Different Responses of Microbiota across Intestinal Tract to Enterococcus faecium HDRsEf1 and Their Correlation with Inflammation in Weaned Piglets

Mineral interactions in lactating sows: evaluating oxidative stress and productivity during heat stress

This study investigated the effects of dietary minerals at different levels on reproductive performance of lactating sows during high ambient temperature. The sows were divided into eight treatments according to a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement including two levels of Zn and Cu (ZC100, 100 mg/kg of Zn, and 20 mg/kg Cu; ZC150, 150 mg/kg of Zn and 25 mg/kg Cu) and four levels of Fe, Mn, and Se (FMS; 80 mg/kg Fe, 25 mg/kg Mn, 0.15 mg/kg Se; FMS150, 120 mg/kg Fe, 37.5 mg/kg Mn, 0.225 mg/kg Se; FMS200, 160 mg/kg Fe, 50 mg/kg Mn, 0.30 mg/kg Se; and FMS300, 240 mg/kg Fe, 75 mg/kg Mn, 0.45 mg/kg Se). The serum composition showed higher Se, Mn, and Fe levels in the FMS200 and FMS300 compared with the FMS. A decrease in serum Zn levels was observed in the FMS200 and FMS300 compared with the FMS. A lower loss of both BW and backfat during lactation was observed in the FMS300 and FMS200 compared with NRC and FMS150. An increase in piglet survivability was observed in the FMS200 group compared to the FMS150 and NRC groups. Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Mn-SOD were increased in the FMS200 and FMS300 compared with the FMS. An increase in Se, Mn, and Fe levels in the milk was observed in the FMS200 and FMS300 compared with the FMS. The abundance of Proteobacteria phylum and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 genus were higher in the NRC group than in the FMS300 group. In conclusion, increased Fe, Mn, and Se in sow diets reduced weight loss and raised antioxidant levels, however, the observed reduction of Zn in serum and a tendency for lower Zn in milk raises concerns about potential repercussions for litter growth.

Study on the ameliorative effect of marine fungus Hansfordia sinuosae extracellular polysaccharide on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis and depression-like behavior

Colitis has become a public health problem in recent years due to its high incidence rate. The extracellular polysaccharides produced by microorganisms were reported to possess the ability to alleviate colitis. A mannan (HPA) was isolated from the fermented broth of the marine fungus Hansfordia sinuosae, and its effect on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) was investigated in vivo. The results showed that HPA could relieve the disease symptoms and colon pathological injury of UC mice. Further mechanism analysis indicated that HPA repressed the level of NLRP3 inflammasome and inflammatory mediators TNF-α and IL-1β, and promoted the production of IL-10. HPA repaired the colonic barrier by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin, as well as the number of goblet cells. It also restored the imbalance of the gut microbiota caused by DSS treatment by enhancing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Clostridia UCG-014 and Bifidobacterium, while reducing the abundance of potentially harmful bacteria like Escherichia-Shigella and Enterococcus. Besides, HPA relieved the depression-like behavior of UC mice by inhibiting inflammatory response and activation of astrocyte and microglia in brain tissues. In short, HPA had the potential to be developed as functional foods or drugs for the treatment of colitis and accompanied depression-like behavior.

Bile acids alleviate intestinal inflammation by modulating gut microbiota composition in LPS-challenged broilers

Previous research has identified bile acids (BAs) as a valuable supplement for animal feed, especially in the poultry industry. However, there is limited research on the use of bile acids as a preventative measure against intestinal inflammation in broilers. This study aims to investigate the impact of dietary BAs on LPS-triggered intestinal inflammation in broilers. 180 Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into four group: (1) broilers receiving a standard diet (Con group); (2) broilers from the Con category subjected to LPS challenge (LPS group); (3) broilers on a diet supplemented with BAs compound and exposed to LPS (BA+LPS group); and (4) broilers on a diet enriched with lithocholic acid (LCA) and challenged with LPS (LCA + LPS group).The results showed that the LPS challenge caused a notable rise in liver mass, plasma AST concentrations, and levels of inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.05). BAs compounds or LCA improved intestinal morphological damage, inflammation response and bile acid metabolism (P < 0.05). Furthermore, analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that supplementation with BAs compounds or LCA mitigated the reduction in bacterial diversity, while also increasing the abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) associated with Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium. Additionally, the increased abundance of Candidatus_Arthromitus due to BAs compound or LCA supplementation showed a significant negative correlation with the concentrations of intestinal inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the supplementation of BAs compound or LCA has the potential to alleviate intestinal inflammation and regulate gut microbiota in broilers subjected to LPS challenge.

Plant-Derived Polysaccharides Benefit Weaned Piglets by Regulating Intestinal Microbiota: A Review

The intestine harbors a community of bacteria that is intestinal microbiota, which is a complex and highly diverse community. This review discusses the gut microbiota in piglets, including the role of intestinal homeostasis in maintaining piglet health and the various factors that influence gut microbiota. Nutritional interventions, particularly the supplementation of plant-derived polysaccharides, including dietary fiber, for weaned piglets have been shown to enhance the abundance and colonization of beneficial intestinal microbes, reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal infections, and decrease the frequency of diarrhea, thereby improving gut health and growth performance. In this context, various polysaccharides, such as those derived from Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa), Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (licorice), and Lycium barbarum L. (wolfberry), Panax ginseng C.A. Mey. (ginseng), and Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge (astragalus) has demonstrated significant success. Additionally, dietary fibers such as inulin, pectin, beta-glucans, gums, cellulose, resistant starch, and starch derivatives have shown potential in regulating the gastrointestinal microbiota. Research has also explored the correlation between the structural characteristics of dietary polysaccharides and their biological activities. This review will pave the way for the development and utilization of plant-derived polysaccharides as effective non-antibiotic alternatives to restore gut microbial balance in weaning piglets.

Dietary 5-hydroxytryptophan supplementation improves growth performance and intestinal health of weaned piglets

This study investigated the effects of dietary 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) supplementation on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), blood profile, intestinal morphology, transcriptomics, and microbial composition in weaned piglets. A total of twenty-four 28-day-old weaned piglets (Landrace × Large Yorkshire, 8.28 ± 1.09 kg) were randomly divided into 3 dietary treatments with 8 replicates. The dietary treatments include basal diet (CON), CON diet containing 250 or 500 mg/kg 5-HTP. The results revealed that supplementation with 250 mg/kg 5-HTP significantly increased (P < 0.05) the average daily gain (ADG) and resulted in a lower (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR), while also decreased (P < 0.05) the diarrhea rate compared to the CON group. The ATTD of crude protein (CP) was lower in the 500 mg/kg group (P < 0.05) compared with the 250 mg/kg group. Furthermore, supplementation with 5-HTP led to significantly increased (P < 0.05) plasma albumin (ALB) and total protein (TP). In addition, supplementation with 5-HTP, particularly in the 250 mg/kg group, significantly increased (P < 0.05) serum serotonin (5-HT), growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, and improved the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum and ileum. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that the majority of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by 5-HTP were related to digestion and immunity in the ileum, and 5-HTP enhanced (P < 0.05) intestinal glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), solute carrier family 1 member 1 (SLC1A1) and solute carrier family 7 member 7 (SLC7A7) mRNA expression in weaned piglets. Furthermore, supplementation with 250 mg/kg 5-HTP increased (P < 0.05) abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteriota, Lachnospiracea, Ruminococcaceae and Megasphaera and decreased (P < 0.05) abundance of Spirochaetes and Treponema. Collectively, the study demonstrated that 5-HTP supplementation, particularly at 250 mg/kg, positively impacted growth performance, gut health, and microbiome composition in weaned piglets. These findings suggest the potential of using 5-HTP as a dietary supplement to enhance the health and productivity of weaned piglets.

Antrodia camphorata Supplementation during Early Life Alters Gut Microbiota and Inhibits Young-Onset Intestinal Tumorigenesis in APC1638N Mice Later in Life

Young-onset colorectal cancer is an increasing concern worldwide due to the growing prevalence of Westernized lifestyles in childhood and adolescence. Environmental factors during early life, particularly early-life nutrition, significantly contribute to the increasing incidence. Recently, there have been reports of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammation and anti-cancer, of a unique fungus (Antrodia camphorate, AC) native to Taiwan. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of AC supplementation in early life on the development of young-onset intestinal tumorigenesis. APC1638N mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HF) at 4-12 weeks of age, which is equivalent to human childhood/adolescence, before switching to a normal maintenance diet for an additional 12 weeks up to 24 weeks of age, which is equivalent to young to middle adulthood in humans. Our results showed that the body weight in the HF groups significantly increased after 8 weeks of feeding (p < 0.05). Following a switch to a normal maintenance diet, the change in body weight persisted. AC supplementation significantly suppressed tumor incidence and multiplicity in females (p < 0.05) and reduced IGF-1 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling (p < 0.05). Moreover, it altered the gut microbiota, suppressed inflammatory responses, and created a microenvironment towards suppressing tumorigenesis later in life.

Modulation of Gut Microbial Community and Metabolism by Bacillus licheniformis HD173 Promotes the Growth of Nursery Piglets Model

Maintaining the balance and stability of the gut microbiota is crucial for the gut health and growth development of humans and animals. Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) has been reported to be beneficial to the gut health of humans and animals, whereas the probiotic effects of a new strain, B. licheniformis HD173, remain uncertain. In this study, nursery piglets were utilized as animal models to investigate the extensive impact of B. licheniformis HD173 on gut microbiota, metabolites, and host health. The major findings were that this probiotic enhanced the growth performance and improved the health status of the nursery piglets. Specifically, it reduced the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α in the serum while increasing the level of IL-10 and SOD. In the gut, B. licheniformis HD173 reduced the abundance of pathogenic bacteria such as Mycoplasma, Vibrio, and Vibrio metschnikovii, while it increased the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria, including Oscillospira, Coprococcus, and Roseburia faecis, leading to an enhanced production of butyric acid. Furthermore, B. licheniformis HD173 effectively improved the gut metabolic status, enabling the gut microbiota to provide the host with stronger metabolic abilities for nutrients. In summary, these findings provide scientific evidence for the utilization of B. licheniformis HD173 in the development and production of probiotic products for maintaining gut health in humans and animals.

Causal effects of gut microbiota on the risk of urinary tract stones: A bidirectional two-sample mendelian randomization study

Background

Recent studies increasingly suggest notable changes in both the quantity and types of gut microbiota among individuals suffering from urinary tract stones. However, the causal relationship between GMB and urinary tract stone formation remains elusive, which we aim to further investigate in this research through Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis.

Materials and methods

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the human GMB were selected from MiBioGen International Consortium GWAS dataset. Data on urinary tract stone-related traits and associated SNPs were sourced from the IEU Open GWAS database. To investigate the causal relationships between gut microbiota and urinary tract stones, Mendelian Randomization (MR) was applied using genetic variants as instrumental variables, utilizing a bidirectional two-sample MR framework. This analysis incorporated various statistical techniques such as inverse variance weighting, weighted median analysis, MR-Egger, and the maximum likelihood method. To ensure the reliability of the findings, a range of sensitivity tests were conducted, including Cochran's Q test, the MR-Egger intercept, leave-one-out cross-validation, and examination of funnel plots.

Results

The results revealed the causal relationship between the increase in the abundance of 10 microbial taxa, including Genus-Barnesiella (IVW OR = 0.73, 95%CI 0.73-0.89, P = 2.29 × 10-3) and Genus-Flavonifractor (IVW OR = 0.69, 95%CI 0.53-0.91, P = 8.57 × 10-3), and the decreased risk of urinary tract stone formation. Conversely, the development of urinary tract stones was observed to potentially instigate alterations in the abundance of 13 microbial taxa, among which Genus-Ruminococcus torques group was notably affected (IVW OR = 1.07, 95%CI 0.64-0.98, P = 1.86 × 10-3). In this context, Genus-Clostridium sensustricto1 exhibited a bidirectional causal relationship with urinary tract stones, while the remaining significant microbial taxa demonstrated unidirectional causal effects in the two-sample MR analysis. Sensitivity analyses did not identify significant estimates of heterogeneity or pleiotropy.

Conclusion

To summarize, the results of this study suggest a likely causative link between gut microbiota and the incidence of urinary tract stones. This insight opens up potential pathways for discovering biomarkers and therapeutic targets in the management and prevention of urolithiasis. However, further in-depth research is warranted to investigate these associations.

Gut Biogeography Accentuates Sex-Related Differences in the Murine Microbiome

Recent studies have highlighted the influence of factors such as sex and sex-linked hormones on microbiome composition, raising concerns about the generalizability of findings. Here, we explore whether gut geography, specifically the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract (GI), contributes to sex-linked microbiome differences in mice. We collected microbial samples throughout the length of the GI from male and female C57B6/J mice at 6- and 8-weeks old, and conducted 16S rRNA sequencing. Our findings revealed significant sex-related differences, with Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 more abundant in the male colon, while females exhibited higher levels of Dubosiella newyorkensis across all organs at 6 weeks. We also observed decreased Shannon alpha diversity in the small intestine compared to the lower GI, and this diversity decreased further at 8 weeks. Interestingly, our results suggest that age mitigates sex-related, but not gut geography-related differences in beta diversity, with implications for experimental outcomes and treatment strategies. This study underscores the dynamic nature of microbial diversity, influenced by sex, age, and GI localization, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive understanding of microbiome dynamics in experimental research and clinical interventions.

Integrated Microbiome and Metabolomics Analysis of the Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Corn-Steep-Liquor-Derived Candida utilis Feed on Black Pigs

In this experiment, glucose master liquor and corn steep liquor were used as carbon and nitrogen sources, and Candida utilis was used as a strain to ferment yeast feed. The OD value and number of yeast cells were used as response values to optimize the medium components of the yeast feed through a response surface methodology. The optimal medium components were a glucose master liquor concentration of 8.3%, a corn steep liquor concentration of 1.2%, and a KH2PO4 concentration of 0.14%. Under this condition of fermentation, the OD value was 0.670 and the number of yeast cells was 2.72 × 108/mL. Then, we fed Candida utilis feed to Dongliao black piglets, and the effects of the yeast feed on the piglets' growth performance, fecal microbiota, and plasma metabolic levels were investigated through 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomics. In total, 120 black piglets with an average initial weight of 6.90 ± 1.28 kg were randomly divided into two groups. One group was fed the basic diet (the CON group), and the other was supplemented with 2.5% Candida utilis add to the basic diet (the 2.5% CU group). After a pre-feeding period, the formal experiments were performed for 21 days. The results showed that the addition of Candida utilis to the diet did not affect growth performance compared with the control group. Meanwhile, no significant differences were observed in the serum biochemical indices. However, piglets in the 2.5% CU group had a significantly altered fecal microbiota, with an increased abundance of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Lactobacillus, and Muribaculaceae_unclassified. Regarding the plasma metabolome, the 12 differential metabolites detected were mainly enriched in the histidine, tryptophan, primary bile acid, and caffeine metabolic pathways. Regarding the integrated microbiome-metabolome analysis, differential metabolites correlated with fecal flora to variable degrees, but most of them were beneficial bacteria of Firmicutes. Collectively, dietary Candida utilis feed had no adverse effect on growth performance; however, it played an important role in regulating fecal flora and maintaining metabolic levels.

Intestinal Microbiomics and Metabolomics Insights into the Hepatoprotective Effects of Lactobacillus paracasei CCFM1222 Against the Acute Liver Injury in Mice

In recent years, acute liver injury (ALI) has received wide-range attention in the world due to its relatively high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to explore the hepatoprotective effect of Lactobacillus paracasei CCFM1222 against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI mice and further elaborate its mechanism of action from the perspective of intestinal microbiomics and metabolomics. The results displayed that L. paracasei CCFM1222 pretreatment significantly decreased the serum ALT, and AST levels, inhibited the releases of hepatic TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels, and activated the SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px activities in LPS-treated mice. The cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) levels were increased in LPS-treated mice with L. paracasei CCFM1222 pretreatment. In addition, L. paracasei CCFM1222 pretreatment remarkably shifted the intestinal microbiota composition, including the higher abundance of Faecalibaculum, Bifidobacterium, and lower abundance of the Prevotellaceae NK3B31 group, which is positively associated with the cecal propionic, butyric, valeric, isobutyric, and isovaleric acids. The metabolomics based on UPLC-QTOF/MS revealed that L. paracasei CCFM1222 pretreatment significantly regulated the composition of feces metabolites in LPS-treated mice, especially the potential biomarker-related butanoate metabolism, vitamin B6 metabolism, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, caffeine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, arginine, and proline metabolism. Moreover, L. paracasei CCFM1222 pretreatment remarkably regulated the expression of gene-associated ALI (including Tlr4, Myd88, Nf-kβ, iNOS, Cox2, Iκ-Bα, Nrf2, and Sirt-1). In conclusion, these results suggest the possibility that L. paracasei CCFM1222 supplementation has beneficial effects on preventing the occurrence and development of ALI by inhibiting the inflammatory responses and altering intestinal microbiota composition and their metabolites.

Dietary supplementation with Chinese herb ultrafine powder improves intestinal morphology and physical barrier function by altering jejunal microbiota in laying hens

Introduction

Chinese medicinal herbs play important roles in anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. However, the effects of Chinese herb ultrafine powder (CHUP) on laying hens still need to be elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary CHUP supplementation on jejunal morphology, physical barrier function, and microbiota in laying hens.

Methods

A total of 576 Xinyang black-feather laying hens (300 days old) were randomly assigned into eight groups, with eight replicates per group and nine hens per replicate. The hens were fed a basal diet (control group) and a basal diet supplemented with 0.5% Leonuri herba (LH group), 0.25% Ligustri lucidi fructus (LF group), 0.25% Taraxaci herba (TH group), 0.5% LH + 0.25% LF (LH-LF group), 0.5% LH + 0.25% TH (LH-TH group), 0.25% LF + 0.25% TH (LF-TH group), and 0.5% LH + 0.25% LF + 0.25% TH (LH-LF-TH group), respectively, for 120 days.

Results

The results showed that dietary LH-LF and LH-LF-TH supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the jejunal villus height to crypt depth ratio of laying hens. Dietary LF-TH supplementation up-regulated jejunal claudin-5 expression, while LH supplementation up-regulated jejunal claudin-1 expression and increased the jejunal abundances of potentially beneficial bacteria related to short-chain fatty acids and bacteriocins production, such as Blautia, Carnobacterium, Clostridiales, and Erysipelotrichales (p < 0.05). In addition, dietary LH supplementation enriched (p < 0.05) the tetracycline biosynthesis, butirosin/neomycin biosynthesis, and D-arginine/D-ornithine metabolism, whereas steroid biosynthesis and limonene/pinene degradation were enriched (p < 0.05) in the LH-LF and LH-LF-TH groups. Moreover, Spearman's correlation analysis revealed the potential correlation between the abundance of the jejunal microbiota and jejunal morphology and the physical barrier function of laying hens.

Discussion

Collectively, these findings suggest that dietary CHUP supplementation could enhance the beneficial bacteria abundance, physical barrier function, and metabolic function associated with short-chain fatty acids and bacteriocins production. Moreover, combined supplementation of dietary CHUP showed better effects than the sole CHUP supplementation.

Dietary Supplementation with Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis S6 Improves Intestinal Integrity via Modulating Intestinal Barrier Function and Microbial Diversity in Weaned Piglets

Bacillus licheniformis (B. Licheniformis) has been considered to be an effective probiotic to maintain gut health and boost productivity in the pig industry, but there is no complete understanding of its mechanisms. We determined whether weaned piglets exposed to BL-S6 (probiotic) had altered intestinal barrier function or microbiota composition. In our study, 108 weaned piglets (54 barrows and 54 gilts) were divided equally into three groups, each with six pens and six piglets/pen, and fed a basal diet supplemented without or with antibiotic (40 g/t of Virginiamycin and 500 g/t of Chlortetracycline) or probiotic (1000 g/t of B. Licheniformis) for a 14-day trial. On day 14, one piglet was chosen from each pen to collect blood and intestinal samples. Compared with the control group, dietary supplementation with a probiotic promoted body weight (BW) gain and average daily gains (ADG) while reducing diarrhea incidence (p < 0.05). Probiotics enhanced superoxidase dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum (p < 0.05), and increased the level of mRNA expression of SOD1, Nrf2, and HO-1 (p < 0.05) in the jejunum mucosa. Moreover, supplementation with probiotics improved intestinal mucosal integrity as evidenced by higher villus heights and a higher ratio of villus heights to crypt depths (duodenum and jejunum) and higher mRNA and protein levels of occludin and ZO-1 in jejunum mucosa (p < 0.05). The intestinal sIgA levels (p < 0.05) were elevated in the probiotic group, and that of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) tended to be higher (p = 0.09). Furthermore, weaning piglets who were given probiotics had a better balance of the cecum microbiota, with lactobacillus abundance increased and clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 abundance decreased. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with the probiotic BL-S6 promoted intestinal integrity, which was associated, in part, with modulating intestinal barrier function and microbial diversity in weaned piglets; it may offer a promising alternative to antibiotics to prevent diarrhea.

The Effect of an Essential Oil Blend on Growth Performance, Intestinal Health, and Microbiota in Early-Weaned Piglets

Essential oils (EO) are promising feed additives for their antibacterial, antioxidant, and immune-enhancing abilities with low toxicity. Carvacrol, thymol, and cinnamaldehyde are commonly used to synthesize EO. However, few studies focus on combining these three EO in early-weaned piglets. In the present study, 24 piglets weaned at 21 d of age were randomly divided into 2 groups (6 replicate pens per group, 2 piglets per pen). The piglets were fed a basal diet (the control group) and a basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg EO (a blend consisting of carvacrol, thymol, and cinnamaldehyde, the EO group) for 28 days. At the end of the experiment, one piglet per pen was randomly chosen to be sacrificed. Growth performance, hematology, plasma biochemical indices, antioxidant capacity, intestinal epithelial development and immunity, colonic volatile fatty acids (VFA), and microbiota were determined. The results indicated that the diet supplemented with EO significantly improved average daily feed intake (ADFI, p < 0.01) and average daily gain (ADG, p < 0.05) in the day 0 to 28 period. EO supplementation led to a significant decrease in plasma lysozyme (p < 0.05) and cortisol levels (p < 0.01). Additionally, EO significantly promoted jejunal goblet cells in the villus, jejunal mucosa ZO-1 mRNA expression, ileal villus height, and ileal villus height/crypt depth ratio in piglets (p < 0.05). The ileal mucosal TLR4 and NFκB p-p65/p65 protein expression were significantly inhibited in the EO group (p < 0.05). Colonic digesta microbiota analysis revealed that bacteria involving the Erysipelotrichaceae family, Holdemanella genus, Phascolarctobacterium genus, and Vibrio genus were enriched in the EO group. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the EO blend improves ADG and ADFI in the day 0 to 28 period, as well as intestinal epithelial development and intestinal immunity in early-weaned piglets, which provides a theoretical basis for the combined use of EO in weaned piglets.

Physicochemical Properties and Bacterial Community Profiling of Optimal Mahewu (A Fermented Food Product) Prepared Using White and Yellow Maize with Different Inocula

Mahewu is a fermented food product from maize, commonly consumed in Southern Africa. This study investigated the effect of optimizing fermentation (time and temperature) and boiling time of white maize (WM) and yellow maize (YM) mahewu, with the use of the Box–Behnken-response surface methodology (RSM). Fermentation time and temperature as well as boiling time were optimized and pH, total titratable acidity (TTA) and total soluble solids (TSS) determined. Results obtained showed that the processing conditions significantly (p ≤ 0.05) influenced the physicochemical properties. pH values of the mahewu samples ranged between 3.48–5.28 and 3.50–4.20 for YM mahewu and WM mahewu samples, respectively. Reduction in pH values after fermentation coincided with an increase in TTA as well as changes in the TSS values. Using the numerical multi-response optimisation of three investigated responses the optimal fermentation conditions were observed to be 25 °C for 54 h and a boiling time of 19 min for white maize mahewu and 29 °C for 72 h and a boiling time of 13 min for yellow maize mahewu. Thereafter white and yellow maize mahewu were prepared with the optimized conditions using different inocula (sorghum malt flour, wheat flour, millet malt flour or maize malt flour) and the pH, TTA and TSS of the derived mahewu samples determined. Additionally, amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to characterise the relative abundance of bacterial genera in optimized mahewu samples, malted grains as well as flour samples. Major bacterial genera observed in the mahewu samples included Paenibacillus, Stenotrophomonas, Weissella, Pseudomonas, Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Massilia, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Sanguibacter, Roseococcus, Leuconostoc, Cutibacterium, Brevibacterium, Blastococcus, Sphingomonas and Pediococcus, with variations noted for YM mahewu and WM mahewu. As a result, the variations in physicochemical properties are due to differences in maize type and modification in processing conditions. This study also discovered the existence of variety of bacterial that can be isolated for controlled fermentation of mahewu.

Effects of Bacillus licheniformis on Growth Performance, Diarrhea Incidence, Antioxidant Capacity, Immune Function, and Fecal Microflora in Weaned Piglets

Simple Summary

Bacillus licheniformis has been shown to be safe as a green additive in food and feed. This experiment was conducted to investigate the value of Bacillus licheniformis in the diet of piglets. Our results suggested that dietary Bacillus licheniformis supplementation plays an important role in improving the average daily gain, alleviating diarrhea, improving antioxidant capacity, promoting immune function, and regulating the intestinal microflora of weaned piglets.

Abstract

Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis) is a safe probiotic that can promote animal growth and inhibit pathogenic bacteria. This study aimed to assess the effects of B. licheniformis, one green feed additive, on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, immune function, fecal volatile fatty acids, and microflora structure in weaned piglets. Weaned piglets (n = 180) were randomly divided into three treatment groups and fed a basal diet and a basal diet supplemented with 500 mg B. licheniformis per kg and 1000 mg B. licheniformis per kg, respectively. The dietary 500 mg/kg B. licheniformis inclusion improved the average daily gain, reduced diarrhea incidence, and strengthened antioxidant capacity. Piglets supplemented with B. licheniformis presented increased serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM) compared to the CON group. Meanwhile, the expression of anti-inflammation factors was increased, and the levels of pro-inflammation factors were reduced after B. licheniformis administration. Moreover, the levels of volatile fatty acids, including acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, and isovaleric acid, in the BL500 and BL1000 groups were increased compared with the CON group, and the concentration of valeric acid was higher in the BL500 group. Furthermore, piglets in the 500 mg/kg B. licheniformis addition group significantly altered fecal microbiota by increasing Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Oscillospira. In conclusion, dietary B. licheniformis relieved diarrhea, enhanced antioxidant capacity, immunity function, and fecal microflora structure in weaned pigs.

Fruit and Vegetable Supplemented Diet Modulates the Pig Transcriptome and Microbiome after a Two-Week Feeding Intervention

A study was conducted to determine the effects of a diet supplemented with fruits and vegetables (FV) on the host whole blood cell (WBC) transcriptome and the composition and function of the intestinal microbiome. Nine six-week-old pigs were fed a pig grower diet alone or supplemented with lyophilized FV equivalent to half the daily recommended amount prescribed for humans by the Dietary Guideline for Americans (DGA) for two weeks. Host transcriptome changes in the WBC were evaluated by RNA sequencing. Isolated DNA from the fecal microbiome was used for 16S rDNA taxonomic analysis and prediction of metabolomic function. Feeding an FV-supplemented diet to pigs induced differential expression of several genes associated with an increase in B-cell development and differentiation and the regulation of cellular movement, inflammatory response, and cell-to-cell signaling. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) in fecal microbiome samples showed differential increases in genera from Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae families within the order Clostridiales and Erysipelotrichaceae family with a predicted reduction in rgpE-glucosyltransferase protein associated with lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis in pigs fed the FV-supplemented diet. These results suggest that feeding an FV-supplemented diet for two weeks modulated markers of cellular inflammatory and immune function in the WBC transcriptome and the composition of the intestinal microbiome by increasing the abundance of bacterial taxa that have been associated with improved intestinal health.