MycoFence® Fungal Beta-Glucans in Shrimp Aquaculture

At Aquaculture Europe 2026, Citribel has presented new research on the use of fungal beta-glucans in shrimp aquaculture.

The study focused on MycoFence®, Citribel’s Aspergillus niger-derived beta-glucan, and its application in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).

Conducted together with Kasetsart University in Thailand, the research reconfirmed the immune boosting functionality and thus potential of MycoFence® at different dietary inclusion levels and compared its performance with two commercial yeast beta-glucan benchmarks and a control diet.

Fungal beta-glucans in shrimp nutrition

Beta-glucans are widely studied as functional ingredients in aquaculture and animal nutrition.

In this study, the researchers investigated how an Aspergillus niger-derived fungal beta-glucan could support shrimp nutrition and performance under different feeding conditions.

Over a 30-day feeding period, several parameters were evaluated, including:

• growth and survival
• key immune parameters
• bacterial load

This approach allowed the researchers to compare different beta-glucan sources and inclusion levels within the same trial.

MycoFence® performance in Pacific white shrimp

One of the most interesting observations was the higher survival rate observed in the MycoFence®-supplemented groups, which was already evident from the beginning of the study and was confirmed by measurements on Days 20 and 30 during the growth phase. The same positive effects on survival were also observed following the disease challenge, compared with both the control and yeast-supplemented groups.

These findings further support the potential of fungal beta-glucans as functional ingredients in shrimp aquaculture and shrimp nutrition.

They also provide additional insight into the proven functionality of MycoFence® compared with more commonly used yeast beta-glucan sources.

From fermentation to functional ingredients

For Citribel, this research is also an example of how our fermentation process can create value beyond citric acid and citrates.

MycoFence® is derived from Aspergillus niger biomass originating from our fermentation process.

By further valorizing this biomass, we can develop functional ingredients for new applications while making better use of existing fermentation side streams.

This fits within Citribel’s broader approach to fermentation and biotechnology: creating valuable products from a process in which multiple streams can be used and further developed.

Proven functionality of MycoFence® in aquaculture

Research such as this provides further insight into the performance of MycoFence® fungal beta-glucans in aquaculture and shrimp nutrition and strengthens the scientific basis for their use in shrimp feed applications.

The results presented at Aquaculture Europe 2026 contribute to research around fungal beta-glucans and their role as functional ingredients in aquaculture.