In a significant development for the global aquaculture sector, new research highlights how a common amino acid could combat a major threat to the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas). High mortality rates among oyster larvae due to bacterial infections have long plagued the industry, but a recent study published in Aquaculture International points to taurine supplementation as a promising, eco-friendly solution.
The study, led by researchers at Dalian Ocean University in China, demonstrates that adding a specific concentration of taurine to the water dramatically improves the health and survival of larvae oysters.
The findings are compelling: after a ten-day period, larvae treated with taurine showed a marked increase in growth, with shell height and length growing 1.1 and 1.09 times, respectively, compared to a control group.
The most crucial finding, however, is the significant improvement in disease resistance. When exposed to the deadly bacterium Vibrio splendidus, the taurine-treated larvae showed an impressive survival rate of 85.33%, a substantial increase from the 61.21% survival rate of the untreated group. The scientists stated that taurine “effectively improved the oyster larval resistance against Vibrio splendidus infection”.
Beyond disease resistance, the research also found that taurine accelerates the oysters’ development. The eyespot occurrence rate in the treated larvae was more than three times higher than the control group, a finding that could lead to faster production cycles for oyster farms. This effect is believed to be linked to a significant increase in the expression of a rhodopsin-like gene.
On a deeper, molecular level, the study reveals that taurine enhances the oyster’s immune response by activating key pathways, specifically the insulin/MAPK-mTOR and antioxidant pathways. The increased expression of genes related to these pathways, such as insulin-like peptide receptor (ILPR), mitogen-activated protein kinase, and superoxide dismutase, provides a deeper understanding of how taurine strengthens the oysters.
The authors conclude that these findings offer a “promising” and “eco-friendly” solution for the oyster industry, and they call for further large-scale trials to validate the results for a commercial use.
Reference
Hao, W., Liu, H., Kong, N. et al. Taurine supplementation improves the resistance of Crassostrea gigas larvae against Vibrio splendidus invasion. Aquacult Int 33, 520 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-025-02197-0
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