Effects of dietary supplementation of probiotic Enterococcus faecium on growth performance and gut microbiota in weaned piglets

Effects of Mink-Origin Enterococcus faecium on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Immunity, and Intestinal Microbiota of Growing Male Minks

The purpose of this experiment was to explore the effects of dietary Enterococcus faecium (EF) on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immunity, and intestinal microbiota of growing male minks. A total of 60 male Regal White minks at 12 weeks of age were randomly assigned to two groups, each with 15 replicates of two minks per replicate. The minks in two groups were fed the basal diets and the basal diets with viable Enterococcus faecium (more than 107 cfu/kg of diet), respectively. Compared with the minks in control, Enterococcus faecium minks had heavier body weight (BW) at week 4 and week 8 of the study (p < 0.05), greater average daily gain (ADG), and a lower feed/gain ratio (F/G) of male minks during the initial 4 weeks and the entire 8-week study period (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Enterococcus faecium increased the apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) and dry matter (DM) compared to the control (p < 0.05). Moreover, Enterococcus faecium enhanced the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents (p < 0.05). The results also confirmed that Enterococcus faecium increased the levels of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and the concentrations of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in the jejunal mucosa while decreasing the interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels in the jejunal mucosa (p < 0.05). Intestinal microbiota analysis revealed that Enterococcus faecium increased the species numbers at the OUT level. Compared with the control, Enterococcus faecium had significant effects on the relative abundance of Paraclostridium, Brevinema, and Comamonas (p < 0.05). The results showed that Enterococcus faecium could improve the growth performance, increase the antioxidant capacity, improve the immunity of growing male minks, and also modulate the gut microbiota.

Effects of dietary supplementation of Enterococcus faecium postbiotics on growth performance and intestinal health of growing male mink

Recent studies have demonstrated that postbiotics possess bioactivities comparable to those of probiotics. Therefore, our experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of postbiotics derived from Enterococcus faecium on the growth performance and intestinal health of growing male minks. A total of 120 growing male minks were randomly assigned to 4 groups, each with 15 replicates of 2 minks. The minks in the 4 groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0 (control), 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15% postbiotics derived from E. faecium (PEF), respectively. Compared to the control, PEF improved feed/gain (F/G) during the first 4 weeks and the entire 8 weeks of the study (p < 0.05); in addition, 0.1% PEF improved average daily gain (ADG) during the first 4 weeks and the entire 8 weeks of the study (p < 0.05), while 0.15% PEF improved ADG during the first 4 weeks of the study (p < 0.05). Consequently, 0.1% PEF minks displayed greater body weight (BW) at weeks 4 and 8 (p < 0.05), and 0.15% PEF minks had greater BW at week 4 (p < 0.05) than minks in the control. Furthermore, compared to the control, both 0.05 and 0.1% PEF enhanced the apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) (p < 0.05) in the initial 4 weeks, while both 0.1 and 0.15% PEF enhanced the apparent digestibility of CP and DM in the final 4 weeks (p < 0.05). Additionally, trypsin activity was elevated in the 0.1 and 0.15% PEF groups compared to the control (p < 0.05). In terms of intestinal morphology, PEF increased the villus height and villus/crypt (V/C) in the jejunum (p < 0.05), and both 0.1 and 0.15% PEF decreased the crypt depth and increased the villus height and V/C in the duodenum (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Supplementation with 0.1% PEF increased the SIgA levels but decreased the IL-2, IL-8, and TNF-α levels in the jejunum (p < 0.05). Compared to the control, E. faecium postbiotics decreased the relative abundances of Serratia and Fusobacterium (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results indicate that the growth performance, digestibility, immunity, and intestine development of minks are considerably affected by E. faecium postbiotics. In particular, dietary supplementation with 0.1% E. faecium postbiotics provides greater benefits than supplementation with 0.05 and 0.15%.

Elucidating the modulatory role of dietary hydroxyproline on the integrity and functional performance of the intestinal barrier in early-weaned piglets: A comprehensive analysis of its interplay with the gut microbiota and metabolites

Piglets receive far less hydroxyproline (Hyp) from a diet after weaning than they obtained from sow's milk prior to weaning, suggesting that Hyp may play a protective role in preserving intestinal mucosal homeostasis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Hyp on intestinal barrier function and its associated gut microbiota and metabolites in early-weaned piglets. Eighty weaned piglets were divided into four groups and fed diets containing different Hyp levels (0 %, 0.5 %, 1 %, or 2 %) for 21 days. Samples, including intestinal contents, tissues, and blood, were collected on day 7 for analysis of microbial composition, intestinal barrier function, and metabolites. We demonstrated that dietary supplementation with 2 % Hyp improved the feed conversion ratio and reduced the incidence of diarrhea in early-weaned piglets compared to the control group. Concurrently, Hyp enhanced intestinal barrier function by facilitating tight junction protein (zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and occludin) expression and mucin production in the jejunal, ileal, and colonic mucosas. It also improved mucosal immunity (by increasing the amount of secretory IgA (sIgA) and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes and decreasing NF-κB phosphorylation) and increased antioxidant capacity (by raising total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and glutathione levels) in the intestinal mucosa. In addition, Hyp supplementation resulted in an increase in the levels of glycine, glutathione, and glycine-conjugated bile acids, while decreasing the concentrations of cortisol and methionine sulfoxide in plasma. Intriguingly, piglets fed diet containing Hyp exhibited a remarkable increase in the abundance of probiotic Enterococcus faecium within their colonic contents. This elevation occurred alongside an attenuation of pro-inflammatory responses and an enhancement in intestinal barrier integrity. Further, these changes were accompanied by a rise in anti-inflammatory metabolites, specifically glycochenodeoxycholic acid and guanosine, along with a suppression of pro-inflammatory lipid peroxidation products, including (12Z)-9,10-dihydroxyoctadec-12-enoic acid (9,10-DHOME) and 13-L-hydroperoxylinoleic acid (13(S)-HPODE). In summary, Hyp holds the capacity to enhance the intestinal barrier function in weaned piglets; this effect is correlated with changes in the gut microbiota and metabolites. Our findings provide novel insights into the role of Hyp in maintaining gut homeostasis, highlighting its potential as a dietary supplement for promoting intestinal health in early-weaned piglets.

Exploring choices of early nutritional support for patients with sepsis based on changes in intestinal microecology

BACKGROUND

Sepsis exacerbates intestinal microecological disorders leading to poor prognosis. Proper modalities of nutritional support can improve nutrition, immunity, and intestinal microecology.

AIM

To identify the optimal modality of early nutritional support for patients with sepsis from the perspective of intestinal microecology.

METHODS

Thirty patients with sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, China, between 2019 and 2021 with indications for nutritional support, were randomly assigned to one of three different modalities of nutritional support for a total of 5 d: Total enteral nutrition (TEN group), total parenteral nutrition (TPN group), and supplemental parenteral nutrition (SPN group). Blood and stool specimens were collected before and after nutritional support, and changes in gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and immune and nutritional indicators were detected and compared among the three groups.

RESULTS

In comparison with before nutritional support, the three groups after nutritional support presented: (1) Differences in the gut bacteria (Enterococcus increased in the TEN group, Campylobacter decreased in the TPN group, and Dialister decreased in the SPN group; all P < 0.05); (2) different trends in SCFAs (the TEN group showed improvement except for Caproic acid, the TPN group showed improvement only for acetic and propionic acid, and the SPN group showed a decreasing trend); (3) significant improvement of the nutritional and immunological indicators in the TEN and SPN groups, while only immunoglobulin G improved in the TPN group (all P < 0.05); and (4) a significant correlation was found between the gut bacteria, SCFAs, and nutritional and immunological indicators (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

TEN is recommended as the preferred mode of early nutritional support in sepsis based on clinical nutritional and immunological indicators, as well as changes in intestinal microecology.

Integrative Multiomics Analysis of the Heat Stress Response of Enterococcus faecium

A continuous heat-adaptation test was conducted for one Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) strain wild-type (WT) RS047 to obtain a high-temperature-resistant strain. After domestication, the strain was screened with a significantly higher ability of heat resistance. which is named RS047-wl. Then a multi-omics analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics was used to analyze the mechanism of the heat resistance of the mutant. A total of 98 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 115 differential metabolites covering multiple metabolic processes were detected in the mutant, which indicated that the tolerance of heat resistance was regulated by multiple mechanisms. The changes in AgrB, AgrC, and AgrA gene expressions were involved in quorum-sensing (QS) system pathways, which regulate biofilm formation. Second, highly soluble osmotic substances such as putrescine, spermidine, glycine betaine (GB), and trehalose-6P were accumulated for the membrane transport system. Third, organic acids metabolism and purine metabolism were down-regulated. The findings can provide target genes for subsequent genetic modification of E. faecium, and provide indications for screening heat-resistant bacteria, so as to improve the heat-resistant ability of E. faecium for production.

Gut microbial shifts by synbiotic combination of Pediococcus acidilactici and lactulose in weaned piglets challenged with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli

Development of alternatives to in-feed antibiotics in the swine industry have been the focused of many pig gut microbiota studies to improve animal health. In this study, we evaluated the effects of probiotic Pediococcus acidilactici (PRO), prebiotic lactulose (PRE), and their synbiotic combination (SYN) on gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing in weaned piglets challenged with Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Our data showed that prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics improved the intestinal health in weaned piglets. No significant differences were observed in species richness and species diversity in weaned piglets fed prebiotics, probiotics and their synbiotic combination. However, beta diversity analysis revealed distinct clustering of the microbiota of according to dietary treatment and by oral challenge of STEC. At the phylum level, Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio was lower in the dietary treatment groups than the control group. Oral supplementation of prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics enriched the abundance of Prevotella and Roseburia. Succinivibrio was elevated in PRO group; however, Phascolarctobacterium was depleted with STEC challenge regardless of dietary treatment. Overall, our data showed that administration of synbiotics in piglets improved intestinal health through gut microbiota modulation. Our data indicated that prebiotics, probiotics and their synbiotic combination could promote intestinal health through gut microbiota modulation in weaned piglets.

Tracing enterococci persistence along a pork production chain from feed to food in China

The prevalence and transmission of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) in enterococci being as probiotics has been neglected in the scientific literature. The application of enterococci in feed, food and health products may cause VRE transmission through the food chain. This study evaluated phenotypic resistance of Enterococcus species to 20 antibiotics along a pork production chain from feed to food. It also assessed the genetic diversity of Enterococcus faecium isolates. A total of 510 samples (feed, n = 70; swine manure, n = 400; swine carcasses, n = 20, and retail pork, n = 20) were collected in Beijing, China. A total of 328 enterococci isolates with 275 E. faecium and 53 Enterococcus faecalis were identified using 16 S rRNA. Antimicrobial susceptibility to all enterococci isolates was conducted using the K–B method for 20 antibiotics from 9 categories. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was conducted on the E. faecium isolates to survey the dissemination of enterococci in the pig industry. The results showed that only 26 enterococci isolates were sensitive to the 20 antibiotics, while half of the isolates (164/328) had acquired multi-drug resistance. The resistant rate to furazolidone was 68.60%, followed by 42.99% to tetracycline. One vancomycin-resistant E. faecium isolates were isolated from feed origin and 2 from manure origin, with minimum inhibitory concentrations to vancomycin of 1,024, 64, and 64 μg/mL, respectively. The MLST outcomes showed that the 275 E. faecium isolates belonged to 11 sequence types (ST) including ST40, ST60, ST94, ST160, ST178, ST296, ST361, ST695, ST726, ST812 and ST1014. The ST of the feed-sourced VRE was ST1014, while the 2 manure-sourced VRE was ST69. ST1014 evolved from ST78, which was the dominant clonal complex in most cities of China, leading to the spreading of VRE. These findings revealed the potential safety hazards of commercial probiotic enterococci in China and showed that there is a risk of the VRE horizontally transferring from feed to food.

Maximum levels of cross-contamination for 24 antimicrobial active substances in non-target feed. Part 12: Tetracyclines: tetracycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, and doxycycline

The specific concentrations of tetracycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline and doxycycline in non-target feed for food-producing animals, below which there would not be an effect on the emergence of, and/or selection for, resistance in bacteria relevant for human and animal health, as well as the specific antimicrobial concentrations in feed which have an effect in terms of growth promotion/increased yield were assessed by EFSA in collaboration with EMA. Details of the methodology used for this assessment, associated data gaps and uncertainties are presented in a separate document. To address antimicrobial resistance, the Feed Antimicrobial Resistance Selection Concentration (FARSC) model developed specifically for the assessment was applied. The FARSC for these four tetracyclines was estimated. To address growth promotion, data from scientific publications obtained from an extensive literature review were used. Levels in feed that showed to have an effect on growth promotion/increased yield were reported for tetracycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, whilst for doxycycline no suitable data for the assessment were available. Uncertainties and data gaps associated with the levels reported were addressed. It was recommended to perform further studies to supply more diverse and complete data related to the requirements for calculation of the FARSC for these antimicrobials.

Probiotics for the Management of Sepsis: Advances in Animal Models and Intensive Care Unit Environments

Sepsis frequently leads to multiple organ failure and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Although intensive care protocols and antibiotic therapy have improved sepsis treatment, specific management is lacking with respect to efficient protection from tissue damage and long-term outcomes. Probiotics are live microbes that modulate the immune system and inflammation and colonize the gut. In this narrative review, we have traced the evolution of the administration of probiotics in an animal model of sepsis and treatment alternatives in the intensive care unit setting. First, probiotics are categorized by species before describing their modulation of the microbiota, repair of tissue-specific damage, immune response, and molecular pathways to prevent complications. The impact on therapy for infant and adult patients is also addressed. Finally, we have emphasized the challenges and gaps in current studies as well as future perspectives for further investigation. The present review can open up avenues for new strategies that employ promising probiotic strains for the treatment of sepsis and discusses their ability to prevent disease-associated long-term complications.

Enterococcus hirae WEHI01 isolated from a healthy Chinese infant ameliorates the symptoms of type 2 diabetes by elevating the abundance of Lactobacillales in rats

Enterococcus hirae WEHI01 is a potential probiotic strain isolated from a healthy Chinese infant. This strain has previously been characterized as having cholesterol-lowering potential and good dairy fermentation performance. In this study, we used rat models with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induced by a high fat and sucrose diet and low-dose streptozotocin, respectively, and we evaluated the effect of E. hirae WEHI01 on glycolipid metabolism, glycolipid-related gene expression, organ histopathology, and intestinal flora changes in the 2 models. Our results showed that administration of 5.0 × 10⁹ cfu of E. hirae WEHI01 for 4 wk decreased serum lipid levels and regulated glycolipid metabolism in the liver of obese rats. Following continuous administration of the same concentration of E. hirae WEHI01 to a T2DM rat model for another 5 wk, E. hirae WEHI01 improved glucose tolerance, recovered body weight loss, and led to significant decreases in tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, IL-10, and total bile acid in serum. We also found that E. hirae WEHI01 restored the morphology of the pancreas, kidney, and liver, and changed the composition of the gut microbiota (i.e., decreased the Shannon index, increased the Simpson index, and substantially increased the abundance of Lactobacillales). Combining the results for the obese model and the T2DM model, we speculated that beneficial effects of E. hirae WEHI01 on T2DM could be due to (1) a significant increase in PPARA expression and a tendency for increased CYP7A1 expression in the liver of obese rats, promoting the conversion of cholesterol into bile acid and reducing serum total bile acid levels in T2DM model rats; or (2) a change in gut microbial diversity, especially elevated Lactobacillales abundance, which reduced the total bile acid in T2DM model rats. These results demonstrated that E. hirae WEHI01 has the potential to ameliorate type 2 diabetes in rats and provide a promising rationale for further research into the prevention and treatment of T2DM.

Positive effects of dietary supplementation of three probiotics on milk yield, milk composition and intestinal flora in Sannan dairy goats varied in kind of probiotics

In this study, we investigated the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), Bacillus subtilis (BS) and Enterococcus faecalis (EF), singly and in combination, on the dry matter intake (DMI), milk production and composition, and faecal microflora of Saanen dairy goats. Fifty goats were randomly divided into five groups: (a) basal diet (control); (b) basal diet + SC; (c) basal diet + BS; (d) basal diet + EF; and (e) basal diet + mixed probiotics. Each treated animal received 5 g/d of probiotics for a total administration of 5 × 1,011 CFU/goat per day. The inclusion of B. subtilis and E. faecalis in the diet of lactating Saanen goats increased DMI (p < .05). Enhanced milk yield was observed with BS and EF. Milk fat percentage was significantly increased by feeding mixed probiotics compared with the control (p < .05); supplying SC, BS and mixed probiotics enhanced the protein percentage (p < .05). The milk lactose percentage in the SC and BS groups was higher than in the control (p < .05). The amount of milk total solids was higher after feeding EF or mixed probiotics than in the control group (p < .05). Non-fat solids showed no notable differences among groups (p > .05). There was no significant influence on gut bacterial abundance and diversity from adding these three probiotics, singly or in combination. Bacteroidales, Escherichia-Shigella and Christensenellaceae abundances were decreased by supplying these probiotics but Succinivibrionaceae increased. In conclusion, there were positive influences of probiotic feed supplementation on intake, milk performance and intestinal microecology.

Comprehensive Understanding of the Bacterial Populations and Metabolites Profile of Fermented Feed by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The comprehensive bacterial populations and metabolites profile in fermented feed is unclear, which may have significant effects on the stability of fermented feed quality and animal gut health. In this study, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry were used to explore the bacterial populations and metabolites profile in the fermented feed incubated with probiotics (MF) or without probiotics (SF). The probiotics were a combination of Lactobacillus salivarius, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The pH and lactic acid levels were higher in MF than in SF (P < 0.05), while the total volatile fatty acid content was lower (P < 0.05). Interestingly, after fermentation, the most abundant bacterial genus in MF was Enterococcus, rather than the added probiotics Lactobacillus or Bacillus. Weissella and a few potential pathogens (Enterobacter, Escherichia-Shigella, and Pantoea) were dominant in SF (P < 0.05). Metabolomics analysis identified 32 different metabolites in the two types of fermented feed. These metabolites enriched in MF, such as maleic acid, phenylacetic acid, ethyl linoleate, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, and L-theanine had potential antimicrobial activities. Conclusively, the addition of probiotics enriched a few potentially beneficial microbes and small molecular compounds with antimicrobial activities, and inhibited the potential pathogens in fermented feed.

The interaction between microbiome and pig efficiency: A review

The existence of genetic control over the abundance of particular taxa and the link of these to energy balance and growth has been documented in model organisms and humans as well as several livestock species. Preliminary evidence of the same mechanisms is currently under investigation in pigs. Future research should expand these results and elicit the extent of genetic control of the gut microbiome population in swine and its relationship with growth efficiency. The quest for a more efficient pig at the interface between the host and its metagenome rests on the central hypothesis that the gut microbiome is an essential component of the variability of growth in all living organisms. Swine do not escape this general rule, and the identification of the significance of the interaction between host and its gut microbiota in the growth process could be a game-changer in the achievement of sustainable and efficient lean meat production. Standard sampling protocols, sequencing techniques, bioinformatic pipelines and methods of analysis will be paramount for the portability of results across experiments and populations. Likewise, characterizing and accounting for temporal and spatial variability will be a necessary step if microbiome is to be utilized routinely as an aid to selection.