EGS - CoEI

The Project entitled “Dr. E. G. Silas Centre of Excellence and Innovations (Dr.EGS - CoEI) in Marine Fish Microbiome and Nutrigenomics” has been implemented in the ICAR-CMFRI with the financial support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in 2020. The project encompasses two sub-projects:

• Unravelling larval microbiome and immunome of targeted fin fishes for improved mariculture production.
  The sub-project I aims to decipher the microbiome and immunome profiles during early life stages of the most commercially important marine fish species of India namely, cobia (Rachycentron canadum) and silver Pompano (Trachinotus blochii). Better microbial management and immunomodulation strategies/protocols/products will be explored through this to address the poor growth and survival rates during the larval stages of the fish. The products and strategies/protocols evolved through the research will also be evaluated in orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides), another commercially important marine fish species to check the enhancement in cross species fish larval survival.

• Application of nutrigenomics for improved growth and immune functions of larval stages in targeted marine fin fishes.
  The sub-project II primarily envisages to study the interplay between marine fish larval nutrition, genome and health. The nutrigenomics tools will be applied to precisely predict the critical nutritional requirements of cobia and Silver pompano larvae. Suitable feeds/feed supplements/ feeding strategies will be developed through the identified nutritional gaps for enhancing the growth, survival and quality of targeted fish species. The products developed through the research will also be evaluated in orange-spotted grouper to check the enhancement in cross species fish larval survival.

VISION

The project envisages to address the poor larval growth and survival rates of commercially important maricultured finfishes of India through a holistic approach incorporating microbiome, immunity, nutritional and genetic factors, and their interactions by establishing “Centre of Excellence and Innovations (CoEI) in Marine Fish Microbiome and Nutrigenomics” at ICAR-CMFRI, a premier research institute undertaking marine fisheries research in India. The approach will be initially applied in the most commercially significant maricultured species of India,in selected candidate fish species like cobia and the products and strategies/protocols developed through the research will also be evaluated in orange-spotted grouper, another commercially important species to check the enhancement in cross species fish larval survival. The identified microbial/immunity/nutritional manipulations which are beneficial to the host will be utilized for developing novel strategies to improve larval growth, quality and survival of target species. Simultaneously, the proposed CoEI would advance the state-of-the-art facilities in aquaculture microbiome and nutrigenomics and contribute to expertise within India. The facility will function as a platform for national fish microbiome, immunome and nutrigenomic research, attracting foreign collaborations on advanced research. EGS - CoEI will be the first CoEI in marine fish microbiome, immunome and nutrigenomics research in India. Considering the matchless contributions of Dr. E. G. Silas, former Director of ICAR-CMFRI to the development of fisheries and mariculture in India, the Centre is entitled ‘Dr. E. G. Silas Centre of Excellence and Innovations’.

The Dr. EGS-CoEI has received financial support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India (Sanction Order No.BT/AAQ/3/SP28267/2018 dated 11. 05. 2020).