Molecular Factors Involved in Suppression of Pathogenic 'Vibrio owensii' by Potential Probiotic Bacteria

Abstract

In recent decades a rapid increase in the market demand for seafood has led to a significant decline in wild seafood populations. Therefore, the aquaculture industry now represents the best alternative seafood provider. In Australia, the spiny lobster 'Panulirus ornatus' has the greatest market demand. However, production from the aquaculture hatcheries together with continuous use of antibiotics has led to an increase in the resistance of bacterial pathogens and the development of particularly resistant strains, thereby rendering antibiotic treatment ineffective. Alternative strategies to confine the spread and virulence of bacterial diseases are in demand due to the risk of further resistance development and the possibility of resistant pathogens evolving into human pathogens. Therefore, in recent years, the research focus has broadened to include probiotics, defined by Fulleret al. (1989) as a live microbial feed supplement that has beneficial affects to the host animals by improving intestinal microbial balance. The use of probiotics as a means of disease control and an alternative to antibiotics has shown to be promising in aquaculture, particularly in fish and shellfish larva-culture.