Reprogramming Health in Aquaculture: The Nutrient–Microbiota–Immunity Nexus

Improving health and productivity in aquaculture demands a systems-level understanding of the dynamic interactions between dietary nutrient utilization, intermediary metabolism, gut microbiota and host immunity. Specific nutrients work as immunomodulators, influencing cytokine signaling, oxidative stress responses, and metabolic reprogramming. Simultaneously, the gut microbiota modulates nutrient metabolism and produces bioactive metabolites that regulate host immune functions. During immune activation, metabolic resources are reallocated, in a trade-off between growth and defense mechanisms, compromising feed efficiency and overall animal performance. Functional feeds that modulate both immune and microbial pathways offer a promising strategy to enhance disease resistance and productivity. However, mechanistic insights into the complex crosstalk among nutrients, microbiota and immunity in aquatic species remain limited.This Research Topic aims to explore the integrative biology of nutritional immunology and host–microbiome interactions in aquatic animals. We seek to highlight how dietary strategies can shape health outcomes via direct immunonutritional effects and indirect microbiota–metabolism–immunity interactions. We welcome original research, review articles, methodological papers, and perspectives covering, but not limited to, the following areas:- Immunomodulatory effects of specific nutrients (e.g., amino acids, fatty acids, trace minerals, vitamins, and functional additives) on immune and metabolic responses.- Nutrient-induced shifts in gut microbial composition and their systemic impact on host immunity and performance.- Trade-offs in energy allocation between growth and immune activation in response to infection.- Nutritional regulation of inflammatory responses: pro- vs anti-inflammatory pathways in aquatic species.- Microbiota-mediated digestion, metabolite production, and their influence on host metabolic homeostasis and immune competence.- Functional ingredients (probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, phytogenic) and their systemic effects beyond gut-level modulation.- Integration of multi-omics tools to link diet composition with systemic metabolic and immune outcomes. Topic editors: Diogo Molinos Peixoto, Ana Basto, Rita Azeredo, Marcia Saraiva Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/72678/reprogramming-health-in-aquaculture-the-nutrient-microbiota-immunity-nexus