Abstract
Simple SummaryDietary protein is an important factor affecting aquaculture. In this study, the homeostasis of the gut microbiome and metabolic profile of the liver and serum of tilapia were analyzed, comparing those fed with different diets to evaluate the effect of diet on protein levels. As a result, there was no significant difference found in the diversity and richness of the gut microbiome but had differences in the microbial composition of the gut among different groups. As for the liver metabolome of the tilapia, the glucose content increased along with increased protein levels. As for serum metabolome, the levels of tyrosine, guanosine, and inosine were significantly different. In summary, diets with different protein levels can affect the composition of gut microbiota and glycolysis and amino acid metabolism in tilapia. These results may also help to improve the conditions of tilapia cultivation.Dietary protein is one of the most important nutritional factors in aquaculture. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of dietary protein levels on the gut microbiome and the liver and serum levels of metabolites in tilapia. Tilapia were fed a diet with a low (20%), moderate (30%), or high (40%) content of crude protein, and the homeostasis of the gut microbiome and metabolic profile of the liver and serum were analyzed. The results showed no significant differences in the diversity and richness of the gut microbiome among the groups; however, there were differences in the microbial composition of the gut. The metabolome analysis of liver samples revealed a difference in the glucose level among the groups, with the highest glucose level in fish fed a high protein diet. In addition, there were significant differences in the levels of tyrosine, guanosine, and inosine among the metabolome analysis of serum samples of these groups. In summary, diets with different protein levels could affect the composition of gut microbiota and the dynamic balance of microbial communities. Dietary protein content can also affect glycolysis and amino acid metabolism in tilapia.
Highlights
Fish require protein in their diets for growth and development [1]
We aimed to examine the effects of dietary protein level on the gut microbiome of tilapia using high-throughput sequencing, as well as the effects of dietary protein level on the nutrient metabolism using nuclear magnetic resonance studies
Tilapia were randomly divided into three groups, namely the low dietary protein group (LP group), moderate dietary protein group (MP group), and high dietary protein group (HP group)
Summary
Fish require protein in their diets for growth and development [1]. Different dietary protein levels can affect the growth, gut microbial composition, nutrient metabolism, and various physiological reactions in fish. In cases of low dietary protein, the activity of various digestive enzymes is decreased, and growth is retarded, affecting lifespans [2,3]. In cases of high dietary protein level, growth is retarded; instead, the digestion and absorption of nutrients is suboptimal [4]. Fish can use stored proteins for energy consumption, which increases the excretion of ammonia nitrogen and promotes pollution, which is not conducive to the health of fish and the sustainable development of ecological environments [4,5,6]. Tilapia is widely cultivated in many countries, and it is one of the main farmed fish in
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