Protective effects of indigenous lactic acid bacteria in Artemia salina challenged with Vibrio parahaemolyticus: an in vitro and in silico approach

ABSTRACT Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the food industry and vibriosis is a major disease affecting finfish and shellfish production capabilities. In recent years, probiotics specifically lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have proven to be an environmentally friendly alternative to antibiotics to maintain aquatic animal health. In this study, five strains of indigenous LAB isolated from traditional and non-traditional sources were evaluated for their potency in the prevention of vibriosis in brine shrimp, Artemia salina as a model organism. The LAB were well tolerated at all doses, and no negative effects on the hatching ability of brine shrimps were observed when exposed to Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KCFe63 and Limosilactobacillus fermentum NCCu21. Furthermore, all the tested LAB were able to protect the brine shrimp from the pathogen Vibrio parahaemolyticus under co-exposure and pre-exposure conditions. Molecular docking analysis revealed a high binding affinity of common probiotic metabolites lactic, butyric and propionic acids to the PirAvp and PirBvp proteins of V. parahaemolyticus which can prevent toxin formation and thereby acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). Overall results suggest that two strains, L. plantarum KCFe63 and L. fermentum NCCu21, are suitable candidates to reduce the incidence of vibriosis and AHPND during brine shrimp cultivation.