Special Issue "Advances in Dietary Protein Research: Shaping Innovative Feeds for a Sustainable Ocean"

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cláudia Aragão
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Aquaculture Research Group, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR)/Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Interests: aquaculture; nutrition, amino acids; alternative ingredients; fish welfare
Dr. Sofia Engrola
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Aquaculture Research Group, Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Interests: aquaculture; nutrition; growth; protein metabolism; feeding strategies
Dr. Benjamín Costas
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
Interests: nutritional immunology; functional feeds; amino acids; sustainable aquaculture; animal welfare

Special Issue Information

Aquaculture has been facing the challenge to find alternative ingredients for innovative feed formulations that foster a sustainable future growth. Protein is the most expensive ingredient in feeds for fish and shrimp, and research on alternative proteins to fishmeal is being fruitful in the surge of sustainable feeds. Current knowledge indicates that the importance of protein and its constituents (amino acids) goes beyond growth, and aspects such as fish health and welfare must be taken into consideration in the development of novel feeds.

In this Special Issue, we invite contributions focusing on protein nutrition in fish and shrimp, at all developmental stages, in the following research topics:

  • Protein and amino acid requirements;
  • Alternative/non-conventional dietary proteins;
  • Inclusion of protein hydrolysates and amino acids as nutritional strategies to improve fish performance and robustness;
  • Effects of alternative proteins, hydrolysates, and amino acids on stress and/or immune responses, as well as their impacts on health and welfare.

Gathering information not only on how alternative proteins, hydrolysates, and amino acids affect growth performance and feed efficiency but also on their impacts on the immune system and disease resistance is of utmost importance to the development of innovative diets for fish and shrimp that guarantee a sustainable ocean future.

Dr. Cláudia Aragão
Dr. Sofia Engrola
Dr. Benjamín Costas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • protein nutrition
  • alternative proteins
  • protein hydrolysates
  • amino acids
  • fish nutrition
  • shrimp nutrition
  • nutrition and health
  • nutrition and welfare
  • nutrition and immune response
  • nutrition and stress response

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

Article
Porcine Protein Hydrolysates (PEPTEIVA®) Promote Growth and Enhance Systemic Immunity in Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata)
Animals 2021, 11(7), 2122; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11072122 - 16 Jul 2021
Viewed by 893
Abstract
The effects of porcine plasma protein hydrolysate (PPH) on growth, feed efficiency, and immune responses was evaluated in Sparus aurata. Fish were fed two isoproteic (48% protein), isolipidic (17% fat), and isoenergetic diets (21.7 MJ/kg) diets, one of them containing 5% PPH [...] Read more.
The effects of porcine plasma protein hydrolysate (PPH) on growth, feed efficiency, and immune responses was evaluated in Sparus aurata. Fish were fed two isoproteic (48% protein), isolipidic (17% fat), and isoenergetic diets (21.7 MJ/kg) diets, one of them containing 5% PPH at the expense of fishmeal. Both diets were tested for 92 days. A significant increase in growth was observed in fish fed the PPH diet in comparison to the control group (182.2 ± 4.4 vs. 173.8 ± 4.1 g), as well as an increase in feed intake without worsening FCR values. An ex vivo assay, with splenocytes incubated with lipopolysaccharide, was conducted to evaluate the cellular immune competence of fish. Genes involved in humoral immunity (lys, IgM), pro- (tnf-α, il-1β), and anti-inflammatory (tgf-β1, il10) cytokines were upregulated in the PPH group in comparison to the control group. The inclusion of PPH in diets enhanced the antibacterial capacity of skin mucus, as the co-culture of selected bacteria (E. coli, V. anguillarum, and P. anguilliseptica) with skin mucus indicated. The present results showed that the PPH in low fishmeal diets (2%) promoted growth and feed efficiency, as well as enhancing the immune response, which indicates that this is a safe and functional ingredient for aquafeeds. Full article
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Article
Dietary Histidine, Threonine, or Taurine Supplementation Affects Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Immune Status
Animals 2021, 11(5), 1193; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051193 - 21 Apr 2021
Viewed by 729
Abstract
AAs have become interesting feed ingredients to be used in functional fish feeds as not only are they protein building blocks, but they also participate in several other key metabolic processes. In the present study, a comprehensive analysis of transcriptomics, hematology, and humoral [...] Read more.
AAs have become interesting feed ingredients to be used in functional fish feeds as not only are they protein building blocks, but they also participate in several other key metabolic processes. In the present study, a comprehensive analysis of transcriptomics, hematology, and humoral immune parameters (plasma and skin mucus) were measured twice over the course of the feeding trial (four weeks). Plasma antiprotease activity increased in fish fed Thr compared to those fed the CTRL and Tau treatments, regardless of sampling time. The bactericidal activity in skin mucus decreased in fish fed Tau and His treatments compared to those fed the CTRL diet after two weeks. The membrane IgT (mIgT) was upregulated in fish fed Tau after four weeks, while C-type lectin domain family domain 10 member (clec10a) was downregulated in fish fed Thr after two weeks of feeding. By comparing the molecular signatures of head-kidney by means of a PLS-DA, it is possible to visualize that the main difference is between the two sampling points, regardless of diet. Altogether, these results suggest that dietary supplementation with these AAs at the tested levels causes mild immune-modulation effects in gilthead seabream, which should be further studied under disease challenge conditions. Full article
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Figure 1

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: The Use of Full Fat and Defatted Zophobas morio Larvae Meal as a Fishmeal Protein Replacer in the Diet of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata)

Authors: Adamantia Asimaki1, Pier Psofakis1, Marina C. Neofytou1, Elli-Z. Gkalogianni1, Eleni Mente1, Christos I. Rum-bos2, Christos G. Athanassiou2, Eleni Fountoulaki3, Morgane Henry3 and Ioannis T. Karapanag

Affiliation: 1 Aquaculture Laboratory, Department of Ichthyology and Aquatic Environment, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece

2 Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece

3 Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Athens, Greece

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Title: Growth and Welfare of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) In Response to Graded Levels of Insect and Poultry by-Product Meals in Fish Meal-Deprived Diets

Authors: Di Marco P.1, Cardinaletti G.2, Faccenda F.3, Messina M.2, Donadelli V1., Daniso E.2, Petochi T. 1, Volpatti D.2, Bulfon C.2, Finoia, M.G.1, Longobardi A1, Marino G.1, Tibaldi E.2

Affiliation: 1 ISPRA Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Rome, Italy

2 Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences (Di4A), University of Udine, Italy

3 Foundation Edmund Mach, Technology Transfer Centre, S. Michele all’Adige, Italy

Abstract: There is a growing interest on processed animal proteins (PAPs) as alternative or complementary sources to conventional proteins in diets for carnivorous fish. The present study evaluated growth and welfare of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss fed over 13 weeks isoproteic and isolipidic diets (45% and 26% DM) deprived of fish meal, where graded levels (10, 30, 60%) of protein from plant sources of a soybean meal-rich diet (Veg) were replaced by protein from poultry by-product meal (PBM) and H. illucens pupae meal (BSFM) singly or in combination. In addition, a fish meal based diet (Fish) was also tested. Each of the resulting 8 diets, was offered to triplicate groups of fish (ibw 54 g). At the end of the trial growth response, activity and gene expression of gut enzymes and markers of stress, blood chemistry, liver histology and innate immune parameters where analysed. Moderate to high substitution of vegetable protein with BSFM or PBM resulted in improved growth and N retention, while a diet combining the test ingredients (H10P50) resulted in the best FCR. Changes in gut brush border enzyme activity due to the diet were small in magnitude. Gastric chitinase was up-regulated in fish fed diet H60 compared to those fed H10, H30, CV and CF. Gut peptide and amino acid transport genes expression (PepT1 and B(0)AT) were barely modulated by the PAP source and inclusion level. Dietary treatments did not affect serum cortisol levels (P>0.05), suggesting no stress in fish. Serum protein, albumin, triglycerides and cholesterol concentration in fish fed diets H60, P60, and H10P50 were similar to those of fish fed diet Veg, while serum proteins were slightly but significantly reduced in those fed diets P30 and H10. Serum cholesterol was higher in fish fed diet Fish compared to the other ones (P<0.05). Moderate liver steatosis was observed in fish fed diets including PBM, while lipid accumulation and hepatosomatic index were slightly attenuated in those including BSFM. Liver hsp70 gene was down-regulated and the respiratory burst activity of head kidney leukocytes was lowered as the dietary level of both PAPs increased in the diet compared to diet Veg. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (pcna) was up-regulated in the intestine of fish fed the Veg diet . Although all diets ensured good nutritional status to fish, the result of the present investigation show that replacing dietary plant protein for moderate to high level of protein from PBM and BSFM represent a valuable strategy to improve growth and welfare in trout fed fish meal free diets.

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