title: Prebiotics as immunostimulants in aquaculture: a review.
abstract: Prebiotics are indigestible fibers that increase beneficial gut commensal bacteria resulting in improvements of the host's health. The beneficial effects of prebiotics are due to the byproducts generated from their fermentation by gut commensal bacteria. In this review, the direct effects of prebiotics on the innate immune system of fish are discussed. Prebiotics, such as fructooligosaccharide, mannanoligosaccharide, inulin, or β-glucan, are called immunosaccharides. They directly enhance innate immune responses including: phagocytic activation, neutrophil activation, activation of the alternative complement system, increased lysozyme activity, and more. Immunosaccharides directly activate the innate immune system by interacting with pattern recognition receptors (PRR) expressed on innate immune cells. They can also associate with microbe associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) to activate innate immune cells. However, the underlying mechanisms involved in innate immune cell activation need to be further explored. Many studies have indicated that immunosaccharides are beneficial to both finfish and shellfish.
authors: School of Life Science, Handong University, Pohang 791-708, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sksong@handong.edu.
authors: Seong Kyu
authors: SK
authors: Song
authors: School of Life Science, Handong University, Pohang 791-708, Republic of Korea.
authors: Bo Ram
authors: BR
authors: Beck
authors: School of Life Science, Handong University, Pohang 791-708, Republic of Korea.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Kim
authors: School of Life Science, Handong University, Pohang 791-708, Republic of Korea.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Park
authors: Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information, Seoul 130-741, Republic of Korea; University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-350, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jungjoon
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: School of Life Science, Handong University, Pohang 791-708, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyun Duk
authors: HD
authors: Kim
authors: Norwegian College of Fishery Science, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway.
authors: Einar
authors: E
authors: Ringø
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture; D003400:Astacoidea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005399:Fishes / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D056692:Prebiotics / Q000032:analysis*; D047528:Stichopus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D056692:Prebiotics
keywords: Aquaculture; Immunosaccharide; Immunostimulants; Innate immunity; Prebiotics