Shift in skin microbiota and immune functions of zebrafish after combined exposure to perfluorobutanesulfonate and probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus

Abstract

Dysbiosis of fish skin microbiome and immunity by environmental pollutants are rarely studied in toxicological research in spite of their importance for fish health. In the present study, adult zebrafish were exposed to 0 and 10 μg/L of perfluorobutanesulfonate (PFBS) for 40 days, with or without the supplementation of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus, with objectives to explore the interaction between PFBS pollutant and probiotic bacteria on skin mucosal microbiota and immune response. Amplicon sequencing analysis found that PFBS alone significantly disturbed the microbial community composition and abundance on the skin, favoring the growth of stress-tolerant bacteria (e.g., Deinococcus and Enhydrobacter genera). However, the administration of probiotic inhibited the dysbiosis of PFBS and shaped the skin microbiome in the combined exposure group. PFBS single exposure also promoted the production of mucus on the skin of male zebrafish, which may be related to the growth of Limnobacter bacteria. In contrast, probiotic supplements remarkably improved the immune functions in male skin mucus from the combined group, as evidenced by the consistent increases in lysozyme activity, immunoglobulin concentrations and peroxidase activity. Overall, the present study provides the first clue about the singular and combined effects of PFBS and probiotic on skin microbiota and immunity, highlighting the beneficial action of probiotic L. rhamnosus against PFBS stress.