Nutrigenomics in crustaceans: Current status and future prospects

Abstract

In aquaculture, nutrigenomics or "nutritional genomics" is concerned with studying the impacts of nutrients and food ingredients on gene expressions and understanding the interactions that may occur between nutrients and dietary bioactive ingredients with the genome and cellular molecules of the treated aquatic animals at the molecular levels that will, in turn, mediate gene expression. This concept will throw light on or provide important information to recognize better how specific nutrients may influence the overall health status of aquatic organisms. In crustaceans, it is well known that the nutritional requirements vary among different species. Thus, studying the nutrigenomics in different crustacean species is of significant importance. Of interest, recognition of the actual mechanisms that may be associated with the effects of the nutrients on the immune responses of crustaceans will provide clear outstanding protection, build a solid immune system, and also decrease the possibilities of the emergence of infectious diseases in the culture systems. Similarly, the growth, molting, lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and reproduction could be effectively enhanced by using specific nutrients. In the area of crustacean research, nutrigenomics has been rapidly grown for addressing several aspects related to the influences of nutrients on crustacean development. Several researchers have studied the relationships between several functional genes and their expression profile with several physiological functions of crustaceans. They found a close association between the effects of optimal feeding with efficient production, growth, reproduction development, and health status of several crustacean species. Moreover, they illustrated that regulation of the gene expression in individual cells by different nutrients and formulated feeds could improve the growth development and immunity-boosting of several crustacean species. The present review will spotlight on such relationships between the dietary nutrients and expression of genes linked with growth, metabolism, molting, antioxidant, reproduction, and immunity of several crustacean species. The literature included in this review article will provide references and future outlooks for the upcoming research plans. This will contribute positively for maintaining the sustainability of the sector of the crustacean industry.

Keywords: Crustaceans; Gene expression; Immunity; Nutrients-gene interactions; Nutrigenomics; Reproduction.