Applications of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as an alternative to antibiotic use in aquaculture – A mini-review

Abstract

The use of antibiotics for the control of infections has not only been banned by FDA for use in food-producing animals, but also several countries have prohibited their use in aquaculture because of several reasons such as the occurrence of antibiotic-tolerant microorganisms, accumulation of antibiotic residues in fish and shrimp flesh, and aquatic environmental effluence concerns. These issues have led researchers and aquaculture scientists to conduct several studies to find antibiotic alternatives. Numerous substitutes have been evaluated, such as probiotics, synbiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, phytogenics, essential oils, and several others. Results show that these supplements demonstrate proven efficacy in enhancing immune responses, reducing mortalities resulting from experimental infections, and reducing antibiotic usage in medicated aquafeed. Nonetheless, using antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to control fish diseases and be used as antibiotic alternatives is a promising and interesting research topic. AMPs are a vital class of small peptides that could stimulate the innate immune system against challenging pathogens and also possess significant potent defensive responses against a variety of infectious and non-infectious pathogenic agents, including bacteria, parasites, fungi, and viruses. Regarding their source origin, AMPs can be classified into six main types: mammalian-, amphibian-, insect-, aquatic-, plant-, and microorganism-derived AMPs. On account of their unique structure, they can display an essential function in therapeutic strategies against infectious diseases affecting fish and shrimp. Reports showed several kinds of AMPs had a wide spectrum of antimicrobial properties. These effects are besides their prominent immunostimulatory functions. Thus, they may be considered a functional alternative to antibiotics in aquaculture. This article provides information on the current knowledge about the modes of action, sources, classification, functions, and potential applications for the development of aquatic animal health. The information included in this context will be valuable to enhance the sustainability of aquaculture.

Drawing immune-capacity of fish-derived antimicrobial peptides for aquaculture industry: A comprehensive review

“…Host-derived compounds are currently top research priorities due to their enhanced ability to strengthen the immune response. These compounds are known as fish-derived anti-microbial peptides (AMPs), and they have both immune-stimulatory and antibacterial properties [ 22 ]. The multiple study' conclusions show that AMPs have successfully increased immune responses, lowered experimental infection mortality rates, and reduced the need for antibiotics in medicated aqua-feed [ 22 ].…”

“…These compounds are known as fish-derived anti-microbial peptides (AMPs), and they have both immune-stimulatory and antibacterial properties [ 22 ]. The multiple study' conclusions show that AMPs have successfully increased immune responses, lowered experimental infection mortality rates, and reduced the need for antibiotics in medicated aqua-feed [ 22 ]. Bacterial resistance has emerged as a result of aqua-industry excessive reliance on antibiotics.…”

The effects of dietary Spirulina platensis or curcumin nanoparticles on performance, body chemical composition, blood biochemical, digestive enzyme, antioxidant and immune activities of Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings

“…Recently, there has been a growing interest in employing natural phytogenic compounds as growth promoters and antimicrobials in aquatic animal diets [9][10][11] in order to minimize the application of antibiotics that lead to resistant strains of bacteria [12,13], as well as their accumulation in edible tissues [14,15]. Synthetic or natural immunostimulants (such as, glucans, probiotics, trace elements, cytokines, hormones, and products derived from animals, algae, and herbs) can effectively stimulate fish growth, immunological response, and resistance to environmental stressors [16].…”

Population Pharmacokinetics of Difloxacin in Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus) after a Single Oral Administration

“…In the past few decades, fish have become a crucial source of animal protein and nutritious food for the global human population [ 3 ]. In response to the growing demand for fish, the aquaculture industry has expanded significantly [ 4 ]. However, this growth has also led to the emergence of bacterial diseases which can cause significant economic losses for farmers [ 5 ].…”