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Simple Summary: Due to the scarcity of fishmeal resources, alternatives that provide the necessary nutrients for Litopenaeus vannamei are being sought. While fishmeal has been the main nutrition source of Litopenaeus vannamei due to its rich nutrients, the search for protein sources to replace it is becoming increasingly important. The protein derived from Clostridium autoethanogenum protein shows great potential as a substitute for fishmeal owing to its exceptional nutritional value. However, previous studies have suggested that the growth of Litopenaeus vannamei may be adversely affected by the fishmeal replacement of Clostridium autoethanogenum protein. Research has demonstrated that chenodeoxycholic acid can improve the growth and intestinal health of Litopenaeus vannamei. Five diets were formulated with varying concentrations of chenodeoxycholic acid to feed Litopenaeus vannamei. The results revealed that replacing partial fishmeal with Clostridium autoethanogenum protein and adding 0.06% chenodeoxycholic acid led to significant improvements in the growth performance, lipid metabolism, and sterol metabolism. Additionally, the hepatopancreas health of the Litopenaeus vannamei was also improved. The conducted experiment has set the groundwork for further investigation into determining the most effective quantity of chenodeoxycholic acid to be utilized in low fishmeal diets. The study aimed to assess the impact of adding chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) to the diet of Litopenaeus vannamei on their growth performance, lipid and cholesterol metabolism, and hepatopancreas health while being fed a low fishmeal diet. Five diets were formulated, one of which contained 25% fishmeal (PC); fishmeal was partially replaced with Clostridium autoethanogenum protein in the remaining four diets and supplemented with 0, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.09% CDCA (NC, BA1, BA2, and BA3, respectively). In this study, four replicates of each diet were assigned and each replicate consisted of 30 shrimp with an average weight of (0.25 ± 0.03 g). The shrimp were fed four times a day for a period of 56 days. The results of this study indicate that the inclusion of CDCA in the diet had a positive impact on the growth performance of the shrimp. The final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), and specific growth rate (SGR) of the shrimp in the PC group were similar to those in the BA2 group, and significantly higher than those in the other three groups. The survival rate (SR) was similar among all groups. In comparison to the PC group, the low fishmeal groups exhibited a significant decrease in the crude lipid content of the whole shrimp, as well as the Total cholesterol (T-CHOL), Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and High-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels in the hemolymph. Regarding the sterol metabolism, the dietary supplementation of CDCA up-regulated the mRNA expression of intracellular cholesterol transporter 1-like (npc1), 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (7dhcr), Delta (24) sterol reductase (Δ24), HMG-CoA reductase membrane form (hmgcr), and sterol carrier protein 2 (scp). In the lipid metabolism, the mRNA expression of sterol-regulatory element binding protein (srebp) was significantly down-regulated in the shrimp fed the BA1 diet and the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase (ampk) was significantly up-regulated in the shrimp fed the BA1 and BA3 diets compared to the PC group. The mRNA expression of triacylglycerol lipase (tgl) was significantly up-regulated in the shrimp fed the BA2 diet compared to the NC group. Compared with the shrimp fed the PC diets, the dietary supplementation of CDCA significantly down-regulated the protein expression of SREBP1. The lumen damage in the BA1 group was significantly less severe than those in the NC group. The addition of 0.06% CDCA to low fishmeal diets can improve the growth performance, lipid and cholesterol metabolism, and hepatopancreas health of L. vannamei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effect of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal (BSF) on haemolymph biochemical indicators, muscle metabolites as well as the lipid and glucose metabolism of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Four diets were formulated in which the control diet contained 25 % of fishmeal (FM) and 10 % (BSF10), 20 % (BSF20), and 30 % (BSF30) of FM protein were replaced with BSF. Four hundred and eighty shrimp (0·88 ± 0·00 g) were distributed to four groups of three replicates and fed for 7 weeks. Results showed that growth performance of shrimp fed BSF30 significantly decreased compared with those fed FM, but there was no significant difference in survival among groups. The whole shrimp crude lipid content, haemolymph TAG and total cholesterol were decreased with the increasing BSF inclusion. The results of metabolomics showed that the metabolite patterns of shrimp fed different diets were altered, with significant changes in metabolites related to lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism as well as TCA cycle. The mRNA expressions of hk, pfk, pk, pepck, ampk, mcd, cpt-1 and scd1 in hepatopancreas were downregulated in shrimp fed BSF30, but mRNA expression of acc1 was upregulated. Unlike BSF30, the mRNA expressions of fas, cpt-1, fbp and 6pgd in hepatopancreas were upregulated in shrimp fed BSF20. This study indicates that BSF20 diet promoted lipid synthesis and lipolysis, while BSF30 diet weakened β-oxidation and glycolysis as well as affected the unsaturated fatty acids synthesis, which may affect the growth performance and body composition of shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3‐hr experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary myo‐inositol (MI) supplementation on survival, immune response and antioxidant abilities in Litopenaeus vannamei under acute hypoxia stress. Six practical diets were formulated with supplementation of graded levels (control group 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 g/kg dry diet) of MI and were randomly assigned to triplicate groups of L. vannamei (mean weight 0.40 ± 0.00 g) for 8 weeks. Ten healthy shrimp (final mean weight approximately 11–14 g) randomly selected from each tank were exposed to hypoxia stress after feeding trial. After 3‐hr acute hypoxia stress, survival of shrimp fed MI‐supplemented diets (except 0.1 and 0.4 g/kg diets) was significantly increased compared with the control group. Shrimp fed control diet had lower activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acid phosphatase (ACP), total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and higher malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) contents in hepatopancreas than those fed the MI‐supplemented diets. In addition, mRNA expression levels of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), catalase (CAT) and penaeidin were significantly differentially regulated in hepatopancreas. In summary, dietary MI supplementation may have a positive effect on improving resistance to acute hypoxia stress of L. vannamei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fishmeal by concentrated dephenolization cottonseed protein (CDCP) on growth, feed utilization, body composition, haemolymph indexes and antioxidative ability of juvenile white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei, Boone. Six practical diets CDCP0, CDCP50, CDCP100, CDCP150, CDCP200 and CDCP250, containing a gradient of CDCP 0g/kg, 50g/kg, 100g/kg, 150g/kg, 200g/kg and 250 g/kg) to substitute (50g/kg, 90g/kg, 130g/kg, 170g/kg, 210g/kg and 250 g/kg) of fishmeal, diets were fed to four replicate groups. Amino acids were supplemented in the low fishmeal diet to obtain similar amino acid profile as the control diet. The results indicated that shrimp fed the CDCP20 and CDCP25 diet had poor growth performance and feed utilization compared with the CDCP0 group. No difference was observed in body composition among all the treatments. Total cholesterol (T‐CHO), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) concentrations in haemolymph were significantly lower in high‐CDCP groups. The digestibility of protein decreased significantly with increasing CDCP levels. When shrimp fed the CDCP250 diet had the significant lower total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) and catalase (CAT) activity than control diet. In conclusion, fishmeal can be reduced from 250g/kg to 130 g/kg by CDCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A 5-weeks experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of deoxynivalenol on growth performance, histological morphology, anti-oxidative ability and immune capacity of Litopenaeus vannamei. White shrimp (mean initial weight 1.02 g) were fed seven isonitrogenous diets, Diet 1 as the control, Diet 2–4 was supplemented with grade levels (250, 500 and 1000 μg kg−1) of deoxynivalenol (DON), Diet 5–7 were formulated to contain graded levels of contaminated wheat flour. Each diet was assigned to four tanks (30 shrimp). The weight gain was decreased with the increasing dietary DON levels, survival was lower in shrimp fed high levels of DON-contaminated wheat flour (P < 0.05). Feed intake and feed conversion ratio did not show any difference among all the groups. After 4 h hypoxia stress, survival of shrimp was decreased in shrimp fed high levels of DON-contaminated wheat flour (P < 0.05). Total antioxidant capacity in hepatopancreas was higher in shrimp fed the control diet, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity were higher in shrimp fed the Diet 3 and Diet 6, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was higher in shrimp fed the highest dietary DON (Diet 4), while the gene expression of SOD and GPx were lower in shrimp fed the Diet 3–7. The expression of HSP70, Toll 1 and Dorsal were higher in shrimp fed the Diet 2, the expression of AKT were higher in shrimp fed the Diet 1 and Diet 2. The expression of proPO, LGBP and PPAF were higher in shrimp fed the Diet 4 and Diet 7. The H&E stain indicated intestinal mucosal folds were impaired in shrimp fed the Diet 3–7, and B cells number and diameters of the hepatopancreas tubules were affected by DON levels, and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis indicated the apopotosis occurs in intestinal epithelial cell of shrimp fed the Diet 2–7. Based on the present results, the safety level of DON for white shrimp should below 0.5 ppm, which was much less than the European Communities recommendation values for aquatic animals (5 ppm). High level of DON would damage the cell structural and affect the NF-κB pathway and proPO system of shrimp. Highlights • Weight gain and survival of shrimp were impaired by the dietary DON. • Intestinal mucosal and the microstructural of intestinal epithelial cell were harmed by dietary DON. • NF-kB pathway and proPO system were affected by dietary DON. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raw materials for making dried shrimp (a type of foodstuff) are mostly from farmed shrimp and preliminary findings indicated that head copper (Cu) concentrations in some commercial dried shrimp products exceeded the safe limit specified in pollution-free aquatic products (50 mg/kg), which may influence food safety. Therefore, a 63-day feeding trial was conducted to explore effects of dietary Cu concentrations on accumulation of Cu in tissues, growth performance, immune response and antioxidant status of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Moderating effect of myo -inositol (MI, adding 200 mg/kg diet) on the adverse impacts caused by excessive dietary Cu was also investigated. 600 shrimp (initial weight: 0.89 ± 0.00 g) were divided into five groups: 37.08 mg Cu/kg diet group (control group), 62.57 mg Cu/kg diet group, 125.99 mg Cu/kg diet group, 63.41 mg Cu/kg diet group (supplemented with MI) and 119.19 mg Cu/kg diet group (supplemented with MI). The results showed that dietary Cu concentrations increased from 37.08 to over 62.57 mg/kg, hepatopancreas Cu concentrations raised from 29.04 to 233.43–263.65 mg/kg, and muscle Cu concentrations only increased from 6.22 to 6.99–8.39 mg/kg. Report to control group, excessive Cu concentration (125.99 mg/kg) didn't significantly affect growth performance, but it notably reduced whole body lipid content and immune response, induced oxidative stress and damaged the hepatopancreas structure, which was ameliorated by MI supplementation. The results suggested that consuming shrimp head and its processed products weren't recommended. Cu concentrations of commercial feeds for Pacific white shrimp should be controlled below 62.57 mg/kg. Additionally, MI supplementation mitigated the negative impacts induced by excessive dietary Cu. [Display omitted] • Head Cu concentration in some dried shrimp exceeded the safe limit (50 mg/kg). • Dietary Cu (125.99 mg/kg) didn't cause excessive deposition of Cu in shrimp muscle. • Excessive dietary Cu induced oxidative stress and reduced immune response. • myo -inositol could mitigate the adverse impacts caused by excessive dietary Cu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-week feeding trial was proceeded to assess the effects of yeast and yeast extract on growth performance, anti-oxidant ability and intestinal microbiota of Litopenaeus vannamei. Five diets supplemented with 0% (Control), 3% beer yeast (Y), 0.5% yeast extract (YE0.5), 1% yeast extract (YE1) and 2% yeast extract (YE2) respectively were assigned to L. vannamei (four replicates per diet, 30 shrimp in each replicate, initial body weight 1.38 ± 0.01 g). The results showed higher weight gain and specific growth rate in shrimp fed diet YE2 compared with those fed the Control (P <.05). Both dietary yeast and yeast extract increased condition factor of shrimp (P <.05). Whole body moisture was significantly lower in shrimp fed yeast and yeast extract than those fed diet Control (P <.05). Shrimp fed yeast extract showed higher total antioxidant capacity compared to Control group (P <.05). Shrimp fed diet YE2 obtained higher catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities than those fed diet Control, YE0.5 and YE1 (P <.05). The main phyla in intestine of shrimp were Tenericutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. With the increasing dietary yeast extract supplementation, the relative abundances of Ruegeria , and its belonging Rhodobacteraceae, Rhodobacterales, Alphaproteobacteria, Proteobacteria in intestine increased gradually, which were significantly higher than those fed diet Control and Y (P <.05). Moreover, yeast and yeast extract significantly increased the Shannon indexes of intestinal microbiota (P <.05). Overall, dietary 2.0% yeast extract supplementation significantly increased growth performance and antioxidant ability of shrimp, also enhanced microbial diversity and microbiota structure in intestine of L. vannamei. • The first time to reveal the effect of yeast extract on intestinal microbiota of L. vannamei. • 2% yeast extract supplemented improved growth performance and anti-oxidative ability of L. vannamei significantly. • Both yeast and yeast extract enhanced the stability of bacterial community in intestine of shrimp. • Yeast extract optimized microbiota structure by the increase of beneficial bacteria and decrease of pathogenic bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) on growth performance, body composition, lipid metabolism, and intestinal health of juvenile white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei fed a low fishmeal diet. Four practical diets were formulated: HFM (25% fishmeal), LFM (15% fishmeal), LB1 (LFM + 0.04% CDCA), LB2 (LFM + 0.08% CDCA). Each diet was assigned to four tanks with forty shrimp (initial weight 0.33 ± 0.03 g) per tank. The results indicated that the growth performance of shrimp were similar between the four groups; the crude lipid content of shrimp fed the LB2 diet was significantly lower than those fed the HFM diet (P < 0.05). The lipase activity content in hepatopancreatic were significantly higher in the two CDCA supplemented groups than that in LFM group; the contents of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hemolymph were significantly lower in LFM group, LB1 group and LB2 group than that in HFM group (P < 0.05). The shrimp fed LB1 diet was significantly decreased the intestinal expression levels of tube than those fed in HFM diet; the intestinal gene expression of imd and toll were significantly lower in LB2 group than those in HFM group (P < 0.05). The results of hepatopancreas gene expression suggest that shrimp fed the LFM diet showed significantly upregulated expression levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (srebp), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (acc), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (cpt-1) than those fed the HFM diet; shrimp fed the LB1 diet showed significantly upregulated expression levels of srebp , acc , and AMP-activated protein kinase (ampk) than those fed the HFM diet; shrimp fed the LB2 diet had higher expression levels of srebp , acc , and cpt-1 than those fed the HFM diet (P < 0.05). In the hepatopancreas, the shrimp fed the LFM diet shown significantly up-regulated the expression levels of beclin1 compared to those fed HFM diet; the expression levels of autophagy-related protein13 (atg3) , autophagy-related protein 12 (atg12) of in shrimp fed the LB1 diet were significantly higher than those fed the HFM diet; and the expression levels of autophagy-related protein13 (atg13), beclin1 , atg3 , atg12 , autophagy-related protein 9 (atg9) of shrimp fed LB2 diet were significantly higher than those fed the HFM diet (P < 0.05). The atg3 in intestine of shrimp fed the LB2 diet were significantly higher than those fed the HFM diet (P < 0.05). Intestinal mucous fold were damaged, hepatic tubules were disorganized and B cells appeared to be swollen in LFM group. The fold height and width of shrimp fed the diets supplemented with CDCA increased significantly than those fed the LFM diet (P < 0.05), the hepatic tubules were neatly arranged, and R cells increased. In conclusion, supplementary CDCA in a low fishmeal diet promoted lipid metabolism, enhanced autophagy of shrimp, also improved the health of the intestine and hepatopancreas. • Dietary chenodeoxy cholic acid supplementation improved the health of the intestine and hepatopancreas. • Lipid metabolism was affected by dietary chenodeoxycholic acid supplementation. • Cellular autophagy and non-specific immunity were enhanced by dietary chenodeoxycholic acid supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant protein sources are the main alternative to fish meal (FM), but excessive substitution can induce inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in aquatic animals. In this study, the antioxidant capacity, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), apoptosis and intestinal health of Litopenaeus vannamei at the different stages of feeding trial were evaluated after replacing FM with soy protein concentrate (SPC). Two diets were designed: HF diet (25% FM) and LF diet (15% FM + 10% soy protein concentrate), respectively. The samples were collected at 7d, 14d, 28d, 42d, 56d of the feeding trial. The results showed that the antioxidant capacity of the hepatopancreas of shrimp fed the LF diet gradually decreased after 28d. The glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activity, superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) showed a decreasing trend with the went on of the feeding trial and were lower than those of shrimp fed a HF diet. The length of microvilli and height of mucosal folds in shrimp fed the LF diet were significantly lower than those fed the HF diet after 42d (P <0.05), and the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were swollen, and the mitochondrial matrix showed irregular structure and even almost complete dissolution at 56d. The expression of hepatopancreatic endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related genes was highest at 14d, and the hepatopancreatic endoplasmic reticulum-related genes were overall higher in shrimp fed the LF diet than those fed the HF diet after 28d. The expression of apoptosis-associated genes in hepatopancreatic cells showed an overall decreasing trend. However, the relative expression of intestinal ERS and apoptosis related gene was in the opposite trend. ERS was enhanced and apoptosis was inhibited in shrimp since 7d of the feeding trial when the dietary FM level was reduced. In conclusion, the antioxidant capacity and immune response of shrimp would be reduced as the feeding trial went on, ERS and apoptosis in the intestine of shrimp fed a LF diet would be earlier to be induced compared to those fed the HF diet. • Soy protein concentrate reduces the antioxidant capacity of shrimp hepatopancreas. • Soy protein concentrate causes stress in the intestinal endoplasmic reticulum. • Soy protein concentrate causes apoptosis of intestinal cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bile acids have an important role in the growth and sterol metabolism of shrimp. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of bile acids supplementation in the low fishmeal diets on sterol metabolism, bile acids enterohepatic circulation, bile acid profile, and apoptosis in Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Six diets were formulated in this experiment, HFM diet (25% fishmeal), LFM diet (10 % fishmeal), and LFM supplemented with four levels (0.15, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9 g kg−1) of bile acids, which were LBA1, LBA2, LBA3, LBA4, respectively. Soy protein concentrate and cottonseed protein concentrate blend was used to replace fishmeal of 60 %. After 50 days of feeding trial, the shrimp fed the LBA4 diet showed significantly increased final body weight than that fed the LFM diet (P < 0.05). In the sterol metabolism, the shrimp fed the LBA1 diet was significantly increased the HMG-CoA reductase membrane form (hmgcr) and Niemann-Pick type C-2-like protein (npc2) expression compare with that fed the LFM diet, shrimp in LBA2 group was significantly increased the related genes expression [ hmgcr and NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 1-like (npc1)] than those in the LFM group of hepatopancreas (P < 0.05). In the lipid metabolism, the shrimp in LBA2 group was significantly increased the carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (cpt-1) and AMP-activated protein kinase (ampk) expression than that in the LFM group, shrimp in the LBA3 group was significantly increased the fatty acid binding protein fatty acid (fabp) expression than that in the LFM group (P < 0.05). In the bile acids metabolism, the multidrug resistance-associated protein 1-like (mrp2), multidrug resistance-associated protein 2-like (mrp3) and solute carrier family 22 member 7-like (oatp) expressions were significantly increased in LBA1 and LBA2 groups than those in the LFM group of hepatopancreas, organic solute transporter subunit alpha-like (ostα), mrp2 , and acyl-coenzyme A thioesterase 1-like (baat) expressions were significantly up-regulated in LBA4 group than those in the LFM group of intestine (P < 0.05). Supplementary bile acids in the diet could decrease the apoptosis-related protein expression (BCL-2 and CASPASE3) compare with the shrimp fed low fishmeal diet (P < 0.05). The concentration of beta MCA in hemolymph bile acids profile increases with bile acids supplementation. The results showed that bile acids enhanced growth performance, promoted sterol metabolism, enhanced enterohepatic circulation, and reduced apoptosis in shrimp on low fishmeal diets. The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical. [Display omitted] • Dietary bile acids supplementation improved growth performance of shrimp. • Dietary bile acids supplementation improved promoted lipid metabolism of shrimp. • Bile acid levels were measured by bile acid-targeted metabolomics and feed supplementation was found to improve the composition of the bile acid pool in the hemolymph of shrimp. • Bile acids alleviate apoptosis in shrimp induced by low fishmeal diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate a new dietary protein Methanotroph (Methylococcus capsulatus , Bath) bacteria meal (BPM) on nutritional profile of Litopenaeus vannamei. The basal diet was formulated to contain 25% fish meal and then 15%, 30% and 45% of fish meal protein were replaced with BPM in three experimental diets, which were labeled FM, BPM15, BPM30, and BPM45, respectively. A total of 480 uniform-sized shrimp were equally distributed to four groups with three replicates and fed experimental diets four times daily for seven weeks. Results showed that dietary BPM had no significant effect on the growth performance of shrimp (P > 0.05) but significantly reduced the crude lipid content of the whole body in shrimp fed the BPM30 diet compared to the FM diet (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol and triglyceride in the hemolymph fell significantly with the increase BPM substitution (P < 0.05). Expression of fas (fatty acid synthetase) significantly decreased with increasing BPM substitution, but the expression of cpt-1 (carnitine palmitoyltransferase) significantly increased in shrimp fed BPM30 (P < 0.05). Expression of tor (target of rapamycin) significantly decreased in hepatopancreas, while an opposite change was exhibited in the intestine of shrimp fed BPM45 (P < 0.05). Results of metabolomics indicated that dietary BPM affected the TCA cycle, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, and glutathione metabolism in shrimp. In conclusion, BPM is an alternative to FM as a novel protein source for shrimp feed, but the changes in whole body composition, lipolysis and fatty acid synthesis, and protein synthesis and muscle metabolites of L. vannamei are noted. • Shrimp fed Methanotroph bacteria meal (BPM) diet showed a reduction in lipid content of whole body and hemolymph. • Dietary BPM upregulated lipolysis gene expression, while downregulated lipid synthesis gene expression in hepatopancreas. • mRNA levels of protein synthesis was downregulated in hepatopancreas, but upregulated in intestine of shrimp fed BPM diet. • TCA cycle, ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, and glutathione metabolism was affected by dietary BPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanotroph (Methylococcus capsulatus , Bath) bacteria meal is a kind of bacterial protein meal (BPM) with an excellent nutrition profile. This study evaluated the effects of replacing fish meal (FM) with BPM on growth, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and gut microbiota of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). A basal diet was formulated to contain 25% FM, then 15, 30 and 45% of FM was replaced with BPM, which were identified FM, BPM15, BPM30, and BPM45 diets, respectively. Triplicate groups (40 shrimp per replicate) of shrimp (0.88 ± 0.01 g) were fed the test diets to apparent satiation four times daily for 7 weeks. There were no significant differences in growth performance among four groups. Malondialdehyde content and anti-oxidative enzymes activity in hepatopancreas were significantly increased with increasing BPM levels. For intestinal histology, the circular muscle layer thickness was significantly increased in BPM45. The mucosal folds height of shrimp fed BPM45 was significantly higher than those fed BPM15. The width of mucosal folds in BPM15 and BPM30 was significantly reduced comparing with FM. Transmission electron microscopy results showed that intestinal microvilli was impaired and endoplasmic reticulum stress was present in shrimp fed BPM45 diet. However, dietary BPM improved the diversity of intestinal microbiota, and more beneficial microbiota such as Pseudoalteromonas , Ruegeria , and Lactobacillus , as well as less harmful microbiota such as Vibrio were found in the gut of BPM45. A 12-day challenge study with Vibrio parahaemolyticus showed that shrimp fed diet BPM15 had a significantly lower mortality throughout the challenge trial. To conclude, BPM replacement of fish meal did not affect growth performance and feed utilization of shrimp. The high dietary inclusion of BPM increased the oxidation level in the hepatopancreas of shrimp and BPM was able to increase the height of the mucosal folds, improve the gut microbiota structure and increase the disease resistance of shrimp. • Replacement of 45% fish meal by BPM would not significantly affect the growth performance of L. vannamei. • High dietary inclusion of BPM increased the oxidation level in the hepatopancreas of shrimp and modified the intestinal microvilli length. • BPM addition increased the height of the mucosal folds, improved the gut microbiota structure and increased the disease resistance of shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]