Effects of the potential probiotic Bacillus subtilis D1-2 on growth, digestion, immunity and intestinal flora in juvenile sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus

In the present study, a potential probiotic Bacillus subtilis D1-2 with antibacterial activity was isolated from the gut of Apostichopus japonicus. The purpose of this experiment was to assess the effect of B. subtilis D1-2 at different concentrations (C: 0 CFU/g, BL: 105 CFU/g, BM: 107 CFU/g and BH: 109 CFU/g) on the growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, immune ability and intestinal flora of A. japonicus. After the 56-day feeding trial, the final body weight and weight gain rate of juvenile sea cucumber A. japonicus fed B. subtilis D1-2 were significantly increased, especially in the BM group. Additionally, the lipase activity of the intestine was significantly increased in the BM and BH groups. Enhanced immunity was also found in sea cucumbers supplemented with B. subtilis D1-2. Alpha diversity indices showed that the B. subtilis D1-2-supplemented groups had higher intestinal microbial richness and diversity than the control group. The beta diversity analysis indicated that the bacterial communities in the B. subtilis D1-2-supplemented groups were quite similar but different from the bacterial communities in the control group. Dietary supplementation with B. subtilis D1-2 increased the relative abundance of some potential probiotic-related genera, including Lactobacillus, Clostridium, Lactococcus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus. In conclusion, dietary addition of B. subtilis D1-2 could effectively promote the growth of A. japonicus, improve its digestion and immunity capacity to a certain extent, and actively regulate the intestinal microflora of A. japonicus.