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Culture-independent characterization of the autochthonous gut microbiota of grouper Epinephelus coioides following the administration of probiotic Enterococcus faecium

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Abstract

Probiotics have been applied extensively in aquaculture and demonstrated a range of benefits, but the mechanisms mediating such responses remain largely unknown. A clear illustration of the effect of probiotics on the autochthonous gut microbiota is the first step in understanding the underlying mechanisms. In this study, the autochthonous microbiota in the foregut, midgut and hindgut of juvenile grouper Epinephelus coioides following the dietary administration of probiotic Enterococcus faecium MM4 for 60 days were assessed using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) with subsequent sequencing analysis. Generally similar DGGE patterns, with 15 common bands, were observed in the foregut, midgut and hindgut of fish fed the probiotic diet or the control diet, while more visible bands were present in fish fed the probiotic diet. The similarity dendrogram showed that the foregut samples formed an independent cluster distinctly different from the midgut and hindgut samples, but a high similarity (81.4%) was observed among the three gut sections. Significantly increased species richness and Shannon index were observed in the midgut and hindgut samples in the probiotic group compared with the control group, which suggested that probiotic E. faecium could elevate the autochthonous microbial diversity in the midgut and hindgut. Sequences analysis showed that probiotic E. faecium stimulated the growth of some unidentified bacteria and potentially beneficial bacteria, while exerted no apparent effect on potentially harmful Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30600461), the Science and Technology Project for Outstanding Young Scholarship of Fujian Provincial Department of Education (Grant No. JA10183), the Foundation of Key Laboratory of Science and Technology for Aquaculture and Food Safety of Fujian Province University (Grant No. 2009J102) and the Foundation for Innovative Research Team of Jimei University (Grant No. 2011A001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Key Laboratory of Science and Technology for Aquaculture and Food Safety of Fujian Province University, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Yindou Road No. 43, Jimei District, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Yun-Zhang Sun, Hong-Ling Yang, Ru-Long Ma, Kun-Peng Huang & Ji-Dan Ye

  2. The Key Laboratory of Healthy Mariculture for the East China Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries College, Jimei University, Xiamen, 361021, China

    Yun-Zhang Sun, Hong-Ling Yang, Ru-Long Ma, Kun-Peng Huang & Ji-Dan Ye

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  1. Yun-Zhang Sun
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  2. Hong-Ling Yang
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Correspondence to Yun-Zhang Sun.

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Sun, YZ., Yang, HL., Ma, RL. et al. Culture-independent characterization of the autochthonous gut microbiota of grouper Epinephelus coioides following the administration of probiotic Enterococcus faecium . Aquacult Int 20, 791–801 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-012-9503-y

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