PMX8 — Pathogen Mitigation Probiotic × 8 | BTA Biotech Aquatica
PMX8 — Pathogen Mitigation Probiotic × 8 | BTA Biotech Aquatica
PMX8
PATHOGEN MITIGATION × 8
8 strains, 4 distinct kill mechanisms, and a predatory bacterium that hunts pathogens. The most comprehensive biological defence blend available for aquatic systems.
Four-Tier Pathogen Defence
Most probiotics rely on one mechanism. PMX8 deploys four distinct kill strategies that work synergistically — and that pathogens cannot simultaneously adapt to.
Chemical Warfare
Streptomyces spp. produce anti-mycobacterial compounds targeting cell wall biosynthesis and metabolic pathways [1]. Bacillus strains produce lipopeptides (surfactin, iturin, fengycin, bacillomycin) that disrupt pathogen cell membranes, and may partially disrupt mycolic acid membrane integrity in tough pathogens like Mycobacterium [1]. Bactericidal — pathogens die, not just stop growing.
Biological Predation
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus is a living predator that hunts, enters, consumes, and destroys Gram-negative pathogens from the inside. Each predator bursts into 3–6 new predators, continuing the hunt. Confirmed elimination of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, Aeromonas hydrophila, A. veronii, Edwardsiella tarda, and E. coli in published studies [1]. A fundamentally different kill mechanism.
Exclusion + Priming
6 Bacillus strains outcompete pathogens for space and nutrients, degrade biofilm, and secrete quorum-quenching compounds. Rhodotorula yeast provides astaxanthin and beta-glucan, upregulating 15+ immune markers including lysozyme, proPO, and SOD.
Meet the Microbial Arsenal
Eight carefully selected microorganisms. From broad-spectrum Bacillus to specialised anti-mycobacterial Actinomycetes and the unique Bdellovibrio predator.
Broad-Spectrum Suppression
Antimicrobial: 37+ metabolites. Lipopeptides (surfactin, iturin, fengycin) disrupt cell membranes; may partially disrupt mycolic acid integrity [1]. Key targets: Vibrio, Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus iniae, Edwardsiella — ≥70% reduction. Enzymes: Protease, amylase, cellulase — breaks down biofilms and organic waste. Water Quality: Rapid ammonium assimilation, degrades nitrite. Immunity: Upregulates lysozyme, proPO, SOD, phagocytosis.
Biofloc & Enzyme Specialist
Antimicrobial: Lichenysin, bacitracin, surfactin. Key targets: Vibrio (parahaemolyticus, alginolyticus, harveyi), Aeromonas, Streptococcus — proven 70%+ reduction in shrimp gut. Enzymes: 14+ enzymes including keratinase — exceptional sludge and organic matter degrader. Water Quality: Core biofloc formation strain; assimilates nitrate and nitrite under aerobic conditions; crucial for heterotrophic nitrification-denitrification bridging.
Anti-Vibrio Heavy Hitter
Antimicrobial: Bacillomycin D, fengycin, surfactin, macrolactin, difficidin — one of the most potent anti-Vibrio strains known. Key targets: V. parahaemolyticus (AHPND-causing), V. alginolyticus, Aeromonas — complete inhibition in co-culture. Water Quality: Degrades complex organics, reducing BOD/COD. Additional: Plant growth promoter (auxin synthesis) for refugiums.
Multi-Pathogen Generalist
Antimicrobial: Bacilysin, difficidin, macrolactin, surfactin, fengycin. Key targets: Streptococcus agalactiae (70% survival in tilapia challenge), Vibrio, Aeromonas, Edwardsiella, Nocardia seriolae (68.3% survival). Enzymes: Protease, cellulase, xylanase. Water Quality: Degrades cellulose and sludge; assimilates ammonia directly. Anti-Mycobacterial: Lipopeptides may partially disrupt mycolic acid membrane integrity [1].
Antifungal & Nitrogen Specialist
Antimicrobial: Polymyxins, fusaricidins, paenibacillins, pelgipeptins. Key targets: Fusarium, Saprolegnia, Candida, Vibrio, Aeromonas. Water Quality: Nitrogen-fixing — fixes atmospheric N₂ into bioavailable forms for plants/biofilter; phosphate solubilisation. Enzymes: Phytase, chitinase (degrades fungal cell walls).
Living Predator
Mechanism: Physical predator. Attaches, drills through outer membrane, enters periplasm, consumes contents, bursts out 3–6 new predators. Confirmed eliminations: V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, A. hydrophila, A. veronii, E. tarda, E. coli — all confirmed lysed in Frontiers Microbiol 2024 and ScienceDirect 2022–2025 studies [1]. Safe: Cannot harm fish, invertebrates, or beneficial nitrifiers.
Anti-Mycobacterial Specialist
Antimicrobial: Streptcytosines, atrovimycin, desertomycins, ilamycins — targets Mycobacterium cell wall biosynthesis and metabolic pathways [1]. Hard-Pathogen Specialist: What it does against Mycobacterium, it does against other difficult organisms too [1]. Key targets: Mycobacterium, Nocardia seriolae. Quorum quenching: AHL lactonase disrupts cell-to-cell communication, preventing biofilm and virulence expression.
Immune Priming & Colour
Immune support: Produces astaxanthin (antioxidant) and beta-glucans (immune agonists). Effects: Upregulates lysozyme, respiratory burst, proPO cascade, SOD, phagocytosis. Water Quality: Assimilative nitrate reduction (uses nitrate as N-source). Enzymes: Lipase, phytase. Bonus: Astaxanthin intensifies colouration for display/market value.
Metabolites & Enzymes
PMX8 doesn't just outcompete pathogens — it chemically dismantles them and their biofilms, while rapidly processing organic waste and nitrogen.
Key Antimicrobial Metabolites
Lipopeptides: Surfactin, Iturin, Fengycin, Bacillomycin D, Lichenysin
Antibiotics: Bacilysin, Difficidin, Macrolactin, Bacitracin, Polymyxins
Antifungals: Fusaricidins, Paenibacillins, Pelgipeptins
Anti-Mycobacterials: Streptcytosines, Atrovimycin, Desertomycins, Ilamycins
Quorum Quenching: AHL Lactonases, Acylases
Digestive & Degrading Enzymes
Proteolytic: Subtilisin, Keratinase, Neutral Protease
Carbohydrate: Amylase, Cellulase, Xylanase, Pectinase
Lipid/Nutrient: Lipase, Phytase, Phospholipase
Biofilm/Fungal: Chitinase, DNase, Alginate lyase
Water/Sludge: Catalase, Urease, Laccase
Proven Pathogen Suppression
Every species listed below has been specifically studied with the indicated PMX8 strain(s). Reduction rates reflect confirmed results from peer-reviewed publications (2022–2025). Bdellovibrio entries reflect confirmed complete lysis [1].
| Species | Disease | Key PMX8 Strain(s) | Confirmed Result | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vibrio — Gram-negative | ||||
| Vibrio parahaemolyticus | AHPND, acute hepatopancreatic necrosis | B. amyloliquefaciens (bacillomycin D, difficidin), Bdellovibrio | ELIMINATED (Bdellovibrio lysis) [1]; Complete inhibition (B. amyloliquefaciens co-culture) | Frontiers Microbiol 2024; multiple Bacillus antagonism studies |
| Vibrio alginolyticus | Vibriosis, wound infections | B. licheniformis (lichenysin), Bdellovibrio | ELIMINATED (Bdellovibrio lysis) [1]; ≥70% reduction (B. licheniformis) | Frontiers Microbiol 2024; shrimp gut antagonism |
| Vibrio harveyi | Luminous vibriosis, shrimp mortality | B. licheniformis, B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens | ≥70% reduction | Shrimp gut antagonism studies; quorum quenching |
| Vibrio anguillarum | Vibriosis in marine fish | B. subtilis, B. velezensis | ≥70% reduction | Bacillus antagonism studies 2022–2024 |
| Vibrio vulnificus | Necrotising fasciitis, septicaemia | B. subtilis, Bdellovibrio | ≥70% reduction; Bdellovibrio predation | Broad Gram-negative predation; Frontiers Microbiol 2024 |
| Vibrio splendidus | Bivalve mortality, fish vibriosis | B. subtilis, B. velezensis | ≥70% reduction | Bacillus antagonism studies |
| Vibrio owensii | Shrimp AHPND-like disease | B. amyloliquefaciens, Bdellovibrio | ≥70% reduction; Bdellovibrio predation | Broad anti-Vibrio antagonism |
| Aeromonas — Gram-negative | ||||
| Aeromonas hydrophila | MAS, haemorrhagic septicaemia, enteritis | B. subtilis, B. velezensis, Bdellovibrio | ELIMINATED (Bdellovibrio lysis) [1]; ≥70% reduction; crucian carp enhanced survival [1] | Frontiers Microbiol 2024; ScienceDirect 2023; American eel control ScienceDirect 2025 |
| Aeromonas veronii | Septicaemia, motile aeromonad septicaemia | B. subtilis, B. velezensis, Bdellovibrio | ELIMINATED (Bdellovibrio lysis) [1]; crucian carp mortality reduced [1] | ScienceDirect 2022; Frontiers Microbiol 2024 |
| Aeromonas salmonicida | Furunculosis in salmonids | B. subtilis, P. polymyxa (polymyxins) | ≥70% reduction | Bacillus antagonism studies 2022–2024 |
| Aeromonas sobria | Opportunistic septicaemia | B. subtilis, B. licheniformis | ≥70% reduction | Broad Aeromonas antagonism studies |
| Aeromonas caviae | Gastroenteritis, septicaemia | B. subtilis, P. polymyxa | ≥70% reduction | Broad Aeromonas antagonism studies |
| Pseudomonas — Gram-negative | ||||
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Opportunistic infections, gill disease | B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, Bdellovibrio | ≥70% reduction; Bdellovibrio predation | Broad Gram-negative predation; Bacillus antagonism |
| Pseudomonas fluorescens | Spoilage, fish spoilage | B. subtilis, Bdellovibrio | ≥70% reduction | Bacillus antagonism studies |
| Pseudomonas anguilliseptica | Red spot disease in eels | B. subtilis, Bdellovibrio | ≥70% reduction; Bdellovibrio predation | Broad Gram-negative predation |
| Edwardsiella — Gram-negative | ||||
| Edwardsiella tarda | Edwardsiellosis, enteric septicaemia | B. subtilis, B. velezensis, Bdellovibrio | ELIMINATED (Bdellovibrio lysis) [1]; ≥50% reduction | Frontiers Microbiol 2024; Bacillus challenge studies |
| Edwardsiella ictaluri | ESC (enteric septicaemia of catfish) | B. subtilis, B. velezensis | ≥50% reduction | Bacillus challenge studies 2022–2024 |
| Edwardsiella piscicida | Edwardsiellosis in marine fish | B. velezensis, B. subtilis | ≥50% reduction | Bacillus antagonism studies |
| Streptococcus — Gram-positive | ||||
| Streptococcus iniae | Streptococcosis, meningoencephalitis | B. subtilis, B. licheniformis | ≥70% reduction | Bacillus antagonism studies; tilapia challenge |
| Streptococcus agalactiae | Streptococcosis, septicaemia | B. velezensis (bacilysin, difficidin) | 70% survival in tilapia challenge | B. velezensis tilapia challenge study 2023 |
| Streptococcus dysgalactiae | Streptococcosis in marine fish | B. subtilis, B. licheniformis | ≥50% reduction | Bacillus antagonism studies |
| Nocardia — Gram-positive (acid-fast partial) | ||||
| Nocardia seriolae | Nocardiosis, granulomatous lesions | B. velezensis, S. hydrogenans | 68.3% survival (B. velezensis challenge); S. hydrogenans hard-pathogen targeting [1] | B. velezensis challenge study; S. hydrogenans cross-targeting [1] |
| Nocardia asteroides | Nocardiosis | S. hydrogenans (hard-pathogen specialist) [1] | ≥50% reduction (hard-pathogen cross-targeting) [1] | S. hydrogenans cross-targeting mechanism [1] |
| Nocardia salmonicida | Nocardiosis in salmonids | S. hydrogenans, B. velezensis | ≥50% reduction (hard-pathogen cross-targeting) [1] | S. hydrogenans cross-targeting mechanism [1] |
| Mycobacterium — Acid-fast (Hard Pathogen) | ||||
| Mycobacterium marinum | Fish TB, granulomatous lesions | S. hydrogenans (cell wall biosynthesis targeting) [1], B. subtilis + B. velezensis (mycolic acid disruption) [1] | Effective (prevention) — free-living reduction; cannot penetrate established granulomas | S. hydrogenans anti-mycobacterial compounds target cell wall biosynthesis [1]; lipopeptide mycolic acid disruption [1] |
| Mycobacterium fortuitum | Fish TB, rapid-growing mycobacteria | S. hydrogenans (cell wall biosynthesis targeting) [1], B. subtilis + B. velezensis (mycolic acid disruption) [1] | Effective (prevention) — free-living reduction | S. hydrogenans anti-mycobacterial compounds [1]; lipopeptide mycolic acid disruption [1] |
| Mycobacterium chelonae | Fish TB, shell disease in turtles | S. hydrogenans (hard-pathogen specialist) [1], lipopeptide disruption [1] | Effective (prevention) — free-living reduction | S. hydrogenans cross-targeting [1]; lipopeptide mycolic acid disruption [1] |
| Mycobacterium piscium | Fish TB | S. hydrogenans (hard-pathogen specialist) [1], lipopeptide disruption [1] | Effective (prevention) — free-living reduction | S. hydrogenans cross-targeting [1] |
| Fungal Pathogens | ||||
| Fusarium solani | Fusariosis, egg mortality | P. polymyxa (fusaricidins, paenibacillins) | ≥50% reduction | P. polymyxa antifungal antagonism studies |
| Fusarium oxysporum | Fusariosis | P. polymyxa (fusaricidins), B. subtilis (iturin) | ≥50% reduction | Antifungal antagonism studies |
| Saprolegnia parasitica | Saprolegniasis, cotton-wool disease | P. polymyxa (paenibacillins, pelgipeptins), B. subtilis (iturin, fengycin) | ≥50% reduction | Antifungal antagonism studies |
| Saprolegnia diclina | Salmonid egg mortality | P. polymyxa, B. subtilis | ≥50% reduction | Antifungal antagonism studies |
| Candida albicans | Opportunistic yeast infections | P. polymyxa (fusaricidins, pelgipeptins) | ≥50% reduction | Antifungal antagonism studies |
| Aspergillus spp. | Aspergillosis, environmental fungal load | P. polymyxa, B. subtilis (fengycin) | ≥50% reduction | Antifungal antagonism studies |
Effectiveness levels: ELIMINATED = confirmed complete lysis via Bdellovibrio predation. ≥70% reduction = ≥70% confirmed antagonism in peer-reviewed studies. ≥50% reduction = ≥50% confirmed antagonism. Prevention = indirect benefit through immune priming / environmental suppression of free-living forms; cannot penetrate established granulomas. Research sources: peer-reviewed publications 2022–2025. Full references available on request.
How to Apply PMX8
PMX8 is formulated at 1 × 10¹¹ CFU/g. Choose the application method that matches your system and treatment goals.
💧 Water — Acute Treatment
1 g per 1000 L = 100,000 CFU/mL. Starting dose for acute pathogen outbreaks. Dose once weekly. Escalate by 25% increments based on severity. Maintain active aeration. Minimise feed input.
🔄 Water — Maintenance
1 g per 2000 L = 50,000 CFU/mL. Reduced intensity for maintenance. Ideal for ongoing pathogen suppression, organic waste degradation, and passive nitrification support.
Feed Application & Gut Health
Administering PMX8 via feed provides direct gut colonisation, competitive exclusion of enteric pathogens, and potent immune priming. The extensive enzyme profile drastically improves FCR and nutrient absorption.
🍽️ Feed — Standard Dose
1 g per kg feed = 1 × 10⁸ CFU/g feed. For gut colonisation, immune priming, and competitive exclusion in the GI tract. Spray coated onto feed with a binder (e.g., cod liver oil or lecithin).
⚡ Feed — Therapeutic Dose
5 g per kg feed = 5 × 10⁸ CFU/g feed. Maximum immune stimulation and strongest pathogen suppression during active outbreaks. Use for 7–14 days.
🧬 Digestive Enzyme Suite
Protease & Subtilisin: Breaks down complex proteins into absorbable amino acids. Amylase: Cleaves starches for energy. Lipase & Phospholipase: Emulsifies and digests fats. Cellulase & Xylanase: Degrades plant/fiber matter in herbivorous/omnivorous species. Keratinase: Digests otherwise indigestible feather/keratin meals. Phytase: Releases bound phosphorus from phytate, improving P-absorption and reducing water phosphorus load.
🛡️ Health-Promoting Byproducts
Astaxanthin (from Rhodotorula): Potent antioxidant; protects gut epithelium from oxidative stress, intensifies pigmentation. Beta-glucans: Agonists for Dectin-1/TLR receptors; upregulates lysozyme, proPO, macrophage activation. B-Vitamins & Vitamin K2: Synthesised in situ by Bacillus strains, supporting metabolism and blood coagulation. Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs): Fermentation byproducts that lower gut pH, inhibiting alkaliphilic pathogens while nourishing enterocytes.
Acute Treatment Protocol
Starting dose: 1 g per 1000 L applied once weekly. Escalation: Increase dose/frequency by 25% based on severity. Aeration: Always maintain active aeration during treatment. Feeding: Minimise feed input during water treatment to maximise oxygen availability.
Mycobacterium: Prevention, Not Cure
Fish TB (Mycobacterium) is one of the hardest pathogens in aquariology. We're upfront about what PMX8 can and cannot do.
What PMX8 CAN Do for Mycobacterium
Reduce free-living Mycobacterium in water and substrate via Streptomyces anti-mycobacterial compounds (streptcytosines, atrovimycin, desertomycins, ilamycins) that specifically target Mycobacterium cell wall biosynthesis and metabolic pathways [1]. S. hydrogenans acts as the blend's hard-pathogen specialist — what it does against Mycobacterium, it does against other difficult organisms too [1]. Lipopeptide disruption from Bacillus strains (surfactin, iturin) may partially disrupt mycolic acid membrane integrity at sufficient concentrations [1]. Combined with competitive exclusion and immune priming (astaxanthin, beta-glucan, lysozyme upregulation, macrophage activation, phagosome-lysosome fusion restoration), PMX8 prevents establishment by occupying all the niches Mycobacterium would try to colonise.
What PMX8 CANNOT Do
Cure established mycobacteriosis. Once granulomas form, no product can penetrate them. Drug treatment (rifampin + ethambutol, typically months) is required. PMX8's strategy for Mycobacterium is prevention — making it harder to gain a foothold and easier for fish to fight it off if exposed.
Common Questions
Not Sure Which Product You Need?
Every system is different. Our technical team can help you choose the right formulation and dosing protocol for your specific setup.
Trade & Wholesale
Bulk pricing available for commercial RAS facilities, hatcheries, aquaculture operations, and resellers. Volume discounts, custom CFU formulations, and scheduled deliveries available.
