Health-promoting phytobiotic-based feed additive improves skin and gill proteome response of infected fish

Arapi, Elissavet A., Fernández-Alacid, Laura, Isern-Subich, Maria Mercè, Nuez-Ortín, Waldo G., Ibarz, Antoni and Cable, Jo ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8510-7055 2026. Health-promoting phytobiotic-based feed additive improves skin and gill proteome response of infected fish. Animals 16 , 1348. 10.3390/ani16091348

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Abstract

Skin is a multifunctional organ essential for maintaining body homeostasis, regulating functions and providing protection from environmental stressors. In fish, skin is immune active, containing antimicrobial proteins acting as the first line of defence against infectious pathogens. The gills function similarly, as a key mucosal immunity site, where pathogens induce both innate and adaptive immune responses. In this study, proteomic analysis identified differentially expressed proteins in the skin and gills of ectoparasite Gyrodactylus turnbulli infected guppies (Poecilia reticulata) at two timepoints post-infection (Days 13 and 17). These fish were provided with a health-promoting additive, aimed to boost immunocompetency and reduce ectoparasite infections. Different proteomes were evidenced based on infection status of fish (susceptible, responding, or resistant) and in-feed supplementation. In skin tissue, susceptible fish showed no evidence of immune response, reflecting their high parasite load. Responding fish employed biological processes like apoptosis, reducing the gyrodactylid niche. In resistant fish, up-regulated innate and adaptive immunity explained the low parasite load on the host over the entire infection trajectory. Overall, fish protein expression in the skin and gills was affected both by the dietary supplement and gyrodactylid infection burden, highlighting the role of natural immunostimulants in aquatic infectious disease prophylaxis, control and treatment.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Biosciences
Publisher:	MDPI
ISSN:	2076-2615
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	5 May 2026
Date of Acceptance:	23 April 2026
Last Modified:	05 May 2026 13:46
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/186793

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