Immunostimulatory activities of specific bacterial secondary metabolite of Anoxybacillus flavithermus strain SX-4 on carp, Cyprinus carpio.

AIMS

To determine the capacity of secondary metabolite of strain SX-4, to enhance the nonspecific immunity and survival of carp (Cyprinus carpio), and to identify the constituents that are responsible.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A thermophilic strain SX-4 that is able to produce immunostimulatory metabolite was isolated from sludge sample of hot spring and identified by comparison with 16S rRNA sequences (99% of homology) as Anoxybacillus flavithermus. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of methanol extract from its cell-free culture, one bacterial peptide with the capacity of improving the nonspecific immune responses and disease resistance (relative per cent survival = 66·67%) was obtained and the compound was characterized as cyclo-(L-Pro-Gly) by IR, ESI-MS, (1) H NMR and (13) C NMR spectroscopic analyses. After intraperitoneal administration of this peptide, selected innate immune parameters including phagocytic activity, superoxide anion production, serum lysozyme activity and serum SOD activity, along with immune-related genes expression (i.e. interleukin-1β and inducible nitric oxide synthase), in the blood were found to be significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONS

The bacterial peptide cyclo-(L-Pro-Gly) significantly enhances nonspecific immunity and survival of carp.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

There is a possibility of using cyclo-(L-Pro-Gly) as a better natural immunostimulant, which could have a promising role in aquaculture to prevent diseases and disease outbreaks.