CIFRI Aquapromo

Background:

The growing global population has increased food demand, making aquaculture an important source of animal protein. However, climate change and aquaculture intensification have increased infectious diseases, particularly bacterial infections, which cause substantial mortality in fish fry, fingerlings, and eggs. Conventional treatments, including antibiotics and disinfectants, often have limited effectiveness and raise concerns about antimicrobial resistance and environmental pollution. Therefore, effective, safe, and environmentally sustainable alternatives are urgently needed to control aquatic microbial diseases. Microbial biocontrol consortia offer a promising approach by exploiting beneficial interactions among microorganisms to suppress pathogens. Individual microbial strains may differ in their environmental adaptability, host preferences, colonization sites, and antimicrobial activities. Combining complementary strains can broaden the spectrum of pathogen control and improve disease management. Furthermore, beneficial microorganisms may enhance fish growth, support host health, and promote the activity of other beneficial microbes. Thus, microbial consortia represent a promising strategy for sustainable aquaculture and reduced dependence on conventional chemical treatments.

Technology Details:

The present invention aims to develop a synergistic microbial consortium comprising six non-pathogenic bacterial strains isolated from environmental and fish gut samples. The isolates were characterized biochemically, microscopically, and molecularly, followed by virulence assessment in Labeo rohita and compatibility testing. The consortium was formulated as a feed probiotic and evaluated for antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against major fish pathogens. Supplementation improved fish growth, liver tissue integrity, immune responses, and survival following challenges with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas veronii, Edwardsiella tarda, and Proteus penneri. The probiotic also demonstrated ammonia-removal potential and enhanced nutrient absorption and digestibility. Furthermore, it modulated gut microbiota, reduced disease-associated microbes, and regulated innate and adaptive immune responses through changes in immune effector gene expression. This invention provides a method for developing a multi-strain feed probiotic to improve growth, digestion, immunity, and resistance to multiple bacterial infections, supporting sustainable aquaculture while maintaining host safety and beneficial microbial balance.

 Advantages of the product CIFRI Aquapromo

➢   Healthy gut environment

➢   Improves immune response

➢   Stimulates digestive enzymes

➢   Protection against bacterial pathogens

➢   Provides favourable environment for growth