Dietary supplementation of Patchouli oil increases the resistance to Streptococcus Agalactiae infection by ameliorating intestinal epithelial barrier in GIFT tilapia as revealed by transcriptome and 16S amplicon profiling

Tilapia face dual challenges of high market-demand and high mortality caused by Streptococcus agalactiae (SA). Pachouli oil (PO) paly roles in broad spectrum antibacterial and relieving gastrointestinal symptoms, thus has the potential to improving the growth of tilapia, intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, and intestinal barrier as a feed supplementation. In this study, we investigated the effect of supplementations of PO on growth, antioxidant, intestinal microbiota, and intestinal gene expression in GIFT tilapia before and after SA infection by analysis of transcriptome and 16S rRNA sequencing. Our findings can provide a theoretical basis for PO as a nutritional intervention to improve animal intestinal health and nutrition.