Isolation, Characterization and Molecular Identification of Putative Probiotic Bacteria From Red Tilapia Gut.
6 affiliations
- 1Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles et de l'Environnement (CRSNE), Universite du Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi.
- 2School of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India.
- 3Maldives Wetlands Foundation, Malé City, Maldives.
- 4Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, India.
- 5Department of Biology, Univerite du Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi.
- 6Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India.
Abstract
The use of probiotics is a promising strategy to enhance fish health and sustainability in aquaculture as alternatives to antibiotics. This study applied a systematic multi-criteria screening approach to identify autochthonous probiotic candidates from the intestinal microbiota of healthy red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). A total of 26 culturable bacterial isolates were recovered and evaluated for antimicrobial activity against major fish pathogens (Aeromonas hydrophila, Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus iniae), safety, tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions, adhesion-related properties, enzymatic activities and environmental robustness. Only a small subset of isolates exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and satisfied subsequent safety and functional criteria. Based on integrated performance, three isolates were shortlisted for advanced evaluation, of which two were retained for molecular identification. The selected isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA4 (PA4) and Bacillus sp. BA4P (BA4P). Both strains demonstrated tolerance to gastrointestinal stress, measurable adhesion-related hydrophobicity, diverse enzymatic activities and stability under varying temperature and salinity conditions. These findings provide a robust framework for screening host-associated probiotics and support the further evaluation of PA4 and BA4P as potential candidates for sustainable tilapia aquaculture.
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BibTeX
@article{ntakirutimana2026isolation,
title = {{Isolation, Characterization and Molecular Identification of Putative Probiotic Bacteria From Red Tilapia Gut.}},
author = {Remy Ntakirutimana and Mariya Jacob Ashin and Aishath Ali Farhath and Anatole Bigirimana and N Regina Hershey and Megha Lovejan and Paul Mwangi and M P Jijina and Fazeena Fariq and C Varsha and K M Mujeeb Rahiman},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.70438},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908063},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Isolation, Characterization and Molecular Identification of Putative Probiotic Bacteria From Red Tilapia Gut.
AU - Remy Ntakirutimana
AU - Mariya Jacob Ashin
AU - Aishath Ali Farhath
AU - Anatole Bigirimana
AU - N Regina Hershey
AU - Megha Lovejan
AU - Paul Mwangi
AU - M P Jijina
AU - Fazeena Fariq
AU - C Varsha
AU - K M Mujeeb Rahiman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Environmental microbiology reports
DO - 10.1111/1758-2229.70438
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908063
AB - The use of probiotics is a promising strategy to enhance fish health and sustainability in aquaculture as alternatives to antibiotics. This study applied a systematic multi-criteria screening approach to identify autochthonous probiotic candidates from the intestinal microbiota of healthy red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). A total of 26 culturable bacterial isolates were recovered and evaluated for antimicrobial activity against major fish pathogens (Aeromonas hydrophila, Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus iniae), safety, tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions, adhesion-related properties, enzymatic activities and environmental robustness. Only a small subset of isolates exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and satisfied subsequent safety and functional criteria. Based on integrated performance, three isolates were shortlisted for advanced evaluation, of which two were retained for molecular identification. The selected isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA4 (PA4) and Bacillus sp. BA4P (BA4P). Both strains demonstrated tolerance to gastrointestinal stress, measurable adhesion-related hydrophobicity, diverse enzymatic activities and stability under varying temperature and salinity conditions. These findings provide a robust framework for screening host-associated probiotics and support the further evaluation of PA4 and BA4P as potential candidates for sustainable tilapia aquaculture.
SN - 1758-2229
ER -