Short-term dietary supplementation of β-glucan and chitosan modulates the immune response in freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879)

Aim: The present study evaluates the immunomodulatory potentials of beta-glucan and chitosan administered orally for 15 days to the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergiijuveniles. juveniles. Methodology: Two diets were formulated supplementing 1.5 g kg and 20 g kg of beta-1-1 glucan (diet G) and chitosan (diet C), respectively, with a control diet (diet B). The prawns were fed twice daily at 5% biomass. At the end of the feeding trials, mRNA expression profiles of immune- related genes lipopolysaccharide- and beta 1,3-glucan binding protein (LGBP) and chitinase 3 were analyzed in qPCR. Corresponding LGBP protein and chitinases/CBP (chitinase 1, chitinase 1C and obstructor E, a chitin-binding protein) protein levels were also estimated by ELISA. Hepatopancreas LGBP and chitinase 3 mRNA expression by qPCR 15 days feeding beta-glucan chitosan M. rosenbergi Sampling of hepatopancreas and serum Hepatopancreas and serum LGBP and chitinases/CBP protein expression by ELISA Interpretation: The short-term supplementation of beta-glucan and chitosan in diets demonstrated beneficial effects in M. rosenbergii by enhancing the expression of important immune molecules like LGBP and chitinases, indicating their potential applications during the period of biotic stress. Results: Supplementation of the immunostimulants (diets G and C) significantly enhanced the mRNA expression of both LGBP and chitinase 3 in the hepatopancreas. The protein expression of LGBP and chitinases/CBP was also significantly increased in the serum and hepatopancreas samples of both treatment groups. beta-glucan chitosan mRNA expression Protein expression Hepatopancreas Hepatopancreas Serum LGBP Chitinase 3 LGBP Chitinases/CBP LGBP Chitinases/CBP