| Summary: | This study investigated, for the first time, the integrated effects of dietary protein source and protein/carbohydrate (P/CH) ratio on gilthead seabream gut histomorphology, microbiota composition, digestive enzymes activity, and immunological and oxidative stress-related gene expressions. Four isolipidic diets: two fishmeal-based (FM) and two plant feedstuff (PF)-based diets, with P/CH ratios of 50/10 or 40/20 each (FM-P50/CH10; FM-P40/CH20; PF-P50/CH10; PF-P40/CH20), were tested. PF-based diets lead to more histomorphological alterations than FM-based diets. P/CH ratio had no relevant effect on gut histomorphology. Gut mucosa of fish fed PF-based diets presented a higher number of operational taxonomic units, and richness and diversity indices, while the P/CH ratio did not affect those parameters. The α-amylase activity was lower in fish fed with PF-based diets and in fish fed the P40/CH20 diets. Regarding the immune-related genes, only <i>cyclooxygenase-2</i> was affected, being higher in fish fed the P50/CH10 diets than the P40/CH20 diets. Fish fed the FM-based diets presented higher expression of <i>glutathione reductase</i> and <i>glutathione peroxidase</i>, while fish fed the P50/CH10 diet had higher expression of <i>superoxide dismutase</i>. In conclusion, PF-based diets can compromise gut absorptive and digestive metabolism, but decreasing the dietary P/CH ratio had little effect on the parameters measured.
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