Mathieu Castex, a final year PhD student at IFREMER (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) in Nouméa, New-Caledonia, was awarded Young Researcher of the Year during New-Caledonia « Doctoriales 2008 ».

The subject of his research project, conducted in partnership with Lallemand Animal Nutrition, is the evaluation of probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici MA 18/5 M (Bactocell®) in Litopenaeus Stylirostris shrimp farming. This award is the recognition of the quality of the research. It also marks the interest of the scientific community for natural approaches, such as probiotics, for shrimp farming, which plays a significant part in the local economy.

The rewarded study is the result of a three-years joint research program between IFREMER and Lallemand Animal Nutrition. This program is conducted by Mathieu Castex in Nouméa, at the Département Aquacole de Calédonie. This project has permitted to confirm the potential of Bactocell for shrimp farming, both a financial and sanitary potential*:
• positive effects on growth performance
• enhanced survival
• increased resistance against vibriosis.
The probiotic modes of action in shrimps were also scrutinized. Microbiological effects at the shrimp’s gut level and effects on the digestive functions were shown. Moreover, the study highlighted a positive interaction with the animal’s own anti-oxidant defenses, an innovative and promising path for probiotic research.

The « Doctoriales » is an annual event co-hosted by Université de Nouvelle-Calédonie and Université de Polynésie Française. It is the opportunity for PhD students to share their research with a panel of recognized experts from various disciplines, as well as with the general public thanks to a significant coverage of the event by the local media. Every year, PhD students from New-Caledonia and French Polynesia are invited to present the state of their research in front of a scientific, multi-disciplinary jury. A first or second year student is awarded the Encouragement Prize, while a final year student, selected for the quality of his results as well as his presentation, receives the Young Researcher award.

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