Lactobacillus reuteri Stimulates Intestinal Epithelial Proliferation and Induces Differentiation into Goblet Cells in Young Chickens

Limosilactobacillus reuteri - a probiotic gut commensal with contextual impact on immunity

The gut microbiome plays a key role in human health, influencing various biological processes and disease outcomes. The historical roots of probiotics are traced back to Nobel Laureate Élie Metchnikoff, who linked the longevity of Bulgarian villagers to their consumption of sour milk fermented by Lactobacilli. His pioneering work led to the global recognition of probiotics as beneficial supplements, now a multibillion-dollar industry. Modern probiotics have been extensively studied for their immunomodulatory effects. Limosilactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), a widely used probiotic, has garnered significant attention for its systemic immune-regulatory properties, particularly in relation to autoimmunity and cancer. This review delves into the role of L. reuteri in modulating immune responses, with a focus on its impact on systemic diseases.

Probiotic effects of Lactobacillus reuteri and Pediococcus pentosaceus on growth performance, blood biochemistry, and antibody response in broiler chickens

The gut microbiome, consisting of a diverse community of beneficial bacteria, supports broiler health and performance. This study aimed to assess the impact of probiotic lactic acid bacteria supplementation on growth performance, blood parameters, and antibody response in broiler chickens. The experiment involved 108 Cobb 500 breed chicks, which were allocated into three groups: T1 (received basal diets + L. reuteri at 1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL), T2 (received basal diets + P. pentosaceus at 1 × 10⁸ CFU/mL), and T3 (control group receiving only basal diets). The chicks were assigned to these groups randomly, following a completely randomized design. The results showed that the broiler groups supplemented with either L. reuteri or P. pentosaceus probiotics exhibited significant improvements (p < 0.05) in body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio throughout the study. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in total protein and albumin levels. At the same time, cholesterol levels were lower in the L. reuteri and P. pentosaceus-treated groups compared to the control group. Furthermore, the hemagglutination inhibition titer of Newcastle disease was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the groups supplemented with L. reuteri and P. pentosaceus. The study also found that the lymphoid organ weight/body weight ratio was significantly higher in the L. reuteri and P. pentosaceus groups. In conclusion, the oral administration of the probiotic strains L. reuteri DSM 20016T and P. pentosaceus DSM 20206 to broiler chickens improved growth performance, reduced blood cholesterol levels, and enhanced immune function. These findings indicate that these lactic acid bacteria could be beneficial as both immunomodulators and growth promoters in broiler production.

Ingestion of Artemisia argyit essential oil combats Salmonella pullorum infections by altering gut microbiota composition in chicks

Pullorum disease, caused by Salmonella pullorum (S. pullorum), is a highly contagious illness affecting the poultry industry. Emerging evidence suggests that Artemisia argyit essential oil can influence the composition of gut microbes in the host, thereby promoting overall health. However, the specific mechanisms by which Artemisia argyit essential oil modulates gut microbiota to combat S. pullorum infection remains unclear. This study explored the effectiveness of various doses of Artemisia argyit essential oil in preventing S. pullorum infection in chicks. Our findings indicate that consuming this essential oil can mitigate the intestinal mucosal barrier damage and excessive inflammatory response caused by S. pullorum, as well as reverse the weight loss seen in infected chicks. Additionally, chicks that received faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from the gut microbiota of Artemisia argyit essential oil donors exhibited notable recovery from S. pullorum infections. This suggests that the observed protection may be linked to the modulation of gut microbiota. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed an increased abundance of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), which along with the activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathways, played critical roles in the enhanced health of S. pullorum-infected chicks treated with Artemisia argyit essential oil. In summary, these findings highlight that the dietary inclusion of Artemisia argyit essential oil promotes the intestinal enrichment of L. reuteri, offering a promising strategy for the treatment and prevention of pullorum disease in chicks.

Sea cucumber polysaccharides overcome immunotherapy resistance in tumor-bearing mice via modulation of the gut microbiome

Cancer immunotherapy has been successful in patients with different types of cancers, but its efficacy in treating certain types of colorectal cancer (CRC) is limited. The aim of this study was to explore whether sea cucumber polysaccharides (SCP) could impact resistance to anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD1) immunotherapy of CRC and the role of microbiota in mediating their effects. Mice inoculated with immunotherapy resistant CT-26 CRC cells were pretreated with SCP, followed by treatment with/without the anti-PD1 antibody. SCP alone exhibited no inhibitory effect on tumor growth, but they drastically enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD1 treatment, which alone showed minimal effect on tumor development. Compared to anti-PD1 only treatment, a combination of SCP and anti-PD1 increased CD8+ T cells, especially IFN-γ+ cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, and decreased regulatory CD4+ T cells. SCP modulated gut microbiota and increased the relative abundance of bacteria including Bifidobacterium and Faecalibaculum. A fecal microbiota transplantation experiment showed that the sensitizing effect of SCP was at least partly mediated by microbiota. Furthermore, oral supplementation of Bifidobacterium pseudolongum or Faecalibaculum rodentium recapitulated the beneficial effect of SCP in potentiating anti-PD1 efficacy. Altogether, these findings demonstrated that SCP could be potentially developed as a dietary adjuvant to increase the efficacy of immunotherapy in CRC.

Early fecal microbiota transplantation continuously improves chicken growth performance by inhibiting age-related Lactobacillus decline in jejunum

BACKGROUND

At an early age, chickens commonly exhibit a rise in the average daily gain, which declines as they age. Further studies indicated that the decrease in chicken growth performance at a later age is closely associated with an age-related decline in Lactobacillus abundance in the small intestines. Whether inhibiting the age-related decline in Lactobacillus in the small intestine by early fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) could improve chicken growth performance is an interesting question.

RESULTS

16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a higher jejunal Lactobacillus abundance in high body weight chickens in both two different chicken breeds (yellow feather chickens, H vs L, 85.96% vs 55.58%; white feather chickens, H vs L, 76.21% vs 31.47%), which is significantly and positively associated with body and breast/leg muscle weights (P < 0.05). Moreover, the jejunal Lactobacillus abundance declined with age (30 days, 74.04%; 60 days, 50.80%; 120 days, 34.03%) and the average daily gain rose in early age and declined in later age (1 to 30 days, 5.78 g; 30 to 60 days, 9.86 g; 60 to 90 days, 7.70 g; 90 to 120 days, 3.20 g), indicating the age-related decline in jejunal Lactobacillus abundance is closely related to chicken growth performance. Transplanting fecal microbiota from healthy donor chickens with better growth performance and higher Lactobacillus abundance to 1-day-old chicks continuously improved chicken growth performance (Con vs FMT; 30 days, 288.45 g vs 314.15 g, P < 0.05; 60 days, 672.77 g vs 758.15 g, P < 0.01; 90 days, 1146.08 g vs 1404.43 g, P < 0.0001) even after stopping fecal microbiota transplantation at 4th week. Four-week FMT significantly inhibited age-related decline in jejunal Lactobacillus abundance (Con vs FMT, 30 days, 65.07% vs 85.68%, P < 0.01; 60 days, 38.87% vs 82.71%, P < 0.0001 and 90 days, 34.23% vs 60.86%, P < 0.01). Moreover, the numbers of goblet and Paneth cells were also found significantly higher in FMT groups at three time points (P < 0.05). Besides, FMT triggered GH/IGF-1 underlying signaling by significantly increasing the expressions of GH, GHR, and IGF-1 in the liver and IGF-1 and IGF-1R in muscles along age (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These findings revealed that age-related decline in jejunal Lactobacillus abundance compromised chicken growth performance, while early fecal microbiota transplantation continuously improved chicken growth performance by inhibiting age-related jejunal Lactobacillus decline, promoting the integrity of jejunal mucosal barrier and up-regulating the expression level of genes related to growth axis. Video Abstract.

Sulfated fucans from algae Saccharina japonica promotes intestinal stem cell-mediated intestinal development in juvenile mouse by modulating the gut microbiota

Intestinal development has a crucial role in the absorption of nutrients and the ability to resist infections in the early stages of life. This study utilized a 3-week-old C57BL/6 mice model to evaluate the beneficial impacts of sulfated fucans from Saccharina japonica (SJ-FUC) on the growth and development of the intestines. SJ-FUC enhanced the dimensions of the intestine, specifically the length, height of villi, and depth of the crypts. Additionally, it raised the mRNA expression of ZO-1 and Occludin, hence enhancing the structural integrity of the intestinal epithelium. SJ-FUC significantly increased mRNA expression of Lyz1, Muc2, and Math1, which resulted in the promotion of intestinal epithelial development. Furthermore, SJ-FUC augmented the mRNA levels of the ISC markers (Lgr5, Olfm4, and Ascl2). Our further research uncovered that SJ-FUC has a positive impact on the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia, Dubosiella, and Lactobacillus, which in turn promotes epithelial development of the intestine. In summary, our research indicates that SJ-FUC has a beneficial impact on the growth of the intestines in young mice. This is achieved by enhancing the stemness of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and promoting the formation of the intestinal epithelium through the regulation of gut bacteria.

Microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum promotes intestinal development through gut colonization of layer chicks

The effects of Lactobacillus plantarum in microencapsulation (LPM) on intestinal development in layer chicks were investigated in this study, as well as the colonization of L. plantarum in the gut. A total of 480 healthy Hy-Line Brown layer chicks at 0 d old were randomly divided into 4 groups (8 replicates each treatment), and the diets of these birds were supplemented with nothing (control), L. plantarum (0.02 g/kg feed; 109 CFU/kg feed), LPM (1.0 g/kg feed; 109 CFU/kg feed) and wall material of LPM (WM; 0.98 g/kg feed), respectively. Compared to control, LPM improved growth performance and intestinal development of layer chicks, evidenced by significantly increased body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, villus height, villus height/crypt depth, as well as weight and length of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). These results could be attributed to the increased colonization of L. plantarum in the gut, which was verified by significant increases in lactic acid content, viable counts in chyme and mucosa (P < 0.05), as well as a visible rise in number of strains labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Meanwhile, the relative abundances of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium significantly increased in response to microencapsulated L. plantarum supplementation (P < 0.05), accompanied by the significant up-regulation of colonization related genes (P < 0.05), encoding solute carrier family, monocarboxylate transporter, activin A receptor, succinate receptor and secretogranin II. To sum up, microencapsulated L. plantarum supplementation promoted intestinal development, which could be attributed to the enhancement of L. plantarum colonization in the intestine through the mutual assistance of Bifidobacterium and interactions with colonization related transmembrane proteins.

Higher alpha diversity and Lactobacillus blooms are associated with better engraftment after fecal microbiota transplant in inflammatory bowel disease

Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) has shown some success in treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). There is emerging evidence that host engraftment of donor taxa is a tenet of successful FMT. We undertook a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study to characterize the response to FMT in children and young adults with mild to moderate active Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Subjects with CD or UC were randomized to receive antibiotics and weekly FMT or placebo in addition to baseline medications. We enrolled 15 subjects aged 14-29 years. Four subjects had CD, and 11 had UC. Subjects exhibited a wide range of microbial diversity and donor engraftment. Specifically, engraftment ranged from 26 to 90% at week 2 and 3-92% at 2 months. Consistent with the current literature, increases over time of both alpha diversity (p < 0.05) and donor engraftment (p < 0.05) correlated with improved clinical response. We discovered that the post-antibiotic but pre-FMT time point was rich in microbial correlates of eventual engraftment. Greater residual alpha diversity after antibiotic treatment was positively correlated with engraftment and subsequent clinical response. Interestingly, a transient rise in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was also positively correlated with engraftment, a finding that we recapitulated with our analysis of another FMT trial.

Protective effects of Lactobacillus on heat stress-induced intestinal injury in finisher broilers by regulating gut microbiota and stimulating epithelial development

Heat stress (HS) is a critical challenge in broilers due to the high metabolic rate and lack of sweat glands. Results from this study show that implementing a cyclic chronic HS (34 °C for 7 h/d) to finisher broilers decreased the diversity of cecal microbiota and impaired intestinal barrier, resulting in gut leak and decreased body weight (both P < 0.05). These alterations might be related to inflammatory outbursts and the retarded proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) according to the transcriptome analysis. Considering the potential beneficial properties of Lactobacillus on intestinal development and function, the protective effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) on the intestine were investigated under HS conditions in this study. Orally supplemented L. rhamnosus improved the composition of cecal microbiota and upregulated the transcription of tight junction proteins in both duodenum and jejunum, with a consequent suppression in intestinal gene expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines and facilitation in digestive capability. Meanwhile, the jejunal villus height of the birds that received L. rhamnosus was significantly higher compared with those treated with the broth (P < 0.05). The expression abundances of genes related to IECs proliferation and differentiation were increased by L. rhamnosus, along with upregulated mRNA levels of Wnt3a and β-catenin in jejunum. In addition, L. rhamnosus attenuated enterocyte apoptosis as indicated by decreased caspase-3 and caspase-9 gene expressions. The results indicated that oral administration with L. rhamnosus mitigated HS-induced dysfunction by promoting intestinal development and epithelial maturation in broilers and that the effects of L. rhamnosus might be dependent of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

The Effects of Unconventional Feed Fermentation on Intestinal Oxidative Stress in Animals

Unconventional feed, which is abundant in China, contains anti-nutritional factors and toxins; however, these can be greatly reduced with microbial fermentation, thus improving the nutrient content of the feed, enhancing animal appetites, and ultimately significantly improving the intestinal health and growth performance of animals. When oxidative stress occurs, fermented feed can effectively reduce the damage caused by stress to the gastrointestinal tract, accelerate the removal of gastrointestinal abnormalities, improve the ability to resist intestinal stress, and ensure the efficient production of animals. This review introduces the application of unconventional fermented feed in animal production, and expounds upon the function of unconventional fermented feed in animals with oxidative stress symptoms, so as to provide a theoretical reference for the development and application of unconventional fermented feed in antioxidative stress reduction.

Intestinal mucosal microbiota mediate amino acid metabolism involved in the gastrointestinal adaptability to cold and humid environmental stress in mice

Growing evidence has demonstrated that cold and humid environmental stress triggers gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. In this study, we explored the effects of intestinal microbiota homeostasis on the intestinal mucus barrier and GI disorders by cold and humid environmental stress. Moreover, the inner link between the intestinal mucosal microbiota and metabolites in mice with cold and humid environmental stress was interpreted by integrative analysis of PacBio HiFi sequencing microbial genomics and targeted metabolomics. In the current study, we found (1) after the cold and wet cold and humid environmental stress intervened in the intestinal microbiota disorder and homeostasis mice respectively, the bacterial culturing and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) microbial activity detection of intestinal microbiota including feces, intestinal contents, and intestinal mucosa suggested that the cold and humid environmental stress decreased the colony of culturable bacteria and microbial activity, in which intestinal microbiota disorder aggravated the injury of the intestinal mucus barrier and the GI symptoms related to cold and humid environmental stress; (2) the serum amino acid transferases such as glutamate pyruvic transa (GPT), and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) in cold and humid environmental stressed mice increased significantly, indicating that the intestinal microbiota adapted to cold and humid environmental stress by regulating the host's amino acid metabolism; (3) the integrative analysis of multi-omics illustrated a prediction model based on the microbiota Lactobacillus reuteri abundance and host amino acid level that can predict intestinal mucoprotein Muc2 with an adjusted R2 of 75.0%. In conclusion, the cold and humid environmental stress regulates the neurotransmitter amino acids metabolic function both in intestinal mucosal microbiota and host serum by adjusting the composition of the dominant bacterial population Lactobacillus reuteri, which contributes to the intestinal mucus barrier injury and GI disorders caused by cold and humid environmental stress.

Integrated multi-omics reveals the roles of cecal microbiota and its derived bacterial consortium in promoting chicken growth

IMPORTANCE

The improvement of chicken growth performance is one of the major concerns for the poultry industry. Gut microbes are increasingly evidenced to be associated with chicken physiology and metabolism, thereby influencing chicken growth and development. Here, through integrated multi-omics analyses, we showed that chickens from the same line differing in their body weight were very different in their gut microbiota structure and host-microbiota crosstalk; microbes in high body weight (HBW) chickens contributed to chicken growth by regulating the gut function and homeostasis. We also verified that a specific bacterial consortium consisting of isolates from the HBW chickens has the potential to be used as chicken growth promoters. These findings provide new insights into the potential links between gut microbiota and chicken phenotypes, shedding light on future manipulation of chicken gut microbiota to improve chicken growth performance.

Effects of Dietary Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Supplementation on the Intestinal Stem Cell Proliferation, Immunity, and Ileal Microbiota of Broiler Chickens Challenged by Coccidia and Clostridium perfringens

This study was conducted to investigate effects of dietary Limosilactobacillus fermentum and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei supplementation on the intestinal stem cell proliferation, immunity, and ileal microbiota of broiler chickens challenged by coccidia and Clostridium perfringens. A total of 336 one-day-old Ross 308 chickens were randomly assigned into four groups. Chickens in the control (CTR) group were fed basal diet, and chickens in the three challenged groups were fed basal diets supplemented with nothing (CCP group), 1.0 × 109 CFU/kg L. fermentum (LF_CCP group), and 1.0 × 109 CFU/kg L. paracasei (LP_CCP group), respectively. All challenged birds were infected with coccildia on day 9 and Clostridium perfringens during days 13-18. The serum and intestinal samples were collected on days 13 and 19. The results showed that L. fermentum significantly increased jejunal gene expression of cdxB (one of the intestinal stem cell marker genes) on day 13. Additionally, L. fermentum significantly up-regulated mRNA levels of JAK3 and TYK2 and tended to increase STAT6 mRNA expression in jejunum on day 19. In the cecal tonsil, both L. fermentum and L. paracasei decreased mRNA expression of JAK2 on day 13, and L. fermentum down-regulated JAK1-2, STAT1, and STAT5-6 gene expressions on day 19. Ileal microbiological analysis showed that coccidial infection increased the Escherichia-Shigella, Lactobacillus, and Romboutsia abundance and decreased Candidatus_Arthromitus richness on day 13, which were reversed by Lactobacillus intervention. Moreover, Lactobacilli increased ileal Lactobacillus richness on day 19. In conclusion, Lactobacilli alleviated the impairment of intestinal stem cell proliferation and immunity in coccidia- and C. perfringens-challenged birds via modulating JAK/STAT signaling and reshaping intestinal microflora.

Resistant effects determination of Lactobacillus supplementation on broilers to consecutive hydrogen sulfide exposure

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is one of the most irritant gases present in rearing stalls that suppress broilers' healthy growth, which is seriously required an effective alleviation method. In this study, Lactobacillus was supplemented to investigate the alleviative effects on broilers reared under consecutive H2S exposure. A total of 180 healthy 1-day-old male AA broilers with similar body weight (40.8 ± 1.0 g) were randomly allotted into the control treatment (CON), the hydrogen sulfide treatment (H2S), and the Lactobacillus supplement under H2S exposure treatment (LAC) for a 42-d-long feeding process. Growth and carcass performances, immunity-related parameters, intestinal development and cecal microbial communities, and blood metabolites were measured. Results showed that Lactobacillus supplement significantly increased the body weight gain (BWG) while reduced the mortality rate, abdominal fat and bursa of fabricius weight during the whole rearing time compared with H2S treatment (P < 0.05). Serum LPS, IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-6 contents were observed significantly increased after H2S treatment while remarkably decreased after Lactobacillus supplementation(P < 0.05). Intestinal morphology results showed a significant higher in the development of ileum villus height (P < 0.05). Cecal microbiota results showed the bacterial composition was significantly altered after Lactobacillus supplement (P < 0.05). Specifically, Lactobacillus supplement significantly decreased the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium, while significantly proliferated the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, and Campylobacter (P<0.05). Metabolic results indicated that Lactobacillus supplement may alleviate the harmful effects caused by H2S through regulating the pyrimidine metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, fructose and mannose degradation, and beta-alanine metabolism. In summary, Lactobacillus supplement effectively increased BWG and decreased mortality rate of broilers under H2S exposure by enhancing the body's immune capacity, proliferating beneficial microbes (e.g., Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium), and regulating the physiological pyrimidine metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, and beta-alanine metabolism.

Coptidis Rhizoma processed with Evodia Rutaecarpa improves the effect on ulcerative colitis by increasing intestinal energy metabolites alpha-ketoglutarate and Lactobacillus reuteri

BACKGROUND

Evodia Rutaecarpa-processed Coptidis Rhizoma (ECR) is a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) in China. However, the mechanisms underlying the ECR processing are not elucidated.

PURPOSE

Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) regulates the gut microbiota in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. This study explored the mechanism of action of ECR before and after processing in UC in view of the regulation of gut microecology.

STUDY DESIGN

A preclinical experimental investigation was performed using a mouse model of UC to examine the regulatory effect of ECR and its mechanisms through gut microbiota analysis and metabolomic assays.

METHODS

Mice received 4% dextran sulfate sodium to establish a UC model and treated with ECR and CR. Colonic histopathology and inflammatory changes were observed. Gut microbiota was analyzed using 16 s rRNA sequencing. Transplants of Lactobacillus reuteri were used to explore the correlation between ECR processing and the gut microbiota. The expression of mucin-2, Lgr5, and PCNA in colonic epithelial cells was measured using immunofluorescence. Wnt3a and β-catenin levels were detected by western blotting. The metabolites in the colon tissue were analyzed using a targeted energy metabolomic assay. The effect of energy metabolite α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) on L. reuteri growth and UC were verified in mice.

RESULTS

ECR improved the effects on UC in mice compared to CR, including alleviating colonic injury and inflammation, and modulating gut microbiota by increasing L. reuteri level. L. reuteri dose-dependently alleviated colonic injury, increased mucin-2 level, and promoted colonic epithelial regeneration by increasing Lgr5 and PCNA expression. This was consistent with the results before and after ECR processing. L. reuteri promoted epithelial regeneration by upregulating Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Moreover, ECR increased metabolites levels (especially α-KG) to promote energy metabolism in the colon tissue compared to CR. α-KG treatment increased L. reuteri level and alleviated mucosal damage in UC mice. It promoted L. reuteri growth by increasing the energy metabolic status by enhancing α-KG dehydrogenase activity.

CONCLUSION

ECR processing improves the therapeutic effects of UC via the α-KG-L. reuteri-epithelial regeneration axis.

Modulation of Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Function Fed Different Postbiotics and a Probiotic from Lactobacilli

It is generally accepted that microbes play a critical role in maintaining gut barrier function, making them ideal to target in order to mitigate the effects of intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease with specialist supplementations such as probiotic or postbiotic preparations. In this study, specific strains of Lactobacillus helvictus both live and inactivated and Lactobacillus plantarum inactivated were fed to zebrafish at an inclusion level of 6 × 106 cells/g in order to assess the effects on gut barrier function and protection. Taken together, our results indicate that dietary administration of pro- or postbiotics strengthens the gut barrier function and innate immunity of healthy zebrafish in a strain-specific and process-dependent way. With some differences in the response intensity, the three treatments led to increased intestinal villi length and proportion of IELs, reinforcement of the GC population and up-regulated expression of biomarkers of AMP production and tight junction zona-occludin 2a (zo-2a). In addition, LPPost had an impact on the adaptive immune response, and we hypothesized that it conferred the potential to drive Th17/ILC3 immunity, as suggested by its effect on the gene expression of il22, of different AMPs, and the expression of zo2a. Moreover, LPPost showed the potential to drive Th1/ILC1-like immunity, with a higher percentage of CD8+ cells and higher ifnγ gene expression. In summary, the use of inactivated Lactobacilli species in this study represented a promising strategy for improving barrier function and regulating the immune fate of the intestinal mucosa in a strain-specific way.

Role of microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum in alleviating intestinal inflammatory damage through promoting epithelial proliferation and differentiation in layer chicks

The alleviating effects of Lactobacillus plantarum in microencapsulation (LPM) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal inflammatory injury were investigated in layer chicks. A total of 252 healthy Hy-Line Brown layer chicks were randomly divided into six groups. Birds were injected with saline or LPS except for the control, and the diets of birds subjected to LPS were supplemented with nothing, L. plantarum, LPM, and wall material of LPM, respectively. The viable counts of LPM reached 109 CFU/g, and the supplemental levels of L. plantarum, LPM, and WM were 0.02 g (109 CFU), 1.0 g, and 0.98 g, per kilogram feed, respectively. LPS administration caused intestinal damage in layer chicks, evidenced by increased proinflammatory factors accompanied by poor intestinal development and morphology (p < 0.05). LPM/LPS significantly increased body weight, small intestine weight and length, villus height, villus height/crypt depth, and mRNA relative expression of tight junction protein genes (p < 0.05) and performed better than free L. plantarum. These findings could be attributed to the significant increase in viable counts of L. plantarum in the small intestine (p < 0.05), as well as the enhanced levels of Actinobacteriota, Lactobacillaceae, and Lactobacillus in intestinal microbiota (p < 0.05). Such results could further significantly increase goblet and PCNA+ cell percentage (p < 0.05); the mRNA relative expressions of epithelial cell, fast-cycling stem cell, quiescent stem cell, endocrine cell, and Paneth cell; and goblet and proliferative cell marker genes, including E-cadherin, Lgr-5, Bmi-1, ChA, Lysozome, Mucin-2, and PCNA (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA relative expressions of key genes involved in epithelial cell proliferation, namely, c-Myc, Cyclin-1, Wnt-3, Lrp-5, and Olfm-4, exhibited significant upregulation compared with the LPS treatment, as well as the differentiating genes Notch-1 and Hes-1 (p < 0.05). To sum up, microencapsulated L. plantarum supplementation could alleviate intestinal injury in layer chicks induced by LPS by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells, which could be attributed to the increase in viable count of L. plantarum in the gut and optimization in intestinal microbial flora.

Sodium humate alleviates LPS-induced intestinal barrier injury by improving intestinal immune function and regulating gut microbiota

Sodium humate (HNa), known for its abundant functional active groups, is extensively utilized in food dietary supplements due to its versatile properties. Furthermore, HNa possesses notable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-diarrheal properties. This research endeavor aimed to elucidate the protective effects of HNa against intestinal barrier injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The findings of this study demonstrated that pretreatment with HNa effectively mitigated intestinal barrier injury in the jejunum. HNa exhibited inhibitory effects on the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the production of inflammatory factors within the intestine. HNa supplementation also contributed to the upregulation of mucin and tight junctions (TJs) expression, consequently enhancing the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Notably, our investigation revealed that HNa shared comparable efficacy with the TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242 in inhibiting the TLR4/NFκB signaling pathway. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis of the gut microbiota demonstrated that HNa exerted a regulatory influence on LPS-induced microflora disturbance. In conclusion, these findings collectively indicate that HNa mitigates LPS-induced mucosal damage in the jejunum and preserves the integrity of the intestinal barrier by modulating intestinal immune function and regulating gut microbiota.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri in immunomodulation: molecular mechanisms and potential applications

Frequent use of hormones and drugs may be associated with side-effects. Recent studies have shown that probiotics have effects on the prevention and treatment of immune-related diseases. Limosilactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) had regulatory effects on intestinal microbiota, host epithelial cells, immune cells, cytokines, antibodies (Ab), toll-like receptors (TLRs), tryptophan (Try) metabolism, antioxidant enzymes, and expression of related genes, and exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, leading to alleviation of disease symptoms. Although the specific composition of the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of L. reuteri has not been clarified, its efficacy in animal models has drawn increased attention to its potential use. This review summarizes the effects of L. reuteri on intestinal flora and immune regulation, and discusses the feasibility of its application in atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and multiple sclerosis (MS), and provides insights for the prevention and treatment of immune-related diseases.

Preventing bacterial disease in poultry in the post-antibiotic era: a case for innate immunity modulation as an alternative to antibiotic use

The widespread use of antibiotics in the poultry industry has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which pose a significant health risk to humans and animals. These public health concerns, which have led to legislation limiting antibiotic use in animals, drive the need to find alternative strategies for controlling and treating bacterial infections. Modulation of the avian innate immune system using immunostimulatory compounds provides a promising solution to enhance poultry immune responses to a broad range of bacterial infections without the risk of generating antibiotic resistance. An array of immunomodulatory compounds have been investigated for their impact on poultry performance and immune responses. However, further research is required to identify compounds capable of controlling bacterial infections without detrimentally affecting bird performance. It is also crucial to determine the safety and effectiveness of these compounds in conjunction with poultry vaccines. This review provides an overview of the various immune modulators known to enhance innate immunity against avian bacterial pathogens in chickens, and describes the mechanisms involved.

The Effect of Using Bovine Colostrum and Probiotics on Performance, Egg Traits, Blood Biochemical and Antioxidant Status of Laying Japanese Quails

The present paper aims to evaluate the effect of different levels of bovine colostrum and probiotic dietary supplementation on egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails. For the trial, 240 laying quails, aged between 24 weeks and 30 weeks, were involved in a 3 × 2 factorial experimental design, with 3 levels of bovine fresh colostrum (0, 2, and 4 percent of the total ratio) and 2 levels of probiotics (0 and 0.01 percent of the total ratio) administration. The colostrum supplementation improved the egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status (p < 0.01). Probiotics used without colostrum did not affect the investigated traits of laying Japanese quails (p > 0.05), but a synergistic effect was observed when combined with colostrum. The overall results recommended that using 4% of bovine colostrum in laying Japanese quails, with the addition of 0.01% of probiotic feed additive results in positive effects on egg production performance, egg traits, carcass characteristics, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status of laying Japanese quails in the late laying period.

Mechanism determination on the interactive effects between host immunity and gut microbiome to resist consecutive hydrogen sulfide inhalation of laying hens

The study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism of the interactions between intestinal microbiota and host immunity-related parameters in response to H₂S inhalation of layer hens. A total of 180 healthy 300-day-old Lohmann pink hens with similar body weight were randomly allotted into the control (CON) and the hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) treatments for an 8-wk-long feeding procedure. Productive performances, antioxidant capacities, immunity-related parameters, blood metabolites, and cecal microbiota were measured to determine the physiological and gastrointestinal responses to H₂S treatment. Results showed that feed intake, egg production, eggshell strength, Haugh unit, and relative yolk weight significantly declined under H₂S treatment compared with CON (P < 0.05). Antioxidant and immunity-related parameters showed that glutathione peroxidase, IL-4, and TNF-α contents significantly decreased, whereas contents of IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-6 significantly increased after H₂S treatment (P < 0.05). Further metabolic results showed H₂S treatment upregulated 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, D-glucopyranuronic acid, deoxyuridine, cholic acid, and mimosine, etc., which mainly enriched into the pyrimidine metabolism, beta-alanine metabolism, valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis, and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis pathways. Meanwhile, aceturic acid, 9-oxodecenoic acid, palmitoleic acid, lauric acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and valeric acid mainly contributed to the downregulated metabolites, and enriched into the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, tryptophan metabolism and linoleic metabolism. Moreover, H₂S treatment significantly proliferated the relative abundances of Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcaceae, and Streptococcus, while decreased Prevotella, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium, and Campylobacter (P < 0.05). The altered bacteria were functionally enriched in the carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and metabolism of cofactors and vitamins pathways. H₂S treatment also significantly downregulated the expression of ZO-1, Claudin 4, and Claudin 7 (P < 0.05). In summary, intestinal microbial communities altered significantly to make proper adaptations in interacting with the host immune systems through the immunity-related metabolites secretion, and epithelial tight-junction-related genes expressions, purposely to regulate the productive performance under hydrogen sulfide inhalation.

The role of potential probiotic strains Lactobacillus reuteri in various intestinal diseases: New roles for an old player

Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), a type of Lactobacillus spp., is a gut symbiont that can colonize many mammals. Since it was first isolated in 1962, a multitude of research has been conducted to investigate its function and unique role in different diseases as an essential probiotic. Among these, the basic functions, beneficial effects, and underlying mechanisms of L. reuteri have been noticed and understood profoundly in intestinal diseases. The origins of L. reuteri strains are diverse, with humans, rats, and piglets being the most common. With numerous L. reuteri strains playing significant roles in different intestinal diseases, DSM 17938 is the most widely used in humans, especially in children. The mechanisms by which L. reuteri improves intestinal disorders include protecting the gut barrier, suppressing inflammation and the immune response, regulating the gut microbiota and its metabolism, and inhibiting oxidative stress. While a growing body of studies focused on L. reuteri, there are still many unknowns concerning its curative effects, clinical safety, and precise mechanisms. In this review, we initially interpreted the basic functions of L. reuteri and its related metabolites. Then, we comprehensively summarized its functions in different intestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, infection-associated bowel diseases, and pediatric intestinal disorders. We also highlighted some important molecules in relation to the underlying mechanisms. In conclusion, L. reuteri has the potential to exert a beneficial impact on intestinal diseases, which should be further explored to obtain better clinical application and therapeutic effects.

Higher alpha diversity and Lactobacillus blooms are associated with better engraftment after Fecal Microbiota Transplant in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background

Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) has proven effective in treating recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) and has shown some success in treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). There is emerging evidence that host engraftment of donor taxa is a tenet of successful FMT. However, there is little known regarding predictors of engraftment. We undertook a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study to characterize the response to FMT in children and young adults with mild to moderate active Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

Results

Subjects with CD or UC were randomized to receive antibiotics and weekly FMT or placebo in addition to baseline medications. The treatment arm received seven days of antibiotics followed by FMT enema and then capsules weekly for seven weeks. We enrolled four subjects with CD and 11 with UC, ages 14-29 years. Due to weekly stool sampling, we were able to create a time series of alpha diversity, beta diversity and engraftment as they related to clinical response. Subjects exhibited a wide range of microbial diversity and donor engraftment as FMT progressed. Specifically, engraftment ranged from 26% to 90% at week 2 and 3% to 92% at two months. Consistent with the current literature, increases over time of both alpha diversity (p< 0.05) and donor engraftment (p< 0.05) correlated with improved clinical response. Additionally, our weekly time series enabled an investigation into the clinical and microbial correlates of engraftment at various time points. We discovered that the post-antibiotic but pre-FMT time point, often overlooked in FMT trials, was rich in microbial correlates of eventual engraftment. Greater residual alpha diversity after antibiotic treatment was positively correlated with engraftment and subsequent clinical response. Interestingly, a transient rise in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was also positively correlated with engraftment, a finding that we recapitulated with our analysis of another FMT trial with publicly available weekly sequencing data.

Conclusions

We found that higher residual alpha diversity and Lactobacillus blooms after antibiotic treatment correlated with improved engraftment and clinical response to FMT. Future studies should closely examine the host microbial communities pre-FMT and the impact of antibiotic preconditioning on engraftment and response.

Preventive and synbiotic effects of the soluble dietary fiber obtained from Lentinula edodes byproducts and Lactobacillus plantarum LP90 against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice

BACKGROUND

Soluble dietary fiber (SDF) obtained from Lentinula edodes byproducts has beneficial effects on human intestinal health. This study aimed to examine the combined preventive and ameliorative effects of a kind of synbiotic (SDF with a molecular weight of 1.58 × 10²  kDa and Lactobacillus plantarum LP90 (LP) at 1 × 10⁹  CFU kg^-1 ) on dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mice.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that synbiotic treatment could alleviate weight loss, decrease the disease activity index level and cause histological amelioration. Synbiotic treatment also promoted the production of goblet cells, increased the expression of tight junction proteins, and adjusted the production of myeloperoxidase, malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase to repair intestinal epithelial injury. Clinical symptoms were alleviated by maintaining Th17/Treg balance, increasing interleukin 10 and immunoglobulin A levels, reducing interleukin 17a and tumor necrosis factor α production, and promoting mRNA to highly express of Foxp3 and vitamin D receptors. Moreover, synbiotic treatment could upregulate butyric acid production (4.71 ± 0.46 mol g^-1 feces, P < 0.05) and diversity of intestinal microbial to maintain intestinal homeostasis.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that the combination of LP and SDF as a synbiotic has the potential for use as a nutritional supplement to alleviate colitis. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of Lactobacillus fermentum Administration on Intestinal Morphometry and Antibody Serum Levels in Salmonella-Infantis-Challenged Chickens

There are no studies reporting the effects of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Infantis (S. Infantis) on intestinal architecture and immunoglobulin serum levels in chickens. Here, we measured these parameters and hypothesized whether probiotic administration could modulate the observed outcomes. Two-hundred 1-day-old COBB 500 male chicks were allocated into four groups: (I) the control, (II) the group treated with L. fermentum, (III) the group exposed to S. Infantis, and (IV) the group inoculated with both bacteria. At 11 days post infection, blood was gathered from animals which were then euthanized, and samples from the small intestine were collected. Intestinal conditions, as well as IgA and IgM serum levels, were assessed. S. Infantis reduced villus-height-to-crypt-depth (VH:CD) ratios in duodenal, jejunal, and ileal sections compared to control conditions, although no differences were found regarding the number of goblet cells, muc-2 expression, and immunoglobulin concentration. L. fermentum improved intestinal measurements compared to the control; this effect was also evidenced in birds infected with S. Infantis. IgM serum levels augmented in response to the probiotic in infected animals. Certainly, the application of L. fermentum elicited positive outcomes in S. Infantis-challenged chickens and thus must be considered for developing novel treatments designed to reduce unwanted infections.

Vitamin D3 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG/p40 Synergize to Protect Mice From Colitis by Promoting Vitamin D Receptor Expression and Epithelial Proliferation

BACKGROUND

While vitamin D (VitD) levels are negatively correlated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity, VitD supplementation does not reduce IBD severity. The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), which secretes p40, can upregulate colonic VitD receptor (VDR) expression. We therefore evaluated synergy between VitD3 and LGG/p40 in the treatment of mouse colitis.

METHODS

A dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis model was established in Vdr+/+ and Vdr-/- mice, and mice were treated with VitD3, LGG, or p40 alone or in combination for 7 to 14 days. Colitis severity was assessed by weight loss, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, histology, and inflammatory cytokine expression together with VDR expression, proliferation, and apoptosis. In vitro, VDR expression and cell viability were assessed in HCT116 cells after stimulation with p40.

RESULTS

Total and nuclear VDR protein expression were lower in DSS-treated Vdr+/+ mice compared with control mice (P < .05). Compared with the DSS group, VitD3 + LGG alleviated colitis as assessed by significantly improved DAI and histological scores, increased colon length, decreased colonic Tnf, and increased Il10 expression together with increased colonic VDR gene and protein expression and increased Ki-67 proliferation index (P < .05). In Vdr-/- mice, VitD3 + LGG had no effect on DSS colitis. In Vdr+/+ mice, VitD3 + p40 also reduced colitis severity according to clinicopathological and immunological metrics and increased VDR expression and epithelial proliferation (P < .05). In HCT116 cells, p40 stimulation increased VDR protein expression and viability (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

VitD3 and LGG/p40 synergistically improve the severity of colitis by increasing colonic VDR expression and promoting colonic epithelial proliferation.

A Novel Probiotic Bacillus subtilis Strain Confers Cytoprotection to Host Pig Intestinal Epithelial Cells during Enterotoxic Escherichia coli Infection

Enteric infections caused by enterotoxic Escherichia coli (ETEC) negatively impact the growth performance of piglets during weaning, resulting in significant economic losses for the producers. With the ban on antibiotic usage in livestock production, probiotics have gained a lot of attention as a potential alternative. However, strain specificity and limited knowledge on the host-specific targets limit their efficacy in preventing ETEC-related postweaning enteric infections. We recently isolated and characterized a novel probiotic Bacillus subtilis bacterium (CP9) that demonstrated antimicrobial activity. Here, we report anti-ETEC properties of CP9 and its impact on metabolic activity of swine intestinal epithelial (IPEC-J2) cells. Our results showed that pre- or coincubation with CP9 protected IPEC-J2 cells from ETEC-induced cytotoxicity. CP9 significantly attenuated ETEC-induced inflammatory response by reducing ETEC-induced nitric oxide production and relative mRNA expression of the Toll-like receptors (TLRs; TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9), proinflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukins (ILs; IL-6 and IL-8), augmenting anti-inflammatory granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and host defense peptide mucin 1 (MUC1) mRNA levels. We also show that CP9 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced caspase-3 activity, reinstated cell proliferation and increased relative expression of tight junction genes, claudin-1, occludin, and zona occludens-1 in ETEC-infected cells. Finally, metabolomic analysis revealed that CP9 exposure induced metabolic modulation in IPEC J2 cells with the greatest impact seen in alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism; pyrimidine metabolism; nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism; glutathione metabolism; the citrate cycle (TCA cycle); and arginine and proline metabolism. Our study shows that CP9 incubation attenuated ETEC-induced cytotoxicity in IPEC-J2 cells and offers insight into potential application of this probiotic for ETEC infection control. IMPORTANCE ETEC remains one of the leading causes of postweaning diarrhea and mortality in swine production. Due to the rising concerns with the antibiotic use in livestock, alternative interventions need to be developed. In this study, we analyzed the cytoprotective effect of a novel probiotic strain in combating ETEC infection in swine intestinal cells, along with assessing its mechanism of action. To our knowledge, this is also the first study to analyze the metabolic impact of a probiotic on intestinal cells. Results from this study should provide effective cues in developing a probiotic intervention for ameliorating ETEC infection and improving overall gut health in swine production.

Effect of the Microbiome on Intestinal Innate Immune Development in Early Life and the Potential Strategy of Early Intervention

Early life is a vital period for mammals to be colonized with the microbiome, which profoundly influences the development of the intestinal immune function. For neonates to resist pathogen infection and avoid gastrointestinal illness, the intestinal innate immune system is critical. Thus, this review summarizes the development of the intestinal microbiome and the intestinal innate immune barrier, including the intestinal epithelium and immune cells from the fetal to the weaning period. Moreover, the impact of the intestinal microbiome on innate immune development and the two main way of early-life intervention including probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) also are discussed in this review. We hope to highlight the crosstalk between early microbial colonization and intestinal innate immunity development and offer some information for early intervention.

Lactobacillus reuteri 1 Enhances Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Function and Alleviates the Inflammatory Response Induced by Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 via Suppressing the MLCK Signaling Pathway in IPEC-J2 Cells

Intestinal epithelial barrier injury disrupts immune homeostasis and leads to many intestinal disorders. Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) strains can influence immune system development and intestinal function. However, the underlying mechanisms of L. reuteri LR1 that regulate inflammatory response and intestinal integrity are still unknown. The present study aimed to determine the effects of LR1 on the ETEC K88-induced intestinal epithelial injury on the inflammatory response, intestinal epithelial barrier function, and the MLCK signal pathway and its underlying mechanism. Here, we showed that the 1 × 109 cfu/ml LR1 treatment for 4 h dramatically decreased interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-6 expression. Then, the data indicated that the 1 × 108 cfu/ml ETEC K88 treatment for 4 h dramatically enhanced IL-8, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) data indicated that pretreatment with LR1 inhibited the ETEC K88 that adhered on IPEC-J2 and alleviated the scratch injury of IPEC J2 cells. Moreover, LR1 pretreatment significantly reversed the declined transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and tight junction protein level, and enhanced the induction by ETEC K88 treatment. Additionally, LR1 pretreatment dramatically declined IL-8, IL-17A, IL-6, and TNF-α levels compared with the ETEC K88 group. Then, ETEC K88-treated IPEC-J2 cells had a higher level of myosin light-chain kinase (MLCK), higher MLC levels, and a lower Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) level than the control group, while LR1 pretreatment significantly declined the MLCK and MLC expression and enhanced ROCK level in the ETEC K88-challenged IPEC-J2 cells. Mechanistically, depletion of MLCK significantly declined MLC expression in IPEC-J2 challenged with ETEC K88 compared to the si NC+ETEC K88 group. On the other hand, the TER of the si MLCK+ETEC K88 group was higher and the FD4 flux in the si MLCK+ETEC K88 group was lower compared with the si NC+ETEC K88 group. In addition, depletion of MLCK significantly enhanced Claudin-1 level and declined IL-8 and TNF-α levels in IPEC-J2 pretreated with LR1 followed by challenging with ETEC K88. In conclusion, our work indicated that L. reuteri LR1 can decline inflammatory response and improve intestinal epithelial barrier function through suppressing the MLCK signal pathway in the ETEC K88-challenged IPEC-J2.

Protective role of casuarinin from Melastoma malabathricum against a mouse model of 5-fluorouracil-induced intestinal mucositis: Impact on inflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis

BACKGROUND

5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis (FUIIM) is a common gastrointestinal side effect of chemotherapy, leading to gastric pain in clinical cancer patients. In a previous study, we demonstrated that neutrophil elastase (NE) inhibitors could alleviate FUIIM and manipulate the homeostasis of the gut microbiota. The root of Melastoma malabathricum, also called Ye-Mu-Dan, has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for gastrointestinal disease. Water extract of the roots of M. malabathricum exhibits an inhibitory effect on NE, with an IC₅₀ value of 9.13 μg/ml.

PURPOSE

In this study, we aimed to isolate an anti-NE compound from the root of M. malabathricum and to determine the protective effect of the bioactive component on a mouse model of FUIIM with respect to tissue damage, inflammation, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and gut microbiota dysbiosis.

METHODS

A water extract of the roots of M. malabathricum was prepared and its major bioactive compound, was identified using bioactivity-guided fractionation. The effects of samples on the inhibition of NE activity were evaluated using enzymatic assays. To evaluate the effects of the bioactive compound in an FUIIM animal model, male C57BL/6 mice treated with or without casuarinin (50 and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.), and then received of 5-fluorouracil (50 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally for 5 days to induce FUIIM. Histopathological staining was used to monitor the tissue damage, proliferation of intestinal crypts, and expression of tight junction proteins. The inflammation score was estimated by determining the levels of oxidative stress, neutrophil-related proteases, and proinflammatory cytokines in tissue and serum. The ecology of the gut microbiota was evaluated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

Casuarinin had the most potent and selective effect against NE, with an IC₅₀ value of 2.79 ± 0.07 μM. Casuarinin (100 mg/kg/day, p.o.) significantly improved 5-FU-induced body weight loss together with food intake reduction, and it also significantly reversed villus atrophy, restored the proliferative activity of the intestinal crypts, and suppressed inflammation and intestinal barrier dysfunction in the mouse model of FUIIM. Casuarinin also reversed 5-FU-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, particularly the abundance of Actinobacteria, Candidatus Arthromitus, and Lactobacillus murinus, and the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio.

CONCLUSION

This study firstly showed that casuarinin isolated from the root part of M. malabathricum could be used as a NE inhibitor, whereas it could improve FUIIM by modulating inflammation, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. In summary, exploring anti-NE natural product may provide a way to find candidate for improvement of FUIIM.

Effect of maternal curcumin supplementation on intestinal damage and the gut microbiota in male mice offspring with intra-uterine growth retardation

PURPOSE

The present study investigated whether maternal curcumin supplementation might protect against intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) induced intestinal damage and modulate gut microbiota in male mice offspring.

METHODS

In total, 36 C57BL/6 mice (24 females and 12 males, 6-8 weeks old) were randomly divided into three groups based on the diet before and throughout pregnancy and lactation: (1) normal protein (19%), (2) low protein (8%), and (3) low protein (8%) + 600 mg kg-1 curcumin. Offspring were administered a control diet until postnatal day 35.

RESULTS

Maternal curcumin supplementation could normalize the maternal protein deficiency-induced decrease in jejunal SOD activity (NP = 200.40 ± 10.58 U/mg protein; LP = 153.30 ± 5.51 U/mg protein; LPC = 185.40 ± 9.52 U/mg protein; P < 0.05) and T-AOC content (NP = 138.90 ± 17.51 U/mg protein; LP = 84.53 ± 5.42 U/mg protein; LPC = 99.73 ± 12.88 U/mg protein; P < 0.05) in the mice offspring. Maternal curcumin supplementation increased the maternal low protein diet-induced decline in the ratio of villus height-to-crypt depth (NP = 2.23 ± 0.19; LP = 1.90 ± 0.06; LPC = 2.56 ± 0.20; P < 0.05), the number of goblet cells (NP = 12.72 ± 1.16; LP = 7.04 ± 0.53; LPC = 13.10 ± 1.17; P < 0.05), and the ratio of PCNA-positive cells (NP = 13.59 ± 1.13%; LP = 2.42 ± 0.74%; LPC = 6.90 ± 0.96%; P < 0.05). It also reversed the maternal protein deficiency-induced increase of the body weight (NP = 13.00 ± 0.48 g; LP = 16.49 ± 0.75 g; LPC = 10.65 ± 1.12 g; P < 0.05), the serum glucose levels (NP = 5.32 ± 0.28 mmol/L; LP = 6.82 ± 0.33 mmol/L; LPC = 4.69 ± 0.35 mmol/L; P < 0.05), and the jejunal apoptotic index (NP = 6.50 ± 1.58%; LP = 10.65 ± 0.75%; LPC = 5.24 ± 0.71%; P < 0.05). Additionally, maternal curcumin supplementation enhanced the gene expression level of Nrf2 (NP = 1.00 ± 0.12; LP = 0.73 ± 0.10; LPC = 1.34 ± 0.12; P < 0.05), Sod2 (NP = 1.00 ± 0.04; LP = 0.85 ± 0.04; LPC = 1.04 ± 0.04; P < 0.05) and Ocln (NP = 1.00 ± 0.09; LP = 0.94 ± 0.10; LPC = 1.47 ± 0.09; P < 0.05) in the jejunum. Furthermore, maternal curcumin supplementation normalized the relative abundance of Lactobacillus (NP = 31.56 ± 6.19%; LP = 7.60 ± 2.33%; LPC = 17.79 ± 2.41%; P < 0.05) and Desulfovibrio (NP = 3.63 ± 0.93%; LP = 20.73 ± 3.96%; LPC = 13.96 ± 4.23%; P < 0.05), and the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota (NP = 2.84 ± 0.64; LP = 1.21 ± 0.30; LPC = 1.79 ± 0.15; P < 0.05). Moreover, Lactobacillus was positively correlated with the SOD activity, and it was negatively correlated with Il - 1β expression (P < 0.05). Desulfovibrio was negatively correlated with the SOD activity and the jejunal expression of Sod1, Bcl - 2, Card11, and Zo - 1 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal curcumin supplementation could improve intestinal integrity, oxidative status, and gut microbiota in male mice offspring with IUGR.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Enriched Camel Milk Attenuated Colitis Symptoms in Mice Model

Fermented camel's milk has various health beneficial prebiotics and probiotics. This study aimed to evaluate the preventive efficacy of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens enriched camel milk (BEY) in 2-, 4- and 6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis mice models. To this end, the immune modulatory effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BA) on TNF-α challenged HT29 colon cells were estimated using the cell proliferation and cytokines ELISA method. BEY was prepared using the incubation method and nutritional value was quantified by comparing it to commercial yogurt. Furthermore, TNBS-induced colitis was established and the level of disease index, pathological scores, and inflammatory markers of BEY-treated mice using macroscopic and microscopic examinations, qPCR and immunoblot were investigated. The results demonstrate that BA is non-toxic to HT29 colon cells and balanced the inflammatory cytokines. BEY reduced the colitis disease index, and improved the body weight and colon length of the TNBS-induced mice. Additionally, Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1β, IL6, IL8 and TNF-α) were attenuated by BEY treatment. Moreover, the inflammatory progress mRNA and protein markers nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and occludin were significantly down-regulated by BEY treatment. Interestingly, significant suppression of PCNA was observed in colonic tissues using the immunohistochemical examination. Treatment with BEY increased the epigenetic (microRNA217) interactions with PCNA. In conclusion, the BEY clearly alleviated the colitis symptoms and in the future could be used to formulate a probiotic-based diet for the host gut health and control the inflammatory bowel syndrome in mammals.

Transplantion of predominant Lactobacilli from native hens to commercial hens could indirectly regulate their ISC activity by improving intestinal microbiota

In poultry, HyLine (HL) Hens are known for their excellent laying performance. However, ZhenNing (ZN) Hens, a native chicken breed in China, are known for their unique flavour. The intestinal mucosa, which is the main organ for nutrient absorption, could affect livestock product quality. In ZN Hens' intestinal mucosa, we found more villus wrinkles, larger villus circumference and higher amino acid transporters mRNA abundance compared with HL Hens. Among three laying periods of ZN Hens, in the intestinal lumen, Lactobacillus salivarius (L. sa.), Lactobacillus agilis (L. ag.) and Lactobacillus aviarius were the predominant species in the laying peak period. Furthermore, multiple-antibiotics feeding in ZN Hens and predominant Lactobacillus feeding in HL Hens suggested that these Lactobacilli could indeed increase villus wrinkles and improve intestinal absorption. In HL Hens, L. sa. + L. ag. treatment could promote organoids budding in vitro, and promote epithelial proliferation in vivo. Collectively, the unique intestinal mucosa morphology in ZN Hens was due to the high abundance of intestinal L. sa. and L. ag. Transplant these Lactobacilli to HL Hens could increase their intestinal probiotics abundance, fine adjust the intestinal stem cell function and promote the epithelial proliferation, in turn, increase villus winkles and mucosal absorption area.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis on Mucosal Immunity and Intestinal Barrier Are Associated with Its Modulation of Gut Metabolites and Microbiota in Late-Phase Laying Hens

We investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis on the intestinal immune response, intestinal barrier function, cecal microbiota profile, and metabolite profile in late-phase laying hens. Hens were divided into three groups and fed with the basal diet (NC group), basal diet supplementation with 250 mg/kg B. subtilis and L. acidophilus mixture powder (LD group), and basal diet supplementation with 500 mg/kg B. subtilis and L. acidophilus mixture powder (HD group), respectively. The results indicated that the dietary supplementation with L. acidophilus and B. subtilis increased the integrity of the intestinal barrier as evidenced by the significant increase in the number of ileal goblet cells and improve the expression of occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1 genes in the HD group. Moreover, the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were significantly decreased in the LD and HD groups. The levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) increased in the LD and HD group, and the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) increased with the HD treatment. Furthermore, 16 s rRNA sequencing revealed L. acidophilus in combination with B. subtilis increased the diversity of gut microbiota. The metabolomic analysis revealed beneficial changes in the amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism (decrease in LysoPC and LysoPE levels). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with L. acidophilus and B. subtilis could improve intestinal barrier function and maintain immune homeostasis. These beneficial effects may be associated with the modulation of the intestinal microbiome and metabolites.

Administration of Dietary Microalgae Ameliorates Intestinal Parameters, Improves Body Weight, and Reduces Thawing Loss of Fillets in Broiler Chickens: A Pilot Study

This pilot investigation aimed at studying the feasibility of using a low dose (0.2%) of dietary microalgae as a means of improving intestinal morphometry, body weight, and selected meat quality parameters in broilers. A total of 72 one-day-old ROSS 308 male chicks were randomly separated into four groups; three experimental pens in which the birds were fed with biomass from Tysochrysis lutea, Tetraselmis chuii, and Porphyridium cruentum over 30 days and a control group. T. chuii and P. cruentum had a positive effect with regard to body weight. In treated animals, duodenal and ileal sections showed characteristic tall and thin villi, with serrated surfaces and goblet cell differentiation. In both sections, values of the villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratio were increased by microalgae ingestion. The thawing weight loss of fillets was reduced in T. chuii-fed animals. The positive effects exerted by T. chuii and P. cruentum on intestinal architecture were associated with the improved body weight. Arguably, these outcomes exhibit the potential of using these species to enhance growth performance in broiler chickens by promoting gut homeostasis and thus nutrient absorption.

Probiotics Treatment of Leg Diseases in Broiler Chickens: a Review

Normal development and growth of bones are critical for poultry. With the rapid growth experienced by broiler chickens, higher incidences of leg weakness and lameness are common problems in adolescent meat-type poultry that present huge economic and welfare issues. Leg disorders such as angular bone deformities and tibial dyschondroplasia have become common in broilers and are associated with poor growth, high mortality rates, increased carcass condemnation, and downgrading at slaughter. Probiotics have shown promise for a variety of health purposes, including preventing diarrhea, elevating carcass quality, and promoting growth of the poultry. In addition, recent studies have indicated that probiotics can maintain the homeostasis of the gut microbiota and improve the health of the gastrointestinal tract, which confers a potentially beneficial effect on bone health. This review mainly describes the occurrence of broiler leg disease and the role of probiotics in bone health through regulating the gut microbiota and improving intestinal function, thus providing a relevant theoretical basis for probiotics to hinder the development of skeletal disorders in broiler chickens.

Gastrointestinal Development and Microbiota Responses of Geese to Honeycomb Flavonoids Supplementation

Background: Geese are conventionally considered to be herbivorous, which could also be raised with concentrate feeding diets without green grass because of the similar gastrointestinal tract with other poultry. However, the geese gut microbiota profiles and their interactions with epithelial cells are still of limited study. Flavonoids were well-documented to shape gut microbiota and promote epithelial barrier functions individually or cooperatively with other metabolites. Therefore, in the present study, honeycomb flavonoids (HF) were supplemented to investigate the effects on growth performances, intestinal development, and gut microbiome of geese.

Material and Methods: A total of 400 1-day-old male lion-head geese with similar birth weight (82.6 ± 1.4 g) were randomly divided into five treatments: the control treatment (CON) and the HF supplementation treatments, HF was supplemented arithmetically to increase from 0.25 to 1%. Growth performance, carcass performances, and intestines' development parameters were measured to determine the optimum supplement. Junction proteins including ZO-1 and ZO-2 and cecal microbiota were investigated to demonstrate the regulatory effects of HF on both microbiota and intestinal epithelium.

Results: Results showed that 0.5% of HF supplement had superior growth performance, carcass performance, and the total parameters of gastrointestinal development to other treatments. Further research showed that tight junction proteins including ZO-1 and ZO-2 significantly up-regulated, while Firmicutes and some probiotics including Clostridiales, Streptococcus, Lachnoclostridium, and Bifidobacterium, remarkably proliferated after HF supplement. In conclusion, HF supplement in concentrate-diet feeding geese effectively increased the growth performances by regulating the gut microbiota to increase the probiotic abundance to promote the nutrient digestibility and fortify the epithelial development and barrier functions to facilitate the nutrient absorption and utilization.

Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus agilis feeding regulates intestinal stem cells activity by modulating crypt niche in hens

Previously, we found that Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus agilis, and Lactobacillus aviarius were associated with excellent egg nutrition in native chicken. Next, the optimal Lactobacillus combination is worth studying. Here, a total of 120 HyLine hens (30 hens per group contained 3 replicate cells, 10 hens/cell) in the laying peak period were randomly divided into (1) control, (2) L. salivarius + L. agilis, (3) L. salivarius + L. aviarius, and (4) L. agilis + L. aviarius groups, fed with diet only or with corresponding Lactobacilli (10⁸ colony-forming units/hen/day) for 30 days. As a result, L. salivarius + L. agilis feeding could (1) improve egg-laying rate, egg weight, and albumen's amino acid levels; (2) increase Lactobacillus abundance, decrease Escherichia coli abundance, upregulate the tryptophan metabolism pathway-related molecules, and downregulate the primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway-related molecules in intestinal contents; and (3) upregulate oxidative-phosphorylation pathway-related genes, reactive oxygen species levels, and mRNA abundance of Wnt3a, Dll1, Lgr5, CCDN1, and CDK2 in the crypt. Collectively, L. salivarius + L. agilis feeding in hens could improve intestinal microflora and metabolism profile, promote crypt's local energy metabolism and reactive oxygen species levels, and thus enhance Paneth cells and intestinal stem cells activity.Key points• Lactobacilli co-feeding could improve laying performance and egg nutrition.• Lactobacilli co-feeding could improve intestinal microflora and metabolism profile.• Lactobacilli co-feeding could enhance Paneth cells and intestinal stem cells activity.

Anticandidal Activities by Lactobacillus Species: An Update on Mechanisms of Action

Lactobacilli are among the most studied bacteria in the microbiome of the orodigestive and genitourinary tracts. As probiotics, lactobacilli may provide various benefits to the host. These benefits include regulating the composition of the resident microbiota, preventing - or even potentially reverting- a dysbiotic state. Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that can influence and be influenced by other members of the mucosal microbiota and, under immune-compromising conditions, can cause disease. Lactobacillus and Candida species can colonize the same mucosal sites; however, certain Lactobacillus species display antifungal activities that can contribute to low Candida burdens and prevent fungal infection. Lactobacilli can produce metabolites with direct anticandidal function or enhance the host defense mechanisms against fungi. Most of the Lactobacillus spp. anticandidal mechanisms of action remain underexplored. This work aims to comprehensively review and provide an update on the current knowledge regarding these anticandidal mechanisms.

Enterococcus faecium PNC01 isolated from the intestinal mucosa of chicken as an alternative for antibiotics to reduce feed conversion rate in broiler chickens

Background

The development and utilization of probiotics had many environmental benefits for replacing antibiotics in animal production. Bacteria in the intestinal mucosa have better adhesion to the host intestinal epithelial cells compared to bacteria in the intestinal contents. In this study, lactic acid bacteria were isolated from the intestinal mucosa of broiler chickens and investigated as the substitution to antibiotic in broiler production.

Results

In addition to acid resistance, high temperature resistance, antimicrobial sensitivity tests, and intestinal epithelial cell adhesion, Enterococcus faecium PNC01 (E. faecium PNC01) was showed to be non-cytotoxic to epithelial cells. Draft genome sequence of E. faecium PNC01 predicted that it synthesized bacteriocin to perform probiotic functions and bacteriocin activity assay showed it inhibited Salmonella typhimurium from invading intestinal epithelial cells. Diet supplemented with E. faecium PNC01 increased the ileal villus height and crypt depth in broiler chickens, reduced the relative length of the cecum at day 21, and reduced the relative length of jejunum and ileum at day 42. Diet supplemented with E. faecium PNC01 increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus, decreased the relative abundance of Bacteroides in the cecal microbiota.

Conclusion

E. faecium PNC01 replaced antibiotics to reduce the feed conversion rate. Furthermore, E. faecium PNC01 improved intestinal morphology and altered the composition of microbiota in the cecum to reduce feed conversion rate. Thus, it can be used as an alternative for antibiotics in broiler production to avoid the adverse impact of antibiotics by altering the gut microbiota.

Graphic Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-021-01609-z.

Probiotic biomarkers and models upside down: From humans to animals

Probiotics development for animal farming implies thorough testing of a vast variety of properties, including adhesion, toxicity, host cells signaling modulation, and immune effects. Being diverse, these properties are often tested individually and using separate biological models, with great emphasis on the host organism. Although being precise, this approach is cost-ineffective, limits the probiotics screening throughput and lacks informativeness due to the 'one model - one test - one property' principle. There is а solution coming from human-derived cells and in vitro systems, an extraordinary example of human models serving animal research. In the present review, we focus on the current outlooks of employing human-derived in vitro biological models in probiotics development for animal applications, examples of such studies and the analysis of concordance between these models and host-derived in vivo data. In our opinion, human-cells derived screening systems allow to test several probiotic properties at once with reasonable precision, great informativeness and less expenses and labor effort.

Maternal stevioside supplementation ameliorates intestinal mucosal damage and modulates gut microbiota in chicken offspring challenged with lipopolysaccharide

Our previous study showed that dietary stevioside supplementation could alleviate intestinal mucosal damage induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in broiler chickens. However, it remains unknown whether feeding stevioside to breeder hens could exert similar biological functions in their offspring. The present study aimed to investigate whether maternal dietary stevioside supplementation could prevent LPS-induced intestinal mucosal damage and alteration of gut microbiota in chicken offspring. A total of 120 Jinmao yellow-feathered breeder hens were fed a basal diet (CON) or a 250 mg kg^-1 stevioside-supplemented diet (STE) for 5 weeks before collecting their eggs. After hatching, 160 male offspring (80 chickens from each group) were randomly selected and divided into four treatment groups: (1) the offspring of hens fed a basal diet (CON); (2) the offspring of hens fed a stevioside-supplemented diet (STE); (3) the CON group challenged with LPS (LPS); and (4) the STE group challenged with LPS (LSTE). The results showed that maternal stevioside supplementation increased the hatching weight and improved the intestinal morphology. LPS challenge significantly decreased the terminal body weight and the concentrations of serum triglyceride (TG) and glucose (GLU) of the chicken offspring. Maternal stevioside supplementation protected against LPS-induced morphological damage, goblet cell impairment, intestinal apoptosis, and gene expression alteration. In addition, sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene showed that maternal stevioside supplementation could prevent the impairment of bacterial diversity in LPS-challenged chicken offspring. Moreover, the increased abundance of Lactobacillus caused by maternal stevioside supplementation had a significant negative correlation with the expression of intestinal inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, maternal stevioside supplementation could ameliorate intestinal mucosal damage and modulate gut microbiota in chicken offspring challenged with LPS.

Supplemental Xylooligosaccharide Modulates Intestinal Mucosal Barrier and Cecal Microbiota in Laying Hens Fed Oxidized Fish Oil

Our previous study indicated that dietary xylooligosaccharide (XOS) supplementation improved feed efficiency, ileal morphology, and nutrient digestibility in laying hens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mitigative effects of XOS on intestinal mucosal barrier impairment and microbiota dysbiosis induced by oxidized fish oil (OFO) in laying hens. A total of 384 Hy-Line Brown layers at 50 weeks of age were randomly divided into four dietary treatments, including the diets supplemented with 20 g/kg of fresh fish oil (FFO group) or 20 g/kg of oxidized fish oil (OFO group), and the OFO diets with XOS addition at 200 mg/kg (OFO/XOS200 group) or 400 mg/kg (OFO/XOS400 group). Each treatment had eight replicates with 12 birds each. The OFO treatment decreased (P < 0.05) the production performance of birds from 7 to 12 weeks of the experiment, reduced (P < 0.05) ileal mucosal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) content, and increased (P < 0.05) serum endotoxin concentration, as well as downregulated (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of claudin-1 (CLDN1) and claudin-5 (CLDN5) in the ileal mucosa at the end of the experiment. Dietary XOS addition (400 mg/kg) recovered (P < 0.05) these changes and further improved (P < 0.05) ileal villus height (VH) and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (VCR). In addition, OFO treatment altered cecal microbial composition of layers, and these alterations were probably involved in OFO-induced ileal mucosal impairment as causes or consequences. Supplemental XOS remodeled cecal microbiota of layers fed the OFO diet, characterized by an elevation in microbial richness and changes in microbial composition, including increases in Firmicutes, Ruminococcaceae, Verrucomicrobia (Akkermansia), Paraprevotella, Prevotella_9, and Oscillospira, along with a decrease in Erysipelatoclostridium. The increased abundance of Verrucomicrobia (Akkermansia) had positive correlations with the improved ileal VH and ileal mucosal expression of CLDN1. The abundance of Erysipelatoclostridium decreased by XOS addition was negatively associated with ileal VH, VCR, ileal mucosal sIgA content, and the relative expression of zonula occludens-2, CLDN1, and CLDN5. Collectively, supplemental XOS alleviated OFO-induced intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction and performance impairment in laying hens, which could be at least partially attributed to the modulation of gut microbiota.

Advancements of compounds targeting Wnt and Notch signalling pathways in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer

The Wnt and Notch signalling pathways are important for maintenance of intestinal epithelial barrier integrity by intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Dysfunction of these pathways is implicated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colon cancer. The objective of this review is to summarise advancements of drugs that regulate Wnt and Notch in the treatment of IBD and colon cancer. The compositions and biological effects of Wnt and Notch modulators in both ISCs and non-ISCs are discussed. The drugs, including phytochemicals, plant extracts, probiotics and synthetic compounds, have been found to regulate Wnt and Notch signalling pathways by targeting regulatory factors (including secreted frizzled-related proteins or pathway proteins such as β-catenin and γ-secretase) to alleviate IBD and colon cancer. This review highlights the potential for targeting Wnt and Notch pathways to treat IBD and colon cancer.

Dietary Milk Fat Globule Membrane Restores Decreased Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Development and Alterations of Intestinal Flora in Infant-Formula-Fed Rat Pups

SCOPE

Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), which contains abundant polar lipids and glycoproteins, can narrow the gap in growth and development between breast-fed and infant-formula-fed babies. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of MFGM supplementation in infant formula on intestinal epithelium maturation, tight junctions, and gut colonization in rat pups.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Sprague Dawley rat pups consume one of the five diets from postnatal day 8, including rat breastfeeding (BF), infant formula (IF), and infant formula containing MFGM at 260 mg kg^-1 body weight (BW), 520 mg kg^-1 BW, or 1040 mg kg^-1 BW. Results show that MFGM supplementation in infant formula can facilitate intestinal mucosal barrier maturation via promoting intestinal proliferation and differentiation, and increasing tight junction proteins. In addition, compared with that of the IF pups, the intestinal flora composition of MFGM-supplemented pups is more similar to that of BF pups.

CONCLUSION

MFGM supplementation in infant formula can restore the intestinal development in infant-formula-fed pups, which suggests that the supplementation of MFGM in infant formula can better mimic breast milk.

Assessment of Probiotic Properties of Lactobacillus salivarius Isolated From Chickens as Feed Additives

The continued use of sub-therapeutic antibiotics as feed additives in the poultry industry improved health and growth performance. However, the resulting antibiotic resistance increasingly becomes a major threat to public health. Probiotics are promising alternatives for the antibiotics used in poultry industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the probiotic properties of Lactobacillus salivarius as feed additive in chickens. White leghorn chickens were randomly assigned to experimental groups. Effects of Lactobacillus salivarius supplementation on growth performance, resistance to Escherichia coli O78 challenge and heat-stress, and immune response after vaccinated with attenuated infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) vaccine were determined. The results showed that Lactobacillus salivarius supplementation improved growth performance, such as weight and longer shank length, increased relative weights of the immune organs and decreased concentrations of odor-causing compounds. In addition, Lactobacillus salivarius supplementation alleviated organ injury caused by Escherichia coli O78 challenge and heat stress. Furthermore, Lactobacillus salivarius results in enhanced immune response after IBDV vaccine immunization, enhanced specific antibody and IFN-γ production, and lymphocyte proliferation. Our results revealed a tremendous potential of Lactobacillus salivarius as antibiotics' substitute in poultry production.

Akkermansia muciniphila protects intestinal mucosa from damage caused by S. pullorum by initiating proliferation of intestinal epithelium

Akkermansia muciniphila, a novel mucin-degrading bacterium, has been demonstrated to prevent the development of obesity and related complications. However, whether it can protect poultry from intestinal mucosal damage by enteropathogens has never been mentioned. In this study, we found that A. muciniphila colonized in the intestine and then relieved intestinal mucosal damage in chicks caused by S. pullorum, including anatomical and morphological damage, alleviation of body weight and intestinal inflammation. The repair process activated by A. muciniphila is accompanied by an increase in the number of goblet cells in the chick’s intestine and an up-regulation of Mucin 2 and trefoil factor 2 (Tff2). In addition, we also demonstrate that A. muciniphila improved colon length, crypt depth, increased the proliferating cell nuclear antigen, with the accelerated proliferation of intestinal epithelium through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby restoring the damaged intestinal mucosa. This study suggests that A. muciniphila activates the proliferation of intestinal cells protecting the intestinal barrier, thus relieving infection with S. pullorum in chickens.