Taiwan International Graduate Program - Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences

Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) in Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences (MBAS) graduate program of Academia Sinica focuses on both basic and applied research in bio-agricultural sciences, aiming to create new platform technologies and innovative systems with potential industrial applications in biotechnology. A key priority of the program is to promote translational research by advancing breakthrough findings in basic research into experimental projects with the potential to be transformed into practical platform technologies or industrial applications for agriculture. Beyond fostering groundbreaking research, the program emphasizes networking opportunities and provides information systems to support the communication and technological needs of the agricultural and biotechnology industries in Taiwan and globally.

HIGHLIGHTS

Negi A, Yadav BG, Kuo CW, Hazam PK, Lin WC, Teh OK, Chen JY. A Deep-Sea probiotic platform: Dual-function biopreservation for aquaculture immunomodulation and meat shelf-life extension. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies. 2025 Jul 2:104107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifset.2025.104107

Two major challenges in the food industry include antibiotic overuse in aquaculture and reliance on synthetic preservatives to increase meat shelf-life. To address these challenges, we developed a dual-function platform using Lactococcus lactis L25_4, isolated from 312-m depth in Taiwan's Taimali region. As a feed additive, L. lactis L25_4 significantly enhanced Litopenaeus vannamei (whiteleg shrimp) survival against Vibrio vulnificus infection by modulating gut microbiota (e.g., enriching Rhodobacteraceae and Streptococcaceae and inhibiting Desulfovibrionaceae and Klebsiella) and improving gut membrane integrity. It also upregulated immune genes (e.g., HSP70, Lysozyme C, SOD and Tollo) and increased short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels in the shrimp intestinal region. Transcriptomic and microbiome analyses revealed immune priming and stress mitigation, with Spearman correlations linking beneficial bacteria to enhanced gut integrity and immune activation. The cell-free supernatant (CFS) of L. lactis L25_4 was incorporated into a chitosan-based hydrogel and applied as a surface coating on raw pork meat. Samples were inoculated with Shewanella putrefaciens (106 CFU/mL), a known meat spoilage bacterium, and the CFS–chitosan hydrogel inhibited bacterial growth by >99 % for up to 5 days at 4°C compared to untreated controls, as confirmed by CFU enumeration and Cryo-SEM imaging. L. lactis L25_4 demonstrated functional stability across aquaculture and chilled meat systems, supporting its dual application in biopreservation. By integrating multi-omics, biopolymer engineering, and pathogen inhibition assays, we present a scalable, nature-derived alternative to antibiotics and synthetic preservatives. This work advanced food science via a validated, application-ready platform aligned with One Health principles and offers a paradigm shift in sustainable biopreservation technologies.