Abstract
BackgroundFiber-rich feed components possess prebiotic potential to enhance pig health and are considered a potential solution to the high prevalence of post-weaning diarrhea in pig production under the phased suspension of antibiotics and zinc oxide use.MethodsWe screened the gut microbiota modulatory properties of pectin substrates prepared from sugar beet within the freshly weaned piglet gut microbiome using an in vitro colon model, the CoMiniGut. We focused on testing a variety (13) of sugar beet-derived pectin substrates with defined structures, as well as known prebiotics such as inulin, fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and galactooligosaccharide (GOS), to gain insights on the structure–function related properties of specific substrates on the weaner gut microbial composition as well as shortchain fatty acid production (SCFA).ResultsSugar beet-derived pectin and rhamnogalacturonan-I selectively increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, specifically Prevotella copri, Bacteroides ovatus, Bacteroides acidificiens, and an unclassified Bacteroides member. The degree of esterification impacted the relative abundance of these species and the SCFA production during the in vitro fermentations. Modified arabinans derived from sugar beet promoted the growth of Blautia, P. copri, Lachnospiraceae members and Limosilactobacillus mucosae and amongst all oligosaccharides tested yielded the highest amount of total SCFA produced after 24 h of fermentation. Sugar beet-derived substrates yielded higher total SCFA concentrations (especially acetic and propionic acid) relative to the known prebiotics inulin, FOS and GOS.ConclusionOur results indicate that the molecular structures of pectin, that can be prepared form just one plant source (sugar beet) can selectively stimulate different GM members, highlighting the potential of utilizing pectin substrates as targeted GM modulatory ingredients.
Highlights
Stunted growth, high mortality, and the use of antibiotics and zinc oxide due to gastrointestinal dystrophy and diarrhea during the first months of life are ethical and economic problems for piglet producers worldwide [1, 2]
The influence of pectin type on the in vitro simulated colon microbiome After 24 h of in vitro simulated passage of the piglet colon FOS, GOS and inulin led to an increase of Firmicutes dominated by Ligilactobacillus agilis, Limosilactobacillus reuteri and Ligilactobacillus salivarius
Pectin and pectin-derived saccharides in most cases resulted in gut microbiome (GM) dominated by Bacteroides with substrate molecular structure-specific differences depending on the source of pectin (Fig. 1)
Summary
High mortality, and the use of antibiotics and zinc oxide due to gastrointestinal dystrophy and diarrhea during the first months of life are ethical and economic problems for piglet producers worldwide [1, 2]. The addition of fermentable fibre into feed can be especially beneficial, as it can stimulate the development of the indigenous GM and fosters the production of SCFAs. Short-chain fatty acids are the end-products of fibre fermentation by the GM and play important roles in gut health [13, 14]. Short-chain fatty acids serve as a source of energy for the host and act as antimicrobials due to their pH-lowering properties. They can increase pancreatic secretion and exhibit trophic effects on the gastrointestinal tract [15, 16]. Fiber-rich feed components possess prebiotic potential to enhance pig health and are considered a potential solution to the high prevalence of post-weaning diarrhea in pig production under the phased suspension of antibiotics and zinc oxide use
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