Abstract
Inulin as a commercial prebiotic could selectively promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Whether LAB in rabbit gut possesses the capability to metabolize and utilize inulin is little known. Therefore, this study recovered 94 LAB strains from neonate rabbits and found that only 29% (28/94) could metabolize inulin with both species- and strain-specificity. The most vigorous inulin-degrading strain, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei YT170, could efficiently utilize both short-chain and long-chain components through thin-layer chromatography analysis. From genomic analysis, a predicted fosRABCDXE operon encoding putative cell wall-anchored fructan β-fructosidase, five fructose-transporting proteins and a pts1BCA operon encoding putative β-fructofuranosidase and sucrose-specific IIBCA components were linked to long-chain and short-chain inulin utilization respectively. This study provides a mechanistic rationale for effect of inulin administration on rabbits and lays a foundation for synbiotic applications aimed at modulating the intestinal microbiota of young rabbits.
Highlights
Rabbits are important small herbivorous mammals widely raised for fur and meat production throughout the world for much of history
After obtaining the most vigorous inulin-degrading strain L. paracasei YT170, we investigated the inulin metabolic characteristics of the strain YT170; as a consequence, on the basis of the growth curves and pH change, L. paracasei YT170 was capable of efficiently consuming inulin, showing potential to be used as a tailored synergistic synbiotic with a combination of inulin aimed at modulating intestinal microbiota of neonate rabbits in early life
This study firstly recovered 94 lactic acid bacteria strains belonging to various species from young rabbits and further found that only some species or strains can efficiently respond to inulin, and inulin promotes the growth and proliferation of these lactic acid bacteria strains from young rabbits in this specific farm, indicating both significant speciesand strain- specificity
Summary
Rabbits are important small herbivorous mammals widely raised for fur and meat production throughout the world for much of history. China is the largest rabbit meat producer in the world, followed by Europe [1]. Rabbits suffer from gastrointestinal diseases, especially in the weaning period, due to the fragility of their digestive system. Since the 1950s antibiotics have been added to fodder, known as antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) [3]. While thesekept the disease under control for a short time, the use of antibiotics can cause significant changes in cecal flora, increasing digestive disorders and mortality in growing rabbits and leading to eventual antibiotic residues in meat, with negative effects on food safety and further triggering drug resistance harmful to human health and the environment. The European Union (EU) banned all AGPs in 2006, and China banned the non-therapeutic use of the antibiotics in 2020. More attention has been paid to researching safe and effective antibiotic alternatives in recent years
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