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Genetic research

Marine Science Breakthrough: Pterocladia Capillacea Polysaccharide Improves Whiteleg Shrimp Growth and Immunity

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research conducted by the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF) in Alexandria, Egypt, has made a significant discovery in the field of marine science. The study found that dietary supplementation with the seaweed polysaccharide (PS) extracted from red seaweed, Pterocladia capillacea, has a profound effect on the growth, feed efficiency, whole-body composition, immunological response, antioxidant activity, digestive enzyme activities, and gene expression of the whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with Pterocladia capillacea polysaccharide on the growth, feed efficiency, whole-body composition, immunological response, antioxidant activity, digestive enzyme activities, and gene expression of the whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei.
  • Four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets with different SP levels were formulated, with the basal experimental diet (control diet) having no seaweed polysaccharide added (PS0).
  • The supplementation rate of 2 g/kg PS significantly improved the growth, nutrient utilization efficiency, nonspecific immunity, antioxidant and digestive enzyme activities, and improved the immunity- and growth-related gene expression of L. vannamei shrimp.
  • The study concluded that future works are recommended to understand the mechanism by which PS enhances physiological status and modulate genes expression in whiteleg shrimp.
  • The research involved 600 postlarvae (PLs15) of the whiteleg shrimp L. vannamei, which were randomly selected and distributed into triplicate hapas per treatment.
  • The PLs were fed their corresponding diets three times a day at 10% of their body weight for the duration of the 60-day trial.
  • The study highlights the potential of Pterocladia capillacea polysaccharide as a nutritional supplement to improve the growth and immunity of whiteleg shrimp.

Statistics:

  • 4 isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated, with different SP levels.
  • 600 postlarvae (PLs15) of the whiteleg shrimp L. vannamei were used in the study.
  • The PLs were fed their corresponding diets three times a day at 10% of their body weight.
  • The trial lasted for 60 days.
  • The supplementation rate of 2 g/kg PS significantly improved the growth, nutrient utilization efficiency, nonspecific immunity, antioxidant and digestive enzyme activities by (xx) percentage points.
  • The study concluded that the immune- and growth-related gene expression of L. vannamei shrimp was improved by (xx) percentage points.

Sources:

  • Pterocladia capillacea polysaccharide enhances growth, immunity, digestive enzyme, antioxidant activities, and gene expressions of Litopenaeus vannamei. Frontiers in Marine Science, 2025,12. (Frontiers in Marine Science - http://www.frontiersin.org/Marine_Science)
  • National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF)
  • Mohamed Ashour, Aquaculture Division, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Alexandria, Egypt
  • Fawzia S. Ali, Ahmed Mamoon, Ahmed I. A. Mansour, Mohamed M. Mabrouk, Abdallah Tageldein Mansour, Ehab Mohamed, Ahmed F. Abdelhamid
  • NewsRx. National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF) Researchers Broaden Understanding of Marine Science (Pterocladia capillacea polysaccharide enhances growth, immunity, digestive enzyme, antioxidant activities, and gene expressions of ...). Science Letter. July 18, 2025; p 250.

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