Innovative approaches to bacterial inactivation in marine fish aquaculture: strategies for vaccine and paraprobiotic development

Bacterial diseases are among the primary constraints to marine fish aquaculture, which negatively impacting the health and economic viability of fish. Vaccines and paraprobiotics are being formulated as efficacious and sustainable alternatives to antibiotics in disease prevention and health management. Efficient inactivation of the bacterial pathogens without compromising their structural and immunogenic integrity is paramount to the formulation of such biological remedies. In this review, recent advances in methods of bacterial inactivation, including chemical treatments, ultrashort pulse lasers (USPL) , high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) , photodynamic inactivation (PDI) , and gamma irradiation, are addressed. Each method has its own advantages and limitations, indicating that a clear understanding of their mechanisms and uses is essential. Together, these novel methods have excellent potential for the improvement of bacterial control strategies in aquaculture systems. Future research needs to prioritize the optimization of these techniques for scale, safety, and regulatory compliance to enable broader application in marine fish farming. The incorporation of such technologies may lead to a resilient, more productive, and sustainable aquaculture industry.