What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to evaluate the effects of Bacillus subtilis Ya3.1 on growth and health of hybrid sturgeon fingerlings.

February 13, 2026Open Access

Early-life intervention with the host-derived probiotic Bacillus subtilis improves growth and health in hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii ♂ × Huso dauricus ♀) fingerlings

WHWei HuangFujian Medical University YLYang LiuFujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences JGJing GuoFujian Entry - Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau

Key Points

The aim is to evaluate the effects of Bacillus subtilis Ya3.1 on growth and health of hybrid sturgeon fingerlings.
Supplementation with Bacillus subtilis in feed or water over a 6-week trial
Measured growth parameters, intestinal function, and immune response
Employed high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted LC-MS metabolomics
Significant improvements in growth parameters like weight gain and specific growth rate
Enhanced digestive enzyme activities, particularly in the feed group
Distinct hepatic metabolomic profiles indicative of increased metabolic activity
Improved immune response and survival rates after bacterial challenge

Abstract

This study evaluated the efficacy of Bacillus subtilis Ya3.1 supplementation, administered via feed (BF, 1.0 × 10⁸ CFU g⁻¹) or water (BW, 1 × 10⁷ CFU L⁻¹ every 48 h), on growth performance, intestinal function, hepatic metabolism, and disease resistance in hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii ♂ × Huso dauricus ♀) fingerlings. Following a 6-week trial, both treatments significantly improved growth parameters，including final weight, weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and viscerosomatic index (VSI)，and reduced the feed conversion ratio (FCR) relative to the controls (CK), with no impact on whole-body composition or nutrient retention. Probiotic supplementation significantly upregulated intestinal digestive enzyme activities (trypsin, α-amylase, and cellulase), with superior efficacy observed in the BF group. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that B. subtilis Ya3.1 modulated the intestinal microbiota composition by enriching Bacillus abundance of and suppressing Clostridium sensu stricto 1, despite stable microbial diversity. Untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) metabolomics revealed distinct hepatic metabolic profiles in the treated groups, characterized by widespread upregulation of metabolites and pathways indicative of heightened hepatic metabolic activity. Moreover, innate immune parameters (serum complement C3 and C4) were elevated, corresponding to significantly improved survival rates (BF: 83.3 %; BW: 80.0 %) following Aeromonas hydrophila challenge. Collectively, these findings suggest that B. subtilis Ya3.1 may promote growth and health in hybrid sturgeon fingerlings by modulating intestinal microbiota, enhancing digestive and metabolic efficiency, and potentiating innate immunity, with dietary administration yielding superior results. This study underscores the potential of host-derived probiotics for sustainable aquaculture.

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