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At least 73 records · Page 4

Transcriptomic and Proteomic Insights into Host Immune Responses in Pediatric Severe Malarial Anemia: Dysregulation in HSP60-70-TLR2/4 Signaling and Altered Glutamine Metabolism

Severe malarial anemia (SMA, Hb < 6.0 g/dL) is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in holoendemic Plasmodium falciparum transmission zones. This study explored the entire expressed human transcriptome in whole blood from 66 Kenyan children with non-SMA (Hb ≥ 6.0 g/dL, n = 41) and SMA (n = 25), focusing on host immune response networks. RNA-seq analysis revealed 6862 differentially expressed genes, with equally distributed up-and down-regulated genes, indicating a complex host immune response. Deconvolution analyses uncovered leukocytic immune profiles indicative of a diminished antigenic response, reduced immune priming, and polarization toward cellular repair in SMA. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed that immune-regulated processes are central molecular distinctions between non-SMA and SMA. A top dysregulated immune response signaling network in SMA was the HSP60-HSP70-TLR2/4 signaling pathway, indicating altered pathogen recognition, innate immune activation, stress responses, and antigen recognition. Validation with high-throughput gene expression from a separate cohort of Kenyan children (n = 50) with varying severities of malarial anemia (n = 38 non-SMA and n = 12 SMA) confirmed the RNA-seq findings. Proteomic analyses in 35 children with matched transcript and protein abundance (n = 19 non-SMA and n = 16 SMA) confirmed dysregulation in the HSP60-HSP70-TLR2/4 signaling pathway. Additionally, glutamine transporter and glutamine synthetase genes were differentially expressed, indicating altered glutamine metabolism in SMA. This comprehensive analysis underscores complex immune dysregulation and novel pathogenic features in SMA.

Microbiology↗

Quantification of Type I Interferon Inhibition by Viral Proteins: Ebola Virus as a Case Study

Type I interferons (IFNs) are cytokines with both antiviral properties and protective roles in innate immune responses to viral infection. They induce an antiviral cellular state and link innate and adaptive immune responses. Yet, viruses have evolved different strategies to inhibit such host responses. One of them is the existence of viral proteins which subvert type I IFN responses to allow quick and successful viral replication, thus, sustaining the infection within a host. We propose mathematical models to characterise the intra-cellular mechanisms involved in viral protein antagonism of type I IFN responses, and compare three different molecular inhibition strategies. We study the Ebola viral protein, VP35, with this mathematical approach. Approximate Bayesian computation sequential Monte Carlo, together with experimental data and the mathematical models proposed, are used to perform model calibration, as well as model selection of the different hypotheses considered. Finally, we assess if model parameters are identifiable and discuss how such identifiability can be improved with new experimental data.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

The Use of Microgravity Simulators for Space Research

The spaceflight environment is known to influence biological processes ranging from stimulation of cellular metabolism to possible impacts on cellular damage repair, suppression of immune functions, and bone loss in astronauts. Microgravity is one of the most significant stress factors experienced by living organisms during spaceflight, and therefore, understanding cellular responses to altered gravity at the physiological and molecular level is critical for expanding our knowledge of life in space. Since opportunities to conduct experiments in space are scarce, various microgravity simulators and analogues have been widely used in space biology ground studies. Even though simulated microgravity conditions have produced some, but not all of the biological effects observed in the true microgravity environment, they provide test beds that are effective, affordable, and readily available to facilitate microgravity research. A Micro-g Simulator Center is being developed at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) to offer a variety of microgravity simulators and platforms for Space Biology investigators. Assistance will be provided by both KSC and external experts in molecular biology, microgravity simulation, and engineering. Comparisons between the physical differences in microgravity simulators, examples of experiments using the simulators, and scientific questions regarding the use of microgravity simulators will be discussed.

Simulation↗

The Use of Microgravity Simulators for Space Research

The spaceflight environment is known to influence biological processes ranging from stimulation of cellular metabolism to possible impacts on cellular damage repair, suppression of immune functions, and bone loss in astronauts. Microgravity is one of the most significant stress factors experienced by living organisms during spaceflight, and therefore, understanding cellular responses to altered gravity at the physiological and molecular level is critical for expanding our knowledge of life in space. Since opportunities to conduct experiments in space are scarce, various microgravity simulators and analogues have been widely used in space biology ground studies. Even though simulated microgravity conditions have produced some, but not all of the biological effects observed in the true microgravity environment, they provide test beds that are effective, affordable, and readily available to facilitate microgravity research. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) provides ground microgravity simulator support to offer a variety of microgravity simulators and platforms for Space Biology investigators. Assistance will be provided by both KSC and external experts in molecular biology, microgravity simulation, and engineering. Comparisons between the physical differences in microgravity simulators, examples of experiments using the simulators, and scientific questions regarding the use of microgravity simulators will be discussed.

Simulation↗

Role of immune cells in the removal of deleterious senescent cells

Cellular senescence is an essentially irreversible arrest of cell proliferation coupled to a complex senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). The senescence arrest prevents the development of cancer, and the SASP can promote tissue repair. Recent data suggest that the prolonged presence of senescent cells, and especially the SASP, could be deleterious, and their beneficial effects early in life can become maladaptive such that they drive aging phenotypes and pathologies late in life. It is therefore important to develop strategies to eliminate senescent cells. There are currently under development or approved several immune cell-based therapies for cancer, which could be redesigned to target senescent cells. This review focuses on this possible use of immune cells and discusses how current cell-based therapies could be used for senescent cell removal.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Conditions of the Toll-Like Receptors System of the Human Innate Immunity Cells During the Long-Term Isolation

During long duration missions onboard the International Space Station (ISS), alterations in T cell function and plasma cytokine profiles have been observed. Recent studies involving pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) have established that adaptation of innate immunity to long duration space flight occurs through changes in signal PRRs, Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Despite the fact that fundamental research of PRR molecular biology is far from complete, there are an increasing number of arguments confirming the important role of this system in regulating the initial stages of the adaptive immune response, as well as in the formation of autoimmune and allergic diseases. Long duration isolation is widely used by NASA as an analog for space flight with previous missions including several Antarctic bases, an undersea research station (NEEMO), and other isolation chambers. ‘SIRIUS’ is a multi-compartment pressurized facility at the IMBP in Moscow, Russia, in which subjects will spend 8 months executing tasks similar to those performed by astronauts in space. Prolonged isolation studies like SIRIUS replicate many of the influences expected to occur during long duration spaceflight missions including isolation, stress, confinement, and living in remote conditions. The immune study to be performed on the upcoming SIRIUS mission is being led by Dr. Sergey Ponomarev at the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow, Russia. The NASA JSC Immunology lab will provide analysis of immune cell function, serum cytokines and stress hormones, and salivary cortisol, cytokines, and viruses. This study will be conducted with SIRIUS subjects under the auspices of the parent program. The goal of the study is to evaluate the effect of the 8-month isolation mission on components of human innate immunity at the molecular and cellular level. Successful implementation and completion of this project will provide a unique assortment of new data, significantly expanding the current understanding of the molecular and cellular changes in TLRs during long-term isolation. We hypothesize that mission-like isolation in the Russian NEK facility, consisting of circadian misalignment, isolation, stress, and ‘station lifestyle’, will result in a pattern of immune dysregulation similar to that observed in astronauts onboard ISS. This pattern of alterations can be summarized as phenotypic changes (altered distribution of peripheral cytotoxic, central memory, CD8+ T cell subsets), reductions in T cell function, alterations in plasma cytokine profiles (increased inflammatory and certain chemokines), and reductions in mitogen stimulated cytokine profiles (spans Th1, Th2, Th17). We further hypothesize that these immune changes will correlate with the reactivation of latent herpesviruses (which persists during orbital flight), to be used as measurable adverse clinical manifestation or with other observed symptomology. The SIRIUS-21 mission began in November of 2021 and successfully concluded with the crew emerging in July of 2022. Currently, the logistics of shipping the samples from Russia to the United States is being organized.

Cody L Gutierrez↗

Developing High-Throughput Organ-On-A-Chip Models to Investigate the Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Central Nervous System

One of the main health risks in human space exploration is central nervous system (CNS) damage by ionizing radiation. Irradiation with simulated GCRs or their components, or high doses of low-LET radiation such as gamma rays, in animal models has been shown to cause neuronal damage together with glial cell activation and neuroinflammation and has been associated with prolonged cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. The extent of CNS damage in response to any insult, including ionizing radiation, is partially regulated by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which enables immune cells to enter the CNS. The main cellular regulators of BBB permeability are astrocytes, which also modulate neuronal death, immune responses and oxidative stress, and thus could serve as a robust CNS-specific target for countermeasure development. However, studies on BBB permeability and astrocyte functions in regulating CNS responses to ionizing radiation have been limited, especially in human tissue/organ analogs. Therefore, we have established a high throughput 3D organ-on-a-chip system to study human CNS functions in response to ionizing radiation, with the eventual goal of adapting it to spaceflight missions. We utilized commercially available OrganoPlate system (Mimetas, Inc.) seeded with primary or induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human cells for developing 3D neuronal-astrocytic and BBB models. We investigated both immediate and delayed CNS dose responses to 0.5-1 Gy X-rays by measuring BBB permeability and morphology, and astrocyte activation. We have also quantified secreted markers of oxidative stress and cell viability. In the future, we are planning to monitor dendritic, axonal and synaptic changes in neurons, evaluate the combined exposures to simulated microgravity and ionizing radiation, and compare the responses to low and high-LET ionizing radiation. We anticipate these studies could indicate novel cellular and mechanistic targets for countermeasure developments to improve CNS functions in astronauts.

Malkani, Sherina↗

19-LW-045 Full Length Final Report. Molecular Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenesis: Waging the Arms Race with Superbugs

As the current global pandemic makes abundantly clear, we need a better understanding of infectious disease to safeguard human health, the economy and global security. Modern omics techniques hold the promise of providing a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of life, including causes of pathogenesis from infectious disease at the molecular level, but we there is a serious gap in annotation of gene function. For as much as half of the genes and gene products encoded in genomes the molecular and/or cellular function is unknown or only partially understood. Recent innovations in fluorescence microscopy for live cell imaging and genetic engineering make it possible to determine the temporal correlation between molecular events, such as a gene being expressed due to host-pathogen interaction, and cellular events, such as bacterial invasion of immune cells. This is turn allows us to gain new insight as to the molecular and cellular role of individual genes and will enable the discovery and validation of new molecular mechanisms essential for infectious disease. Knowing the molecular mechanisms of disease processes will provide new therapeutic targets or novel countermeasure strategies. We aimed to develop a lattice light sheet fluorescence microscope as a unique resource at LLNL for long time course live cell imaging experiments; to develop the reagents and cell lines needed to monitor molecular events during the course pathogenic bacteria infecting mammalian immune cells; and to demonstrate that we could capture molecular events during an infection. We fully commissioned the LLNL lattice light sheet microscope and conducted initial proof of principle imaging experiments on mammalian immune cells and pathogenic bacteria. It is clear from the experience gained that long time course live cell imaging has tremendous potential to help elucidate molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions and to help annotate gene function, which would establish a basis for new countermeasures. It is also clear that if live cell imaging is to realize its full potential new data processing and analysis tools will need to be developed to facilitate analysis of molecular events within cells; new sample chambers and stages could facilitate studies with a wider range of cell and tissue types; and alternative molecular tagging methods need to be explored to enable more facile engineering of cells labeled with molecular specificity.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Selected contribution: a three-dimensional model for assessment of in vitro toxicity in balaena mysticetus renal tissue

This study established two- and three-dimensional renal proximal tubular cell cultures of the endangered species bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), developed SV40-transfected cultures, and cloned the 61-amino acid open reading frame for the metallothionein protein, the primary binding site for heavy metal contamination in mammals. Microgravity research, modulations in mechanical culture conditions (modeled microgravity), and shear stress have spawned innovative approaches to understanding the dynamics of cellular interactions, gene expression, and differentiation in several cellular systems. These investigations have led to the creation of ex vivo tissue models capable of serving as physiological research analogs for three-dimensional cellular interactions. These models are enabling studies in immune function, tissue modeling for basic research, and neoplasia. Three-dimensional cellular models emulate aspects of in vivo cellular architecture and physiology and may facilitate environmental toxicological studies aimed at elucidating biological functions and responses at the cellular level. Marine mammals occupy a significant ecological niche (72% of the Earth's surface is water) in terms of the potential for information on bioaccumulation and transport of terrestrial and marine environmental toxins in high-order vertebrates. Few ex vivo models of marine mammal physiology exist in vitro to accomplish the aforementioned studies. Techniques developed in this investigation, based on previous tissue modeling successes, may serve to facilitate similar research in other marine mammals.

Whales/genetics/physiology↗

Cellular Responses to Mechanical Stress Selected Contribution: A Three-Dimensional Model for Assessment of in Vitro Toxicity in Balaena Mysticetus Renal Tissue

This study established two- and three-dimensional renal proximal tubular cell cultures of the endangered species bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), developed SV40-transfected cultures, and cloned the 61-amino acid open reading frame for the metallothionein protein, the primary binding site for heavy metal contamination in mammals. Microgravity research, modulations in mechanical culture conditions (modeled microgravity), and shear stress have spawned innovative approaches to understanding the dynamics of cellular interactions, gene expression, and differentiation in several cellular systems. These investigations have led to the creation of ex vivo tissue models capable of serving as physiological research analogs for three-dimensional cellular interactions. These models are enabling studies in immune function, tissue modeling for basic research, and neoplasia. Three-dimensional cellular models emulate aspects of in vivo cellular architecture and physiology and may facilitate environmental toxicological studies aimed at elucidating biological functions and responses at the cellular level. Marine mammals occupy a significant ecological niche (72% of the Earth's surface is water) in terms of the potential for information on bioaccumulation and transport of terrestrial and marine environmental toxins in high-order vertebrates. Few ex vivo models of marine mammal physiology exist in vitro to accomplish the aforementioned studies. Techniques developed in this investigation, based on previous tissue modeling successes, may serve to facilitate similar research in other marine mammals.

Goodwin, T. J.↗

Developing High-Throughput Organ-on-a-Chip Models to Investigate the Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Central Nervous System

One of the main health risks in human space exploration is central nervous system (CNS) damage by ionizing radiation due to exposure to the galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). In animal models, irradiation with simulated GCRs or their components has been shown to cause neuronal damage and neuroinflammation associated with cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. In general, the extent of CNS damage is partially regulated by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which enables immune cells to enter the CNS. The main cellular regulators of BBB permeability are astrocytes, which also modulate neuronal death, immune responses and oxidative stress, and thus could serve as a robust CNS-specific target for countermeasure development. However, studies on BBB permeability and astrocyte functions in regulating CNS responses to ionizing radiation have been limited, especially in human tissue/organ analogs. Therefore, we established a high-throughput 3D organ-on-a-chip system to study human CNS and BBB impairments in response to ionizing radiation, based on commercially available OrganoPlates (Mimetas, Inc.) seeded with primary or induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human cells. We investigated both immediate and delayed CNS responses to major GCR components: 0.15-0.5 Gy 250MeV/n 4-He, and 0.3-0.8 Gy 600 MeV/n 56-Fe; as well as to 0.5-1 Gy X-rays. We observed ionizing radiation-mediated increases in BBB permeability that was exacerbated by astrocyte presence and accompanied by morphological changes in endothelial cells and tight junctions, altered cytokine profile including TNFa upregulation, and increased oxidative stress. We also quantified irradiation-mediated changes in astrocyte activation and neuronal functions, revealing major astrocyte damage mediated by 600MeV/n 56-Fe particles. Thus, we demonstrate that deep space radiation may contribute to CNS damage by disrupting both astrocyte and endothelial cell components of the blood-brain barrier. Our next steps include mapping and validating the transcriptomic changes induced by simulated GCRs and their components in human CNS models. Ultimately, we aim to uncover potential novel targets for countermeasure developments to mitigate CNS damage in long duration spaceflight.

Radiation↗

Three-Dimensional Normal Human Neutral Progenitor Tissue-Like Assemblies: A Model for Persistent Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection and Platform to Study Oxidate Stress and Damage in Multiple Hit Scenarios

The environment of space results in a multitude of challenges to the human physiology that present barriers to extended habitation and exploration. Over 40 years of investigation to define countermeasures to address space flight adaptation has left gaps in our knowledge regarding mitigation strategies partly due to the lack of investigative tools, monitoring strategies, and real time diagnostics to understand the central causative agent(s) responsible for physiologic adaptation and maintaining homeostasis. Spaceflight-adaptation syndrome is the combination of space environmental conditions and the synergistic reaction of the human physiology. Our work addresses the role of oxidative stress and damage (OSaD) as a negative and contributing Risk Factor (RF) in the following areas of combined spaceflight related dysregulation: i) radiation induced cellular damage [1], [2] ii) immune impacts and the inflammatory response [3], [4] and iii) varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation [5]. Varicella-zoster (VZV)/Chicken Pox virus is a neurotropic human alphaherpes virus resulting in varicella upon primary infection, suppressed by the immune system becomes latent in ganglionic neurons, and reactivates under stress events to re-express in zoster and possibly shingles. Our laboratory has developed a complex three-dimensional (3D) normal human neural tissue model that emulates several characteristics of the human trigeminal ganglia (TG) and allows the study of combinatorial experimentation which addresses, simultaneously, OSaD associated with Spaceflight adaptation and habitation [6]. By combining the RFs of microgravity, radiation, and viral infection we will demonstrate that living in the space environment leads to significant physiological consequences for the peripheral and subsequently the central nervous system (PNS, CNS) associated with OSaD generation and consequentially endangers long-duration and exploration-class missions.

Goodwin, Thomas J.↗

Three-Dimensional Normal Human Neural Progenitor Tissue-Like Assemblies: A Model for Persistent Varicell-Zoster Virus Infection and Platform to Study Viral Infectivity and Oxidative Stress and Damage

The environment of space results in a multitude of challenges to the human physiology that present barriers to extended habitation and exploration. Over 40 years of investigation to define countermeasures to address space flight adaptation has left gaps in our knowledge regarding mitigation strategies partly due to the lack of investigative tools, monitoring strategies, and real time diagnostics to understand the central causative agent(s) responsible for physiologic adaptation and maintaining homeostasis. Spaceflight-adaptation syndrome is the combination of space environmental conditions and the synergistic reaction of the human physiology. Our work addresses the role of oxidative stress and damage (OSaD) as a negative and contributing Risk Factor (RF) in the following areas of combined spaceflight related dysregulation: i) radiation induced cellular damage [1], [2] ii) immune impacts and the inflammatory response [3], [4] and iii) varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation [5]. Varicella-zoster (VZV)/Chicken Pox virus is a neurotropic human alphaherpesvirus resulting in varicella upon primary infection, suppressed by the immune system becomes latent in ganglionic neurons, and reactivates under stress events to re-express in zoster and possibly shingles. Our laboratory has developed a complex threedimensional (3D) normal human neural tissue model that emulates several characteristics of the human trigeminal ganglia (TG) and allows the study of combinatorial experimentation which addresses, simultaneously, OSaD associated with Spaceflight adaptation and habitation [6].

Goodwin, T. J.↗

Gene Expression of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Crew Members During Long-Duration Space Missions Indicate Dysregulation of Immunological and Cell Survival Mechanisms

Lymphocytes are naturally exposed to genotoxic stresses. DNA damage occurs during the entire lymphocyte’s life span and is induced mainly by reactive oxygen species (ROS), replication fork collapse, or telomere shortening during the immune response or intense cell proliferation phases. Strong evidence for the influence of immune function on DNA repair comes from studies of SCID disease. SCID mice not only have a deficient V(D)J recombination but are also unable to repair double strand breaks, leading to increased radiation sensitivity. The leukocytes’ transcriptome of 8 ISS crew members revels a dysregulated immune function and activation of cellular survival pathways in response to space environment. We have performed PCR analysis in peripheral mononuclear cells from the same crew members. A list of 62 genes were carefully selected addressing immunological and cell survival pathways. Differentially expressed genes indicated changes in chemokine receptor activity, chemokine binding, toll-like receptors, adhesion molecules and cellular response to DNA damage.

Maria Moreno-Villanueva↗

Gene Expression of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Crew Members During Long-Duration Space Missions Indicate Dysregulation of Immunological and Cell Survival Mechanisms

Lymphocytes are naturally exposed to genotoxic stresses. DNA damage occurs during the entire lymphocyte’s life span and is induced mainly by reactive oxygen species (ROS), replication fork collapse, or telomere shortening during the immune response or intense cell proliferation phases. Strong evidence for the influence of immune function on DNA repair comes from studies of SCID disease. SCID mice not only have a deficient V(D)J recombination but are also unable to repair double strand breaks, leading to increased radiation sensitivity. The leukocytes’ transcriptome of 8 ISS crew members revels a dysregulated immune function and activation of cellular survival pathways in response to space environment. We have performed PCR analysis in peripheral mononuclear cells from the same crew members. A list of 62 genes were carefully selected addressing immunological and cell survival pathways. Differentially expressed genes indicated changes in chemokine receptor activity, chemokine binding, toll-like receptors, adhesion molecules and cellular response to DNA damage.

María Moreno-Villanueva↗

Novel Z-DNA binding domains in giant viruses

Z-nucleic acid structures play vital roles in cellular processes and have implications in innate immunity due to their recognition by Zα domains containing proteins (Z-DNA/Z-RNA binding proteins, ZBPs). Although Zα domains have been identified in six proteins, including viral E3L, ORF112, and I73R, as well as, cellular ADAR1, ZBP1, and PKZ, their prevalence across living organisms remains largely unexplored. In this study, we introduce a computational approach to predict Zα domains, leading to the revelation of previously unidentified Zα domain-containing proteins in eukaryotic organisms, including non-metazoan species. Our findings encompass the discovery of new ZBPs in previously unexplored giant viruses, members of the Nucleocytoviricota phylum. Through experimental validation, we confirm the Zα functionality of select proteins, establishing their capability to induce the B-to-Z conversion. Additionally, we identify Zα-like domains within bacterial proteins. While these domains share certain features with Zα domains, they lack the ability to bind to Z-nucleic acids or facilitate the B-to-Z DNA conversion. Our findings significantly expand the ZBP family across a wide spectrum of organisms and raise intriguing questions about the evolutionary origins of Zα-containing proteins. Moreover, our study offers fresh perspectives on the functional significance of Zα domains in virus sensing and innate immunity and opens avenues for exploring hitherto undiscovered functions of ZBPs.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Autocrine and paracrine interferon signalling as ‘ring vaccination’ and ‘contact tracing’ strategies to suppress virus infection in a host

The innate immune response, particularly the interferon response, represents a first line of defence against viral infections. The interferon molecules produced from infected cells act through autocrine and paracrine signalling to turn host cells into an antiviral state. Although the molecular mechanisms of IFN signalling have been well characterized, how the interferon response collectively contribute to the regulation of host cells to stop or suppress viral infection during early infection remain unclear. Here, we use mathematical models to delineate the roles of the autocrine and the paracrine signalling, and show that their impacts on viral spread are dependent on how infection proceeds. In particular, we found that when infection is well-mixed, the paracrine signalling is not as effective; by contrast, when infection spreads in a spatial manner, a likely scenario during initial infection in tissue, the paracrine signalling can impede the spread of infection by decreasing the number of susceptible cells close to the site of infection. Furthermore, we argue that the interferon response can be seen as a parallel to population-level epidemic prevention strategies such as ‘contact tracing’ or ‘ring vaccination’. Thus, our results here may have implications for the outbreak control at the population scale more broadly.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

A global analysis on the systemic effects of antibiotics in cultured fish and their potential human health risk: a review

Abstract The rearing of fish in intensive systems reduces their immunity leading to eruption of diseases, consequently prompting the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are currently used in cultured fish globally to treat/prevent diseases. On the one hand, antibiotics used in aquaculture help to improve fish health by killing or inhibiting pathogenic bacteria proliferation. However, on the other hand, they cause multiple side effects. To date, information on systemic effects of antibiotics in cultured fish is scattered and their potential human health risk remains elusive. This review critically analyses and discusses the available information in the literature on the positive and negative effects of antibiotics in cultured fish and their potential human health risk via fish consumption. The review found 44 different antibiotics dominated by oxytetracycline were studied in various fish species worldwide. Antibiotics used in global aquaculture either decrease or increase fish growth and survival rates. They induce oxidative stress, which affect antioxidant and detoxification responses and cause host–microbiota dysbiosis. These changes compromise the fish immunity system, which ultimately lead to cellular damage. The toxicities generated inhibit the fish aerobic glycolysis, suppress lipogenesis and fatty acid β‐oxidation while increase energy demand by initiating gluconeogenesis and anaerobic glycolysis. Consumption of fish treated with antibiotics causes human health risk. Future studies are required on agents to restore dysfunctions induced by antibiotics in cultured fish, while attempts to limit their utilisation in aquaculture production are underway. [Correction added on 21 November 2020, after first online publication: The abstract has been amended to clarify the scope of the review.]

Limbu, Samwel Mchele↗