Amount Of Chitin Research Articles

Physical and chemical characterization of chitin and chitosan extracted under different treatments from black soldier fly

The shell of Hermetia illucens L. contains considerable amounts of chitin, which has various biological activities. So far, few studies have focused on chitin of Hermetia illucens L. as a source of chitosan and oligosaccharides. There is great potential for utilizing Hermetia illucens L. chitin to produce chitosan films in biomaterials. We studied different extraction conditions for chitin and extracted it from black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens L.). Three processing steps were adopted: (1) demineralization, (2) deproteinization, and (3) decolorization. The chemical components (moisture, ash, protein, fat, residual protein, and residual mineral contents) and physicochemical characteristics of the chitin and chitosan extracted under these three conditions were determined. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the extracted chitin and commercial samples, and the results showed that demineralization–deproteinization–decolorization treatments could achieve the highest chitin yield (7.18 ± 0.11 %), chitosan yield (64.22 ± 0.79 %), and the best purity (residual protein 0.56 ± 0.01 % and residual ash 0.58 ± 0.04 %), making it the best treatment method. Using this method, the residues produced from farmed BSF can be recycled and used as a new source of chitin.

Chitosan from the base of Flammulina velutipes stipe alleviates oral Candida albicans infection via modulating Th-17 cell differentiation and Streptococcus mutans

The base of Flammulina velutipes (F. velutipes) stipe are agricultural wastes generated during the cultivation of edible fungus F. velutipes with high amount of chitin. Herein, this study firstly prepared chitosan from the base of F. velutipes stipe (FVC) and its structure was identified. It was confirmed that FVC acted as an antigenic substance to activate the immune system in vivo and in vitro, drive T cells to differentiate into Th-17 cells, and establish an effective mucosal immune barrier in the oral cavity, thus inhibited C. albicans infection; On the other hand, FVC maintained the oral flora stability and significantly reduced the abundance of Streptococcus spp., which was closely related to C. albicans infection. On this basis, the inhibitory effects of FVC on oral pathogens Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei associated with C. albicans infection were further verified, and it was demonstrated that FVC effectively interfered with the growth of pathogenic bacteria by inducing the production of intracellular ROS to damage bacterial cells. Therefore, FVC may be potentially exploited as a novel approach to the prevention and treatment of oral C. albicans infection.

Structure information analysis and relative content determination of protein and chitin from yellow mealworm larvae using Raman spectroscopy

Insect protein extract is one of the high-quality protein sources and is frequently viewed as a potential nutrition alternative. However, a more precise method for protein measurement is still needed due to protein overestimation by the Kjeldahl method due to the presence of a large amount of chitin in insects. Therefore, we demonstrated the monitoring of chitin and protein extracted from yellow mealworm larvae through the information on molecular vibration obtained using Raman spectroscopy and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The NH vibration at 3475 cm−1 is the characteristic peak of chitin in defatted product observed in the Raman spectra. The nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor in protein extracted from larvae by the Raman method was determined based on the NH vibration and found to be 5.66 ± 0.01. We also compared these experimental data to theoretical Raman and IR spectra and determined the possible reasons for why nitrogen elements in chitin affect the determination of protein content. The method of sequentially removing fat and protein could provide more accurate quantification of protein and chitin. Raman spectroscopy is feasible for various types of insects with high chitin content. Compared with the Kjeldahl method, the Raman method is a faster and more accurate measurement method. Moreover, it provides the content of impurities, purity, and structural information.

Evaluation of Gastropods as Biomaterials: Monodonta turbinata (Born, 1780)

Monodonta turbinata is a densely populated species along the coasts of İskenderun Bay, Mediterranean Sea. The shells of M. turbinata contain a high amount of chitin for the chitosan production. The goal of this research is to produce chitin and chitosan from M. turbinata shells and characterize them using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) techniques. In addition, the samples were analyzed for solubility and deacetylation degree. The yields of chitin and chitosan obtained from M. turbinata were calculated as 60.26±0.96% and 80±1.29%, respectively. FTIR spectrum analysis results revealed the existence of functional groups in various bands and confirmed that the samples were chitin and chitosan. As a result of the FTIR, the deacetylation degree (DD) value was established to be 84.83%. The crystalline index (CrI) of chitin obtained from shells was computed as 54.92%. SEM analysis results displayed the morphological differences between chitin and chitosan biopolymers. The results indicate that M. turbinata shells, a waste product from İskenderun Bay, hold promise as a chitin and chitosan source for various applications in Türkiye.

Low protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score and net nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor value of edible insects

The amount of chitin, a nitrogen-containing dietary fiber, in edible insects can mislead the exact nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor (NPF) and true protein content. We determined the amino acid score (AAS), protein digestibility-corrected AAS (PDCAAS), chitin content, and net NPF of five edible insects. Additionally, the effect of the amino acid composition of migratory locust on rat growth were investigated. The AAS of the insects were ranged from 63 to 94. The chitin contents were ranged from 1.6 g/100 g to 10.7 g/100 g. The PDCAAS, calculated by AAS and gut-intestinal digestibility, ranged from 44 to 81, which was lower than casein (97). The net NPF ranged from 4.93 to 5.76, which were lower than the conventional value. Dietary migratory locust, whose PDCAAS was the lowest, decreased growth and altered lipid metabolism. Therefore, a lower PDCAAS and overestimation of net NPF of insects can affect the true protein calculations and growth.

Diet Shifts Alter the Activity and Distribution of Digestive Enzymes in an Herbivorous Fish

The digestive tract is central to the function of an animal since it assimilates nutrients from the diet. Digestion itself is a chemical process and digestive enzymes are the digestive catalysts. Thus, we measured amylase, maltase, N-acetyl-b-d-glucosaminidase, lipase, trypsin, aminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase activities along the digestive tract of the marine herbivorous fish, Cebidichthys violaceus. We did this for wild-caught individuals of this species, and compared those to individuals fed carnivore, omnivore, and herbivore diets in the laboratory for six months. In laboratory fish, the enzymatic activities were generally lower compared to wild-caught fish. In wild caught fish, a strong anterior-to-posterior gradient of amylase activity was observed along the gut and this pattern largely disappeared in the lab-fed fish. N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase), which breaks down chitin products, showed an increase in activity in the distal intestines of the lab-fed fish, which is not observed in wild fish. The NAGase activity of the herbivorous fishes correlate with the bacterial species Paroccus sp., which is a known NAGase producer, and one of the dominant microbes in the distal intestines of the lab-fed fish. The role of this enzyme, however, remains unclear since the lab diets did not contain large amounts of chitin. These enzymatic differences tell us how much fish can modify their enzymatic activity to align with their diet. In summary, the findings show that C. violaceous can endure different degrees of protein and carbohydrate levels, within limits. Their digestive system clearly changed in response to more protein in the diet, along with a microbiome that had more potential pathogens. Live algal diets would may be the most suitable for this herbivorous fish based on the totality of gathered data from the lab. American Physiological Society Fellowship UCI Microbiome Initiative Grant. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Fluorescence and Biochemical Assessment of the Chitin and Chitosan Content of Cryptococcus.

The cell wall of the fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii is critical for cell wall integrity and signaling external threats to the cell, allowing it to adapt and grow in a variety of changing environments. Chitin is a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi that is considered to be essential for fungal survival. Chitosan is a polysaccharide derived from chitin via deacetylation that is also essential for cryptococcal cell wall integrity, fungal pathogenicity, and virulence. Cryptococcus has evolved mechanisms to regulate the amount of chitin and chitosan during growth under laboratory conditions or during mammalian infection. Therefore, levels of chitin and chitosan have been useful phenotypes to define mutant Cryptococcus strains. As a result, we have developed and/or refined various qualitative and quantitative methods for measuring chitin and chitosan. These techniques include those that use fluorescent probes that are known to bind to chitin (e.g., calcofluor white and wheat germ agglutinin), as well as those that preferentially bind to chitosan (e.g., eosin Y and cibacron brilliant red 3B-A). Techniques that enhance the localization and quantification of chitin and chitosan in the cell wall include (i) fluorescence microscopy, (ii) flow cytometry, (iii) and spectrofluorometry. We have also modified two highly selective biochemical methods to measure cellular chitin and chitosan content: the Morgan-Elson and the 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolone hydrazine hydrochloride (MBTH) assays, respectively.

STUDY OF THE QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE CHANGES IN CHITIN AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF RIPENING OF MUSHROOM FRUITING BODIES

We investigated the extraction of chitin with various solvents and changes in the amount of chitin and its molecular mass at different stages of maturity in the fruiting bodies of the fungi Laetiporus sulphureus, Tyromyces chioneus, Oudemansiella mucida, Lycoperdon perlatum, and Fomitopsis betulina. We extracted chitin from crushed mushroom fruiting bodies with 25% hydrochloric acid at 0°C. We characterised the molecular weight of reprecipitated purified chitin with a viscosimeter and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The mass of extracted chitin in all studied mushrooms initially increased from youth to maturity, and then decreased after ripening. At the same time, the molecular weight of chitin tended to increase.

Green synthesis of chitin/lignin based-polyurethane composites

Polyurethanes (PU) are still among the most promising high-performance materials in industrial applications. Nevertheless, the development of sustainable and efficient materials is an ongoing challenge for the plastics industry. In recent years there has been growing interest in utilizing natural materials such as chitin and lignin as additives in polyurethane foam production. This study focuses on the utilization of sustainable chitin–lignin filler for polyurethanes with the aim of producing sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient foam materials. A chitin–lignin filler was prepared using a mechanochemical approach, and flexible polyurethane foams (FPUFs) were synthesized with varying amounts of chitin–lignin additive. The resulting foams were characterized using various analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, compression testing, tensile strength analysis, and measurements of surface free energy and contact angle. Possible interactions between the filler and PU were analyzed by means of FTIR spectroscopy. The results show that the addition of chitin–lignin filler improved the mechanical properties (in comparison to pristine chitin and lignin as filler), with a significant reduction in the compression set of the polyurethane foams, a crucial property in the production of seat foams. Synergy was observed between chitin–lignin filler in PU foam. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of chitin–lignin as a sustainable and efficient natural filler that can be effectively applied on the industrial scale. The combination of these two biopolymers led to a polyurethane composite with better mechanical properties. Additionally, the use of biopolymers (chitin and lignin) as a filler for FPUFs is one of the options for the management of waste materials, which is in line with the idea of sustainable production.

Bioconversion of Organic Wastes by Black Soldier Fly for Chitin, Lipid and Protein Production

The bioconversion of organic waste into black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, which is a valuable source of lipid, and protein, is part on an ongoing creative effort in valorising waste. Besides lipid and protein, BSF larvae also contain significant amounts of chitin, a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine that make up the backbone of the polysaccharide structure normally found in insects. In this study, the effects of organic waste type and moisture content on biomass conversion ratio were investigated. BSF larval development (larvae to prepupae to pupae) was found to occur to the highest extent (98.90 ± 0.71 % biomass converted) when kitchen waste (KW) was used compared to when vegetables waste (VW) (84.6 ± 1.41 % biomass converted) or fruit waste (FW) was used (87.5± 0.71 % biomass converted). The optimal moisture content of the kitchen waste was found to be 80 %, which results in the highest waste biomass conversion of 99.8 % ± 0.58. The BSF larvae were found to have approximately 38 – 42 % crude lipid, 34 – 41 % crude protein, and 8 – 9 % ash content. Chitin was isolated through a three-step process of deproteinization, demineralization, and decolorization. A yellowish-grey powder was obtained at the end of the isolation process and the chitin yield was determined to be 4 – 6% (g/g). Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) analyses confirmed the chitin yield by identifying the -OH, -CH3CONH, and -CO stretching of its polysaccharides and glucosamine rings; and the lipid yield by noting the disappearance of the hydroxyl stretching that had been present in the spectra of unprocessed BSF larvae, and the appearance of X–H stretching which indicates the presence of triglyceride functional groups.

Cell wall composition in Cryptococcus neoformans is media dependent and alters host response, inducing protective immunity.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycete fungus that can cause meningoencephalitis, especially in immunocompromised patients. Cryptococcus grows in many different media, although little attention has been paid to the role of growth conditions on the cryptococcal cell wall or on virulence. The purpose of this study was to determine how different media influenced the amount of chitin and chitosan in the cell wall, which in turn impacted the cell wall architecture and host response. Yeast extract, peptone, and dextrose (YPD) and yeast nitrogen base (YNB) are two commonly used media for growing Cryptococcus before use in in vitro or in vivo experiments. As a result, C. neoformans was grown in either YPD or YNB, which were either left unbuffered or buffered to pH 7 with MOPS. These cells were then labeled with cell wall-specific fluorescent probes to determine the amounts of various cell wall components. In addition, these cells were employed in animal virulence studies using the murine inhalation model of infection. We observed that the growth of wild-type C. neoformans KN99 significantly changes the pH of unbuffered media during growth. It raises the pH to 8.0 when grown in unbuffered YPD but lowers the pH to 2.0 when grown in unbuffered YNB (YNB-U). Importantly, the composition of the cell wall was substantially impacted by growth in different media. Cells grown in YNB-U exhibited a 90% reduction in chitosan, the deacetylated form of chitin, compared with cells grown in YPD. The decrease in pH and chitosan in the YNB-U-grown cells was associated with a significant increase in some pathogen-associated molecular patterns on the surface of cells compared with cells grown in YPD or YNB, pH 7. This altered cell wall architecture resulted in a significant reduction in virulence when tested using a murine model of infection. Furthermore, when heat-killed cells were used as the inoculum, KN99 cells grown in YNB-U caused an aberrant hyper-inflammatory response in the lungs, resulting in rapid animal death. In contrast, heat-killed KN99 cells grown in YNB, pH 7, caused little to no inflammatory response in the host lung, but, when used as a vaccine, they conferred a robust protective response against a subsequent challenge infection with the virulent KN99 cells. These findings emphasize the importance of culture media and pH during growth in shaping the content and organization of the C. neoformans cell wall, as well as their impact on fungal virulence and the host response.

Comparative study on chitin content of Bangladeshi edible and medicinal mushrooms

Chitin provides immense beneficial roles to the humanity and environment. Most of the chitin extracted worldwide are from the shell of the crustaceans. An alternative source of chitin has been observed as the number of crustaceans has been dilapidating. Here, extraction of chitin from the edible and medicinal macrofungi, mushrooms, have been described. This is a novel approach to meet the ever increasing chitin demand worldwide. Among four mushroom species (Pleurotus ostreatus, Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes and Ganoderma lucidum), the reishi mushroom or ling zhi (G. lucidum) had been found containing the highest amount of chitin on percentage basis of dried mushroom powder. Chitin content trend observed in this study was: G. lucidum (44%) > L. edodes (35%) > A. bisporus (18%) > P. ostreatus (10%). Thus, mushrooms could be considered as important source of chitin and its deacetylated product, chitosan. In this way, mushrooms could aid in biomedical and environmental intervention through suppliance of chitin and chitosan.

Antifungal azoles trigger a xenobiotic detoxification pathway and chitin synthesis in Neurospora crassa

The presence of antifungal drugs is prompting the fungal microorganisms to react by mechanisms broader than the resistance. The fungi evolved mechanisms, by which they respond to various stress conditions, including the presence of antifungal compounds. In this work, we studied the response of model filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa to azole antifungals in the broader context of the adaptation mechanisms. We demonstrated the increase in expression of filamentous fungi-specific genes encoding cytochrome enzymes of CYP65 clan and plasma membrane-localized ABCC transporters. Azoles appear not to conjugate with glutathione. Surprisingly, the azoles caused changes in the hyphae organization and the amount of chitin in cell wall by the same manner that was thought to be echinocandin-specific. The response to individual azoles appeared to be influenced by the structure of azole compound (prochloraz – main outlier). Taken together, these findings demonstrate the importance of study of stress response mechanisms, specifically in filamentous fungi. Many aspects of the reaction within azoles seem to be similar, though specificities are occurring.

Low-intensity ultrasound combines synergistically with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei fermentation to enhance chitin extraction from crab shells

The large amounts of chitin in crab shells can be extracted for use in food and biomedical industries. But the traditional chemical-based chitin extraction uses large amounts of acid and alkali, which are environmentally harmful. The current study explored lactic acid bacteria (Lacticaseibacillus paracasei) fermentation and low-intensity ultrasound combination for crab shells chitin extraction. Our results show that intermittent low-intensity ultrasound (0.167 W/cm2) treatment for 10 min at 8 h intervals enhances bacteria growth to improve decalcification by 16.72% and deproteinization by 33.45% and shortens the fermentation time of crab shells to 48 h. Scanning electron microscopy examination of the fermented chitin revealed that the decalcification and deproteinization were more efficient with this combined treatment, whereas nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy analyses show that the extracted chitin had alpha conformation. Collectively, low-intensity ultrasound could be leveraged together with L. paracasei fermentation to enhance chitin extraction from crab shells.

A polysaccharide/chitin hydrogel wound dressing from a Periplanattica americana residue: coagulation, antioxidant activity, and wound healing properties

Pharmaceuticals derived from the raw materials of Periplanattica americana have been applied for wound healing, liver disease treatment, and antitumor therapy. However, the resulting residues of P. americana have not been well exploited. We found that P. americana residues comprised high amounts of chitin (PC) and polysaccharides (PAP) exhibit good biological activity. Compared to shrimp-derived chitin, PC has a smaller molecular weight (Mv), lower crystallinity, and looser molecular structure, demonstrating stronger antioxidant activity and degradability. After adding the PAP, the PC solution rapidly lost fluidity and formed a hydrogel (P/PCGEL) that had antioxidation, biodegradability, and injectability properties and exhibited rapid coagulation, good water absorption and retention, and a low hemolysis rate (HR). In vivo studies reported that the P/PCGEL reduced edema during burns, accelerated collagen synthesis and deposition, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, thereby reducing the inflammatory response, avoiding oxidative stress, and effectively promoting wound healing. Furthermore, the P/PCGEL demonstrated good biocompatibility, rapid biodegradation, and injectability, thereby reducing the risk of trauma and infection engendered by repeated wound opening and dressing changes. These properties also demonstrated the potential application for this hydrogel in preparing injectable hydrogel excipients. Hence, this study provided a hydrogel-formed wound dressing comprising pure natural ingredients and offering convenient administration, economic availability, and strong tissue repair ability.

A New Approach for Dye Removal with a Polymer: Removal of Acid Orange 12 from Aqueous Solution with Shrimp Chitin

Chitin, a naturally abundant mucopolysaccharide, is the supporting material of crustaceans, insects, and etc. Chitin and its main derivative chitosan have various applications in medicine, pharmacy, biotechnology, environment, and food engineering because of their nontoxicity, biodegradability, biocompatibility, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Here, research was conducted on the removal of Acid Orange 12, which is among the most used azo dyes in textiles, from aqueous solutions using shrimp chitin, a polymer. To determine the most suitable conditions, different parameters (pH degrees, amount of chitin, amount of dye, contact time) were studied. Chitin was determined to be the most efficient in removing Acid Orange 12 using pH 5 conditions. The adsorption of dye onto chitin followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Extraction Optimization and Structural Characteristics of Chitosan from Cuttlefish (S. pharaonis sp.) Bone.

In fish processing, reducing the waste rate and increasing the economic value of products is an important issue for global environmental protection and resource sustainability. It has been discovered that cuttlefish bones can be an excellent resource for producing attractive amounts of chitin and chitosan. Therefore, this study optimized chitosan extraction conditions using response surface methodology (RSM) to establish application conditions suitable for industrial production and reducing environmental impact. In addition, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H NMR and scanning electron microscope (SEM) characteristics of extracted chitosan were evaluated. The optimum extraction conditions for chitosan from cuttlebone chitin were 12.5M NaOH, 6 h and 80 °C, and the highest average yield was 56.47%. FTIR spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and SEM identification proved that the chitosan prepared from cuttlefish bone has a unique molecular structure, and the degree of deacetylation of chitosan was about 81.3%. In addition, it was also confirmed that chitosan has significant anti-oxidation and oil-absorbing abilities. This research has successfully transformed the by-products of cuttlefish processing into value-added products. The process not only achieved the recycling and utilization of by-products but also enhanced industrial competitiveness and resource sustainability.

Chitinase 6 is required for procuticle thickening and organ shape in Drosophila wing.

The polysaccharide chitin is a major scaffolding molecule in the insect cuticle. In order to be functional, both chitin amounts and chitin organization have been shown to be important parameters. Despite great advances in the past decade, the molecular mechanisms of chitin synthesis and organization are not fully understood. Here, we have characterized the function of the Chitinase 6 (Cht6) in the formation of the wing, which is a simple flat cuticle organ, in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Reduction of Cht6 function by RNA interference during wing development does not affect chitin organization, but entails a thinner cuticle suggesting reduced chitin amounts. This phenotype is opposed to the one reported recently to be caused by reduction of Cht10 expression. Probably as a consequence, cuticle permeability to xenobiotics is enhanced in Cht6-less wings. We also observed massive deformation of these wings. In addition, the shape of the abdomen is markedly changed upon abdominal suppression of Cht6. Finally, we found that suppression of Cht6 transcript levels influences the expression of genes coding for enzymes of the chitin biosynthesis pathway. This finding indicates that wing epidermal cells respond to activity changes of Cht6 probably trying to adjust chitin amounts. Together, in a working model, we propose that Cht6-introduced modifications of chitin are needed for chitin synthesis to proceed correctly. Cuticle thickness, according to our hypothesis, is in turn required for correct organ or body part shape. The molecular mechanisms of this processes shall be characterized in the future.

Analysis of existing applications of the biopolymer chitin and its derivatives

The introduction presents scientific data on the structure, chemical composition and properties of chitin, chitosan and the chitin-glucan complex. In recent years, special attention has been paid to the biopolymer chitin and its derivatives. Due to their unique properties: biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, they have found application in more than 70 areas: medicine, ecology, food industry, agriculture. Sources for the production of chitin can be the shell of commercial crustaceans, the biomass of fungi, and the cuticle of insects. The main part describes the modern fields of application of these biopolymers and raw materials for the production of chitin and its derivatives. At present, interest has increased in the problems of more rational use of renewable natural resources, both from an environmental and economic point of view. There are various biopolymers in the world, in particular, the biopolymer of the 21st century – chitin and its derivatives. The recommended daily intake of chitin is from 3 to 7 g. The consumption of such an amount of chitin or chitosan is used to remove toxins and harmful substances, radionuclides, and pathogenic microorganisms from the body. On the industrial scale of the Republic of Belarus, fungi, insect carrion, earthworms can serve to isolate chitin and its derivatives. Due to the fact that on the industrial scale of the Republic of Belarus, the use of crustaceans as a source of chitin for the Republic of Belarus is very costly. In addition, a negative factor is the increase in pollution of sinks with heavy metals and other toxic waste.

Bioconversion of chitin waste through Stenotrophomonas maltophilia for production of chitin derivatives as a Seabass enrichment diet

Marine wastes pose a great threat to the ecosystem leading to severe environmental hazards and health issues particularly the shellfish wastes. The shellfish waste which contains half of the amount of chitin can be efficiently transformed into useful products. Various approaches for the hydrolysis of chitin like physical, chemical, and enzymatic processes are there. Still, the use of enzyme chitinase is well documented as an effective and eco-friendly method. The present study summarizes the isolation of chitinase enzyme producing bacteria from different shrimp waste disposal sites in Parangipettai (India), and the possible use of an enzyme hydrolyzate as an immunostimulant to Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer). The potential chitinase-producing bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. After purification, the chitinase specific activity was 5.01 (U/ml) and the protein content was 72 mg and the recovery rate was 48.06%. The optimum pH and temperature for the chitinolytic activity were 6.5 and at 35–50 °C, respectively. The animal experiment trial was done with our feed supplements which included 0.0 (control), 0.5%, 1% and 2% of chitin degraded product. All the supplementary feed had an optimal 42% (w/w) of crude protein. The feed protein level was 41–43% on average and gross energy was 13–17 kcal/g and the feed was observed to exhibit a significantly higher (p < 0.05) survival rate, condition factor, specific growth rates, and body weight gain was also found to be promising compared to other fishes fed with control diet only. The red blood cells (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts were found to increase significantly after being challenged with infection in animals fed with chitin derivatives from 1st week to 3rd week when compared to the control. The hematocrit (Hct) values were low on the 2nd and 3rd week in infected fish fed with chitin derivatives. This low level was due to infection lyses of the red blood cells and increased nitro blue tetrazolium reduction. The control diet-fed fish showed 70% mortality but the chitin derivative supplemented fishes showed only 20% mortality post-infection. The results of the study encompass that the use of chitin-derivate enriched feed further is taken into large-scale approaches thereby benefitting the aquaculture sector.