Study of the intestinal microbiota of Solea senegalensis specimens after the administration of the probiotic Shewanella putrefaciens SpPdp11 by Next Generation Sequencing

Abstract

Introduction Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host [1]. The use of probiotics is a key tool to protect farmed fish, in many cases predisposed to stress and/or infection under intensive culture conditions. In this way, Shewanella putrefaciens Ppd11 (SpPdp11) is a microorganism applied to farmed fish such as Solea senegalensis and Sparus aurata that has demonstrated probiotic effect such as promotes the growth and a better efficiency of feed utilization, stimulating the immune system of S. senegalensis and S. aurata, and the stress tolerance of S. senegalensis specimens to high stocking densities [2]. In addition, its capability to modulate the intestinal microbiota of these farmed fish has also been demonstrated using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE). At present, the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) methodology is a better and more sensitive way to evaluate the composition of the microbiota and to analyze the effects on it of different factors, such as the dietary supplementation with a probiotic. In this context, this is the first time that the effect of the probiotic on the intestinal microbiota of S. senegalensis is analyzed using the NGS methodology.