Project description:A gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) microarray platform was developed to identify brain gene expression profiles in response to environmental concentrations of human pharmaceuticals. Comparative analysis of gene expression profiles was conducted among brain of gilthead seabream exposed to Acetaminophen (APAP; analgesic), Carbamazepine (CBZ; anti-epileptic) and Atenolol (AT; β-blocker). All groups of samples were also compared with brain of control individuals.
Project description:We report a comparison of tissue-specific (head kidney, intestine and liver) gene expression profiles from gilthead sea bream fed with control and Brewer's spent dry yeast (SDY) diets.The inclusion of SDY at 30% in the experimental diet (40% crude protein, 16% crude lipid) resulted in a reduction in FM (10%) and PP (31.4%) contents. 218 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified among all tissues, out of which, 141 were up- and 77 down-regulated. The enrichment analysis of DEGs revealed that SDY had a modulatory effect on several processes related to host’s immunity, oxygen’s carrier capacity, sexual differentiation, metabolism, and digestion. This study supports the notion that brewery’s by-products like SDY are suitable for aquafeeds of carnivorous fish species such as the gilthead sea bream, and promotes a circular bioeconomy model that reuses, recovers and recycles resources instead of producing wastes
Project description:Explore the underlying mechanisms-of-action after short-term (24 h) waterborne exposure to low (0.5 μg/L) and high (50 μg/L) gold nanoparticles (AuNP) concentrations in gilthead sea bream.
Project description:Fish in aquaculture farms frequently face unfavarouble husbandry conditions and other unpredictable situations, which are sometimes part of routine procedures. However, managing stress originated from these situations is crucial to ensure the sustainability of the production. When fish is exposed to prolonged stress, and overload of the physiological systems can occur and the fish may no longer be able to adapt and restore homeostasis, and this can impair the animal performance, such as growth and immunity, and consequently fish welfare. In this study the genes and gene families responsible for the molecular stress response to different challenges in gilthead seabream was assessed. Gilthead seabream adults were exposed to overcrowding, net-handling and hypoxia, in separate trials, each against a control group. Overcrowding and net-handling trials lasted for a month and half (chronic stress) and hypoxia for 48h (acute stress). The liver was the chosen organ for this transcriptomics analysis as this plays a crucial role in stress adaptation. The characterization of stress adaptation mechanisms provides valuable knowledge for the future selective breeding of more resilient commercial species that can thrive under changing conditions and adapt well to life in captivity, while ensuring high welfare standards.
Project description:Deciphering the dietary immunomodulatory effects of a medicinal plant leaf extract (MPLE) obateined from sage (Salvia officinalis, Lamiaceae) and lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora, Verbenaceae) upon the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata).