Yarrowia lipolytica has been widely used in food industry but scarcely explored as probiotics. Thus, the aims of this study were to characterize in vitro the probiotic potential, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity of the marine yeast Y. lipolytica D-1 and N-6 strains. Dietary administration effect was evaluated in vivo on immunological parameters in serum, skin-mucus, intestine, and fish leukocytes upon challenge with Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The results showed that Y. lipolytica D-1 and N-6 strains grew with NaCl or bile salts but were sensitive to low pH. Each of the Y. lipolytica strains had a distinctive antioxidant capacity and fatty acid profile, but their antimicrobial activity was similar against fish bacterial pathogens. Fish (Lutjanus peru) supplemented with Y. lipolytica strains showed normal intestinal morphology, high IgM levels, and antioxidant enzyme activities. Immune-related genes were modulated in fish fed Y. lipolytica in a strain-dependent fashion. In addition, leucocytes from fish fed Y. lipolytica challenged with V. parahaemolyticus increased innate immune and antioxidant parameters compared with the control groups. In conclusion, the marine yeast Y. lipolytica D-1 and N-6 strains may be potential probiotics for fish by exerting free-radical scavenging, antimicrobial activity, and improved immune-protective responses against V. parahaemolyticus infection.
