Chlorella vulgaris suplementação como modelador do eixo microbiota-intestino-cérebro em Dicentrarchus labrax

Aquaculture, the fastest-growing food sector, has the potential to contribute to food security and meet the nutritional requirements of the growing population worldwide, as well as to support the transition to healthier oceans and freshwater ecosystems. It is anticipated that aquaculture will continue to drive growth in global fish production, accounting for 106 million metric tonnes in 2030 (compared to 87.5 million metric tonnes in 2020), an increase of more than 30% (FAO, 2022), providing a decisive source of protein and other nutrition for more than three billion people (Pradeepkiran, 2019). However, the sustainable intensification and expansion of aquaculture production systems will require technical innovation, incentives, governance, and regulation along value chains. Therefore, appropriate and timely actions are needed to ensure the sustainable development of the sector. Sustainable aquafeed alternatives, with a low carbon foot print, and high nutritional and immunological boost value, such as microalgae, are emerging. However, understanding how the regulation of physiological mechanisms, such as nutrient absorption and immunological boosting, is influenced by new aquafeed alternatives will allow the improvement of aquafeeds. Leading to healthier and nutritious fish at affordable prices. Therefore, the MiMo project aims at: 1. Validating the immuno-efficiency of Chlorella vulgaris as functional aquafeed ingredient, to boost the health resilience and increase the survival rate of the fish, aiming to maximise its productivity as potential new commodity for aquaculture (Task 1). 2. Decipher the gut microbiota colonisation and their functional role. Microbiota play a pivotal role in the regulation of several physiological processes, such as feeding, digestion and metabolism, as well as stress and immune responses, and reproduction and development (Task 2). 3. Determine whether/how the gut microbiota establishes a connection with the brain modulating the gut-brain signalling by alteration of the neurochemistry in the brain to regulate the immune response (Tasks 3-4). This complex bidirectional communication is made through several routes: immune system, endocrine system, and humoral response. A more detailed understanding of the underlying mechanisms and physiological roles of the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) in the etiopathology in diseases will help to design novel therapeutics based on modulating MGBA activities, thus reducing inflammatory and infective diseases. Ultimately, the manipulation of fish gut microbiota will result in resistance enhancement against pathogens, growth and lipid metabolism improvement, stimulation of the immune response, and better physiological status of the gut.