Probiotic effects of Pseudoalteromonas ruthenica: Antibacterial, immune stimulation and modulation of gut microbiota composition

This study aimed to characterise and evaluate the probiotic properties of a newly isolated marine bacterium, strain S6031. The isolated strain was identified as Pseudoalteromonas ruthenica. In vivo experiments were conducted with P. ruthenica-immersed larvae and P. ruthenica-enriched Artemia fed to adult zebrafish. Disease tolerance of larval zebrafish against Edwardsiella piscicida was demonstrated by 66.34% cumulative per cent survival (CPS) in the P. ruthenica-exposed group, which was higher than the CPS of the control (46.67%) at 72 h post challenge (hpc). Heat-stressed larvae had 55% CPS in the P. ruthenica-immersed group, while the control had 30% CPS at 60 hpc. Immune-stress response gene transcripts (muc5.1, muc5.2, muc5.3, alpi2, alpi3, hsp70, and hsp90a) were induced, while pro-inflammatory genes (tnfα, il1b, and il6) were downregulated in P. ruthenica-immersed larvae compared to the control. This trend was confirmed by low pro-inflammatory and high stress-responsive protein expression levels in P. ruthenica-exposed larvae. Adult zebrafish had higher CPS (27.2%) in the P. ruthenica-fed group than the control (9.52%) upon E. piscicida challenge, suggesting increased disease tolerance. Histological analysis demonstrated modulation of goblet cell density and average villus height in the P. ruthenica-supplemented group. Metagenomics analysis clearly indicated modulation of alpha diversity indices and the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the P. ruthenica-supplemented zebrafish gut. Furthermore, increased Firmicutes colonisation and reduced Bacteroidetes abundance in the gut were observed upon P. ruthenica supplementation. Additionally, this study confirmed the concentration-dependent increase of colony dispersion and macrophage uptake upon mucin treatment. In summary, P. ruthenica possesses remarkable functional properties as a probiotic that enhances host defence against diseases and thermal stress.