Researchers and professionals from the Laboratory of Fish and Aquatic Pathology UdeC received recognition from the Ibero-American Society of Microbiota, Probiotics and Prebiotics for experimental work development.
At the Third International Congress of Microbiota, Probiotics and Prebiotics, the Ibero-American Society of Microbiota, Siamp&p 2025, which was held together with the First Congress of the Chilean Society of Microbiota, Probiotics and Prebiotics, Sochimp&p, the Ibero-American Society certified scientific work “Effect of probiotic BX-1 in the development of juvenile salar Psalm under experimental conditions” as the Best Work in Basic Science.
The presentation at the Siamp&p Congress was in charge of the veterinary physician and Doctor (c) in Microbiology of the University of Concepción Alberto Sandoval Concha, who presented the results of the experimental work in which a commercial “super probiotic” was used, applied in various species such as chicken, pork and cow, and which have had positive results in terms of reducing the use of antibiotics in species, stimulating growth and immune response in consumers.
“In this study, the probiotic was analyzed from different parameters, including growth, showing that by using the 1% concentration the food conversion factor became 0.9 and that’s something important, because it means that we are giving about 900 grams of food to a fish to grow in a kilo, that’s one of the milestones of the article,” explained Doctor (c) in Microbiology Alberto Sandoval Concha.
The experimental study also analyzed the expression of genes associated with immune response, such as 1 beta (IL-1β), associated with antiviral response, tumor necrosis factor and tissue repair. As part of the results, probiotics were found to have produced immunological tolerance and acted effectively in the growth of Atlantic salmon (Atlantic salmon).
The initiative to carry out this pilot trial arose as a result of technical assistance from Laboratory of Fish and Aquatic Pathology (LPPA UdeC) of the Department of Oceanography of the University of Concepción towards the Chilean-Swedish company TS Swedish Innovation Products, who sought to introduce probiotics in Chile for salmonids. “To achieve that, it had to be validated first, so we did different interactions to subject the fish we had in the laboratory to this probiotic. Growth parameters were evaluated, all that had to do with the optimization of fish and the production process. There was a coordinated work with the company, which in that sense was satisfied with the work, and today we continue to interact in a very active and continuous way,” said the head of the Aquatic Psychopathology Laboratory and academic of the UdeC Oceanography Department, Dr. Ariel Valenzuela Saldias.
The work was carried out by researchers and professionals of the LPPA UdeC, Dr. Ariel Valenzuela Saldias, biochemistry Bernardo Fuentealba Valenzuela, Dr. Fernando Cruzat Cruzat, fisheries engineer Jorge Silva Acosta, marine biologist Nice Agurto Oviedomarine biologist Francisco Jorquera González, veterinary doctor and doctor (c) in Microbiology Alberto Sandoval Conchaand as part of the company’s team of professionals TS Swedish Innovation Products are found Paul Sepúlveda Melado, Ariel Inzunza Sepúlveda and Johan Defaire.
Due to the high demand, the work included physiological, biochemical, molecular, biological parameters, integrating various areas for the evaluation of a single work, highlighting the commitment and multidisciplinary vision of the professionals who are part of the Department of Oceanography UdeC and who stand out to make future collaborations and offer technical assistance, with the aim of supporting and offering joint solutions to address the needs of businesses.
