IDENTIFICATION OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS MOLECULAR INDICATORS IN FISH

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Enhanced dietary formulation to mitigate winter thermal stress in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata): a 2D-DIGE plasma proteome study

Publication . Schrama, Denise; Richard, Nadège; Silva, Tomé S.; Figueiredo, Filipe A.; Conceição, Luís E. C.; Burchmore, Richard; Eckersall, David; Rodrigues, Pedro

Low water temperatures during winter are common in farming of gilthead sea bream in the Mediterranean. This causes metabolic disorders that in extreme cases can lead to a syndrome called "winter disease." An improved immunostimulatory nutritional status might mitigate the effects of this thermal metabolic stress. A trial was set up to assess the effects of two different diets on gilthead sea bream physiology and nutritional state through plasma proteome and metabolites. Four groups of 25 adult gilthead sea bream were reared during winter months, being fed either with a control diet (CTRL) or with a diet called "winter feed" (WF). Proteome results show a slightly higher number of proteins upregulated in plasma of fish fed the WF. These proteins are mostly involved in the immune system and cell protection mechanisms. Lipid metabolism was also affected, as shown both by plasma proteome and by the cholesterol plasma levels. Overall, the winter feed diet tested seems to have positive effects in terms of fish condition and nutritional status, reducing the metabolic effects of thermal stress.

2016-11Journal article

Open Access

Two-dimensional proteomics as a tool to evaluate nutritional effects in farmed fish

Publication . Richard, Nadège; Gavaia, Paulo J.; De Vareilles, M.; Silva, Tomé S.; Cordeiro, O.; Rodrigues, Pedro; Conceição, L. E. C.

The use of proteomics in fish research is at a relatively early stage compared to terrestrial vertebrates. It has already been applied in the field of fish nutrition, enabling to point out metabolic changes occurring in response to dietary manipulations such as a variation in energy content, dietary nitrogen compostion, lipid composition or the incorporation of plant protein sources in aquafeeds.

2012Book part

Restricted

Metabolic fingerprinting of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) liver to track interactions between dietary factors and seasonal temperature variations

Publication . Silva, Tomé S.; Costa, Ana M. Rosa da; Conceição, L. E. C.; Dias, Jorge P.; Rodrigues, Pedro; Richard, Nadège

Farmed gilthead seabream is sometimes affected by a metabolic syndrome, known as the "winter disease", which has a significant economic impact in the Mediterranean region. It is caused, among other factors, by the thermal variations that occur during colder months and there are signs that an improved nutritional status can mitigate the effects of this thermal stress. For this reason, a trial was undertaken where we assessed the effect of two different diets on gilthead seabream physiology and nutritional state, through metabolic fingerprinting of hepatic tissue. For this trial, four groups of 25 adult gilthead seabream were reared for 8 months, being fed either with a control diet (CTRL, low-cost commercial formulation) or with a diet called "Winter Feed" (WF, high-cost improved formulation). Fish were sampled at two time-points (at the end of winter and at the end of spring), with liver tissue being taken for FT-IR spectroscopy. Results have shown that seasonal temperature variations constitute a metabolic challenge for gilthead seabream, with hepatic carbohydrate stores being consumed over the course of the inter-sampling period. Regarding the WF diet, results point towards a positive effect in terms of performance and improved nutritional status. This diet seems to have a mitigating effect on the deleterious impact of thermal shifts, confirming the hypothesis that nutritional factors can affect the capacity of gilthead seabream to cope with seasonal thermal variations and possibly contribute to prevent the onset of "winter disease".

2014Journal article

Open Access