight junctions: Protein complexes between epithelial cells that maintain barrier integrity and prevent pathogen translocation.

Phagosome: An intracellular vesicle formed around a pathogen by phagocytic cells, leading to microbial degradation.

References

1. Dietary Supplementation of Chlorella vulgaris Effectively Enhanced the Intestinal Antioxidant Capacity and Immune Status of Micropterus salmoides. Antioxidants (2023).
2. Effects of dietary supplementation with a microalga (Schizochytrium sp.) on the hemato-immunological, and intestinal histological parameters and gut microbiota of Nile tilapia in net cages. PLOS ONE (2020).
3. Dietary Supplementation With ω6 LC-PUFA-Rich Algae Modulates Zebrafish Immune Function and Improves Resistance to Streptococcal Infection. Frontiers in Immunology (2018).