Commercial Probiotics Research Articles

Trends in the Use of Probiotics in Aquaculture of Bangladesh—Present State, Problems, and Prospects

Aquaculture in Bangladesh has expanded, diversified, and intensified over the last decades. Control of infectious diseases is critical for a successful and sustainable aquaculture. In this study, we examined the extent of use of probiotics in aquaculture of Bangladesh, using a questionnaire. Data were collected from 200 individual respondents from commercial fish farms located at Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Jashore, and Cumilla (50 from each) regions. A total of 88 different probiotics products from 36 companies, mostly imported, are used in the aquaculture in Bangladesh. Although in most cases the purpose of the use of probiotics is not clear for the farm owners, several representatives of different companies suggested the use of their different probiotic products, for different situations. Most of the farm owners responded that they used probiotics to get higher production by promoting the growth of fish. A considerable number of farm owners responded that probiotics reduced mortality as well as reduced gas emissions from the aquaculture ponds. Although the use of commercial probiotics varies from region to region, Pondcare and Safegut, the product of SK + F, are mostly used in aquaculture based on the responses (32% and 21% of respondents, respectively). To safeguard and clarify the value and effectiveness of these goods, the fish feed manufacturers and regulatory authorities should monitor their production, collection, and marketing.

Dietary Probiotic Supplementation; Effects on Fecundity and Relationship with Biometric Parameters of Clarias gariepinus

The implications of probiotics in aquaculture including host health, reproductive development, welfare and nutrition has driven the demand for commercial probiotics for use in aquaculture operations either as feed supplements or through direct application. This study was conducted to evaluate the long-term effects of varying dietary amounts of probiotic supplements on C. gariepinus. Five isonitrogenous diets (42% crude protein) were supplemented with probiotics as follows: Feed A (0 g/kg TPS), Feed B (0.5 g/kg TPS), Feed C (1.0 g/kg TPS), Feed D (1.5 g/kg TPS) and Feed E (2 g/kg TPS) and fed to the experimental fishes in triplicate groups for 38 weeks. Results obtained showed that there was no significant difference in mean fecundity between fish fed the control and probiotic-enriched diets (P > 0.05), with diet B containing 0.5 g/kg Taslyprobiotics having the highest fecundity (61,714.00 ± 4,469.43 eggs) and diet C (1.0 g) having the lowest fecundity (49,568.14 ± 3,920.68 eggs). There was a linear relationship between fecundity of Clarias gariepinus with all body parameters such as body weight, ovary weight, and total length and fecundity of female fish.In addition, a positive and significant correlation was obtained between fecundity and all body parameters. Additionally, there was no uniform increase in fecundity with increasing dietary probiotic inclusion level. In conclusion, probiotics supplementation in diets may boost fecundity but increase in probiotic dietary inclusion level will not result in a corresponding increase in fecundity of C. gariepinus.

Isolation, identification and probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts from commercial yogurt and homemade non-dairy fermented food “KANJI”

South Asian cuisines encompasses a rich variety of traditional fermented foods, which hold great promise as sources of probiotic bacteria with notable health benefits. This study aimed to isolate and characterize probiotic strains from homemade plant-based fermented foods (kanji drink and rice kanji) and commercial dairy-based probiotics (sweetened and probiotic yogurt). The samples were found safe for consumption, devoid of indicator microorganisms and hemolytic activity. They exhibited a diverse microflora with substantial microbial counts (>106 CFU/ml), identified as yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) namely Lactobacillus curvatus, Leuconostoc mesenteroids, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii. Antimicrobial activity tests against six foodborne pathogens demonstrated significant reductions in their growth, highlighting the broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential of the probiotic isolates against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The mixed consortium of samples showed higher growth inhibition compared to individual isolates, emphasizing the importance of microbial diversity in probiotic formulations. The samples' mix consortiums also displayed high auto-aggregative (42.36%–75%) and co-aggregative abilities (up to 93%) with the pathogens over time, with sweetened yogurt showing the highest co-aggregation percentage. The antimicrobial activity of the mix consortiums correlated positively with auto-aggregative capability but negatively with co-aggregative capability, although these correlations were not statistically significant. Consumer acceptance tests, using a nine-point hedonic scaling, favored commercial yogurts over homemade kanji, with sweetened yogurt receiving the highest scores. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the safety, quality, microbial characteristics, antimicrobial activity, aggregative capability, and consumer acceptance of both commercial yogurt and homemade kanji. Considering the limitations of dairy-based probiotics and the growing popularity of vegetarian diets, promoting the consumption of homemade plant-based fermented foods like kanji, which offer wholesome nutrition and potential probiotic benefits, is recommended. Future research should focus on characterizing the in-vivo probiotic potential and standardizing formulations based on consumer demands.

The Effect of Use of Commercial Probiotics in Feed on Water Quality and Growth Performance of Bawal Fish (Colossoma Macropomum) Bioflok System

Biofloc consists of special substances called probiotics, where probiotics contain beneficial microorganisms in cultivation activities. Probiotics can be given through feed and water (media). Probiotics can break down metabolic waste and stimulate an immune response so that fish health increases and affects growth. Probiotics have an effect on the growth of ti- lapia, but there is no information for freshwater pomfret. This study aims to determine the ef-fect of probiotic types on biofloc volume, water quality, and fish growth in pomfret culture (Colossoma macropomum) biofloc system. The method used was giving different types of probiotics, treatment A control, B EM4, C Probiotic-7, D Aquaenzym. The results of the re-search showed that the lowest pH of the system was 7.85, namely the pH of the probiotic-7 type. The mean floc growth measurement results for treatment A was 12.93, treatment B was 17.54, treatment C was 17.59, treatment D was 15.98. Aquaenzym probiotic has a fish surviv-al rate of 100% compared to other probiotics. The type of probiotic that has the best results in increasing the growth performance of freshwater pomfret (Colossoma macropomum) is probiotic-7.

Effect of a Bacillus Probiotic Compound on Penaeus vannamei Survival, Water Quality, and Microbial Communities

Given the widespread use of commercial probiotics in aquaculture, it is important to evaluate the quality and environmental effects of these additives. Here, the effects of a Bacillus probiotic compound, BG4, on Penaeus vannamei survival rate, water quality factors, and microbial communities were assessed. An analysis of the BG4 powder confirmed the content of probiotic bacteria: 50.2% Bacillus licheniformis, 48.4% Bacillus subtilis, and 1.4% Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, consistent with the information on the product packaging. The effective bacterial quantity (1.1 × 109 CFU/g) was higher than that indicated on the product label (2 × 108 CFU/g). BG4 was added to a sterilized aquaculture water system, according to the indicated bacterial quantity; after 7 days, the maximum ammonia nitrogen, phosphate, and chemical oxygen demand degradation rates were 36.3%, 28.9%, and 15.2%, respectively. In the shrimp culture experiment, the survival rate of P. vannamei and water quality did not differ significantly between the BG4 and control groups. The bacterial quantity and high-throughput sequencing results indicated that Bacillus content in BG4 group decreased continuously from 3.5 × 104 CFU/mL to 6.9 × 102 CFU/mL. To ensure the desired effect of probiotics in commercial aquaculture applications, additional quality evaluations and scientific assessments are needed.

Effects of Multispecies Probiotics on Growth, Hematology, and Gut Health of Stinging Catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) in Biofloc System

Probiotics are gaining popularity both empirically and scientifically as eco-friendly alternatives in aquaculture. The present research proposed to examine the influences of selective probiotics on the growth, hematology, microbes, and morphology of the intestine of stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) in a biofloc system. Additionally, this study evaluated the benefit–cost ratio (BCR) of specific probiotics used in the biofloc system. Stinging catfish fingerlings (average weight 0.86 ± 0.26 g) were equally distributed (250 fingerlings/400 L water-filled PVC tank) into three treatment groups and reared for 16 weeks. Two commercial probiotics (CP-1 and CP-2) and one laboratory-developed probiotic were used in the study. The results showed significantly higher growth (weight gain and specific growth rate), feed efficiency, improved intestinal microbiota, and enhanced morphology in fish reared with laboratory-developed probiotics in the biofloc system. Moreover, indicators of increased immune responses, such as enhancements in the intestinal mucosal fold, width of enterocytes and lamina propria, and abundance of goblet cells, were also observed in fish reared with laboratory-developed probiotics. The BCR, which determined business profitability, was also highest for the laboratory-developed probiotics in the biofloc system. Therefore, the results suggest that laboratory-developed probiotics are economically viable and environmentally friendly growth stimulators for stinging catfish culture in a biofloc system.

The effects of Bacillus species probiotics (Bacillus subtilis and B. licheniformis) on the water quality, immune responses, and resistance of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) against Fusarium solani infection

This study investigated the impacts of water application of a commercial Bacillus species probiotics, SANOLIFE®PRO-W (containing Bacillus subtilis and B. licheniformis), on water quality, digestive enzymes, growth performance, antioxidants, innate immunity, body composition, and resistance of whiteleg shrimp against Fusarium solani infection. A total of 240 animals (2.00 ± 0.07 g) were stocked into twelve 1-m3 concrete ponds and divided into four triplicate treatments. For 56 days, the rearing water was supplemented with Bacillus species probiotic at 0, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 g/m3 and defined as control, T1, T2, and T3 groups, respectively. Results revealed that Bacillus species probiotics increased dissolved oxygen and decreased total ammonia, nitrite, and unionized ammonia in the rearing ponds. However, adding probiotic Bacillus to rearing water significantly increased the digestive enzyme (chymotrypsin, trypsin, protease, lipase, and amylase) and growth performance parameters compared to the control. On the other hand, the antioxidant levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were increased significantly, while the malondialdehyde concentrations were decreased significantly compared to the control. Furthermore, Bacillus probiotics boosted the innate immunity of shrimp manifested by increased activities of lysozyme, prophenoloxidase, respiratory burst, and the total hemocyte count compared with the control treatment. Of interest, shrimp mortalities decreased after F. solani infection to 35% in the T3 group compared to 100% in the control group. In conclusion, water application of Bacillus species probiotics, especially at 0.02 and 0.03 g/m3, improved the water quality, welfare, and resistance of whiteleg shrimp to F. solani infection.

IMPACTS OF PROBIOTICS WITH OR WITHOUT ORGANIC ACIDS AS DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS QUALITY, DIGESTIBILITY, INTESTINAL DEVELOPMENT, AND GUT MICROBIOTA OF BROILER CHICKS

<p><strong>Background. </strong>Due to the harmful effects resulting from the addition of antibiotics to treat diseases affecting poultry and their use as growth promoter, it was necessary to have safe alternatives such as organic acids and probiotics, which work to provide an appropriate pH for activity of beneficial bacteria and reducing the numbers of harmful pathogenic bacteria.<strong> Objective. </strong>To assess the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotics, with or without organic acids (acetic, propionic, and benzoic) on growth performance, carcass quality, digestibility, intestinal development, gut microbiota, and serum parameters of broiler chicks. <strong>Methodology. </strong>A total number of 250 one-day old, unsexed Ross (308) broiler chicks, were equally assigned to five feeding treatments (50 birds/treatment, five replicates of ten birds/treatment) as follows: T1 (control); fed a basal diet (BD), T2; fed BD + 2g commercial probiotics (PRO)/kg diet, T3: fed BD + 2g PRO/ kg diet + 10 ml acetic acid/kg diet, T4: fed BD + 2g PRO/kg diet + 10 ml propionic acid/ kg diet, and T5: fed BD + 2g PRO/ kg diet + 10 ml benzoic acid / kg diet. The trial prolonged from day 1 to day 42 of age. <strong>Results.</strong> Compared to the control, the results revealed that body weight and body weight gain were significantly improved at 3 and 6 wks of age as a result of supplementing the diets with probiotics and organic acids (especially benzoic acid). The positive impacts of the supplements on FCR were more pronounced from 4-6 weeks and for the overall period (0-6 wks). No mortalities occurred when organic acids were supplemented. The tested supplements also decreased bacterial counts of ileal <em>E. coli</em>. Moreover, probiotics plus benzoic acid treatment (T5) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the ileal <em>lactobacilli</em> count. Carcass traits, internal organs and GIT histological parameters were positively affected by different treatments, especially probiotics plus benzoic acid treatment. The supplements improved ALT, AST and ALP activity and decreased cholesterol and triglycerides content in blood serum (P <0.05).<strong> Implications. </strong>The study showed that the addition of organic acids to probiotics led to an increase in the <em>lactobacilli</em> count. <strong>Conclusions. </strong>The tested feed supplements displayed beneficial impacts and positive role on broilers productive performance and improved their gut health and function through enhancement of the intestinal microbiota. <strong></strong></p>

Lactobacillus plantarum GX17 benefits growth performance and improves functions of intestinal barrier/intestinal flora among yellow-feathered broilers.

Lactobacillus plantarum has recently been found to be a natural source feed additive bacteria with great advantages in food safety and animal welfare. Discovering novel strains with commercial application potentiation could benefit the local poultry industry, and in particular support Chinese farmers. In this study, we tested a recently isolated novel strain of Lactobacillus plantarum GX17 as a feed additive on the growth performance and intestinal barrier functions of 1-day-old Chinese yellow-feather chicks. As good as other commercial probiotics, feeding with Lactobacillus plantarum GX17 showed significant improvements in humoral immune responses and enhanced the immune effect after vaccination for either the Newcastle disease vaccine or the avian influenza vaccine. This study also found that feeding with Lactobacillus plantarum GX17 improved the feed-to-weight ratio and caused a significant increase of the villus length to crypt depth ratio. Furthermore, Lactobacillus plantarum GX17 significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of CLDN, MUC2, and TLR2, all of which are jejunum-associated barrier genes, indicating an improvement of the intestinal barrier functions by enhancing the tight junction between epithelia cells. These results are comparable to the effects of feeding the commercial complex probiotics that improve the expression levels of CLDN, ocludin, MUC2, TLR2, and TLR4. In terms of maintaining intestinal health, commercial complex probiotics increased the relative abundance of Parabacteroides and Romboutsia, while Lactobacillus plantarum GX17 increased the relative abundance of Pseudoflavonifractor. Our data suggest that Lactobacillus plantarum GX17 could enhance the intestinal absorption of nutrients and therefore improve the growth performance of Chinese yellow-feather chicks. In conclusion, compared with the commercial complex probiotics, Lactobacillus plantarum GX17 has more positive effects on the growth performance and intestinal barrier function of yellow-feather chickens, and can be used as a feed additive.

Effect of different probiotics on the growth performance of broiler chicken

The study was conducted from December 15, 2019 to January 26, 2020 at College of Agriculture and Forestry, Apayao State College, Cubet-Malama, Conner, Apayao, Philippines aimed to evaluate the effect of different probiotics on the growth performance of broiler chicken, specifically on the initial and weekly body weight, gain in weight, percentage rate of growth, feed consumption, dressing percentage and feed conversion ratio and efficiency, using T1- pure Water, T2 – commercial probiotics, T3 – effective microorganism, and T4 – fermented fruit juice as water additive. The experiment was laid out using the Completely Randomized Design. The probiotics and the fermented fruit juice did not show any significant effect on the growth performance of broiler chicken on body weight, gain in weight, percentage rate of growth, feed consumption, water consumption and feed conversion ratio and efficiency. The percentage livability of Treatments 1, 3, and 4 was still impressive since the standard of 5% mortality rate was not reached, which implies that the used of commercial probiotics and fermented fruit Juice or organic acids affects immunity. On the income over feed, additive and chick cost, the use of fermented fruit juice had the potential to improve the growth performance of broiler chicken in the sense that it was comparable with the effective microorganism and commercial probiotics as exhibited in the body weights, feed and water consumption, gain in weight, percentage rate of growth and feed conversion ratio and efficiency. Therefore, the use of probiotics and fermented fruit juice from banana are safe in raising broiler chicken for table meat, and it is recommended to use in the chicken production as it increases the income over feed, additive and chick cost. Further study is recommended using other ingredients of fermented fruit juice to validate the concept of probiotics as a viable modality in poultry production.

Exploring the Potential of Probiotics and Fecal Microbiota in Maintaining a Healthy Gut Microbiota

Probiotics are live microorganisms that offer numerous health benefits, particularly in maintaining gut health and reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal diseases. They can be found in fermented dairy products, in the form of pills, capsules, powders, and sachets. This paper explores the advantages of using commercial probiotics, including alleviating gastrointestinal pain, preventing gastrointestinal disorders, and enhancing immunity. Probiotics are associated with other axis systems; including gut-skin, gut-lung, gut-heart, and gut-metabolism, further highlighting their significance. It is evident that maintaining a balanced gut microbiota is crucial for overall health and any alteration in its composition can lead to the development of local or systemic disorders. In addition, fecal microbiota transplant has also shown promise in treating gastrointestinal disorders in animals. Therefore, this paper emphasizes the role of probiotics and fecal microbiota transplant in preserving gut health and reducing the occurrence of gastrointestinal diseases.

Immune-adjuvant effect of vitamin A and probiotics supplementation on humoral response to cell culture rabies vaccine in rabbits.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of vitamin A (Vit A) and probiotic co-supplementation with rabies vaccine on humoral immune response in New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits. For this experiment, 54 rabbits were randomized into six experimental and three control groups. Mixed cultures of commercial probiotics supplements and a dose of Vit A were administered to each animal. Results were compared with the control group fed with only basal diet. Animals in different treatment groups showed significantly higher sero-conversions against rabies vaccine. There was a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the titers of rabies antibodies in all treatment groups on 14th and 35th days than control C3 group. Both commercial probiotics irrespective of brand increase the humoral immune response of rabbits against rabies vaccine. The mean titer values of all groups G1-G6 and sub-controls (C1, C2) were generally above 3.6 EU/ml on day 14th and between 3.7 and 3.9 EU/ml, showing highest sero-conversion on 35th day than mean titer of C3 control = 3.091 and 3.505 EU/ml respectively on both days. The maximum titer values were obtained with the addition of organic carrots to the daily diet. These results suggest that simple dietary interventions using probiotics and Vit A in natural form may enhance the efficacy of rabies vaccine in the host. These cost-effective strategies can be applied for getting higher yields of polyclonal antibody production in animal models, thus providing promising means of improving the final product yield and can be adopted easily by the manufacturers.

Different carbon sources and probiotics in biofloc based common carp (Cyprinus carpio) culture: Effects on water quality, growth performance, fish welfare and liver histopathology

AbstractThe current study investigated the combined effects of carbon sources and commercial probiotics on common carp welfare in a biofloc‐based system. Three hundred fingerlings (initial weight 43.2 ± 3.1 g) were distributed in 12 tanks including control, PR + BFT (rice bran + probiotics), PM + BFT (molasses + probiotics), and PC + BFT (corn starch + probiotics). After 12 weeks, the results showed that NNH3, NNO2, pH, and dissolved oxygen decreased in the PC + BFT and PR + BFT treatments when compared with the others. Unlike the control treatment, the fish reared in the biofloc treatments had significantly higher growth performances (p &lt; 0.05). The highest protein and lipid content in microbial flocs, protease, and lipase activity followed by protein and lipid muscle content was observed in PR + BFT when compared with PM + BFT and control (p &lt; 0.05). The sero‐immunological and antioxidant indices improved in the PC + BFT and PR + BFT treatments, and a significant difference was found than the control (p &lt; 0.05). The higher ductal dilatation was seen in PM + BFT treatment which is worth more investigation. Overall, the results revealed that adding probiotics to complex carbon resources improves the water quality and common carp fingerlings welfare in the biofloc system.

Effects of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics as an Alternative to Antibiotics on Growth and Blood Profile of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and their synergism against antibiotics on the growth performance and hematology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The study was designed by using five treatments over 75 days in which TCon (control), TAnt (antibiotics: Cotrim vet), TPro (commercial probiotics: pond care), TPre (prebiotics: spirulina), and TSyn (synbiotic: probiotic and prebiotic) were used. All the treatments showed significant ( P &lt; 0.05) improvements in growth and feed utilization parameters. The highest mean final growth was found in TSyn (13.79 ± 0.11) and then in TPre (13.61 ± 0.02), TPro (13.22 ± 0.12), TAnt (10.04 ± 0.7), and TCon (8.89 ± 0.19). Weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly ( P &lt; 0.05) different between treatments. The food conversion ratio varied significantly ( P &lt; 0.05) across treatments and the lowest value was observed in TPro (1.13 ± 0.021). The protein efficiency ratio (PER) was significantly ( P &lt; 0.05) different between treatments and the highest value was in TPro (3.1 ± 0.05). The survival rate was not significantly ( P &lt; 0.05) different between treatments. The highest white blood cell (WBC) counts were found in TSyn (12.63 ± 0.11) followed by TPre (12.6 ± 0.2), TPro (12.32 ± 0.12), TCon (12.16 ± 0.105), and TAnt (11.03 ± 0.46). The values of red blood cells and platelets were not statistically significant ( P &lt; 0.05) among the different treatments. However, all treatments showed normal hepatocyte structure in liver tissue histology, and intense hepatic lipid vacuoles in TSyn indicated improved growth. The higher growth performance and feed utilization values were observed in probiotics, prebiotics, and their synergism units compared to antibiotic treatment. Therefore, probiotics, prebiotics, and their synergism can be used as an alternative to antibiotics in tilapia aquaculture.

Probiotics Based on Lactic Acid Bacteria for Aquaculture

Aquaculture (especially fish farming) provides billions of people with nutrients: amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Aquaculture of commercial species (rainbow trout, common carp, grass carp, pacific white-legged shrimp, etc.) are growing rapidly and accounts for about a third of the global fish production. It is a major alternative to reducing wild populations that are unable to meet growing food demand. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of the genera Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, Enterococcus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, Streptococcus, Carnobacterium, and Weissella belong to the normobiota of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of most fish. They play an important role as they stimulate the synthesis of digestive enzymes, prevent intestinal disorders, improve the immune response of the macroorganism, increase the barrier capacity of the mucous membrane due to the colonization of the fish GI tract, activate the resistance to the development of bacterial and viral infections due to the production of a wide range of antimicrobial substances (bacteriocins, organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, etc.). Therefore, Lactobacilli are classified as potential probiotic strains for aquaculture. The combined use of lactic acid bacteria with feed increases their nutritional value, as microorganisms produce a wide range of digestive enzymes that actively participate in the process of digestion and decomposition of feed, as well as positively affect the growth of individuals and stimulate their reproductive activity, which undoubtedly contributes to the active introduction of commercial probiotics based on LAB strains. As a result of growing aquaculture, there are many problems such as stocking density, infectious diseases, excessive use of antibiotics, water pollution, which can be solved with the help of probiotic lactic acid bacteria. Therefore, the review presents current literature data on the use of lactic acid bacteria strains as probiotic preparations for aquaculture, their species composition, probiotic effect on the host, the mechanism of action of probiotics on aquaculture, and the methods for delivery to the macroorganism.

Development and properties evaluation of multi-strain probiotic with cholesterol-lowering potential in vitro.

Probiotics have a cholesterol-lowering effect. Multi-strain probiotics (MSPs) outperformed single-strain probiotics due to the interaction of strains. Hence, we expect to develop a high-efficiency MSP for lowering cholesterol. Three strains, including Lactobacillus caseiS1, Enterococcus faeciumS4, and L. harbinensisS6, were used to develop the MSPs. To evaluate their effect, gastrointestinal tolerance, bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity, cholesterol-lowering rate, antioxidant ability, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production, and antibiotic sensitivity were determined. The triple lactic acid bacteria probiotic (TLP) was the most efficient one. After 24h treatment with artificial gastric fluid, 47.88% of TLP survived. TLP exhibited the highest BSH activity (149.40 U·ml-1) and cholesterol-lowering rate (75.05%) in vitro, with co-precipitation reducing the majority of cholesterol. The reducing power and superoxide radical scavenging rate of the cell-free supernatant and the hydroxyl radical scavenging rate in viable cells were 1.52, 85.03%, and 89.66%, respectively, and the GABA production was 0.67mg·ml-1, which enhanced the health benefit effects. By fuzzy mathematical analysis, TLP was the optimal probiotic and was competitive with commercial probiotics. The three strains were susceptible to 13 antibiotics. Therefore, TLP has the potential to develop into a cholesterol-lowering probiotic preparation.

Performance of Local Peking Duck (Anas platyrhynchos domestica) with Commercial Probiotics (Probac) at Different Levels

Peking duck is one of the superior ducks that breeders are interested in keeping. Maintaining broiler ducks often occurs with several obstacles including mortality, high feed conversion and target body weight couldn’t achieve. The use of probiotics generally gives a positive response on livestock performance. This study aims to determine the performance of local Peking ducks with the addition of commercial probiotics (Probac) with different levels. The study used an experimental method with a completely randomized design with 4 treatments and 5 replications. Experimental level with P0 (without probiotics), P1 (1g/kg feed probiotics), P2 (2g/kg feed probiotics), P3 (3kg/kg feed probiotics) The variables observed were body weight, feed conversion and mortality. The best results showed that the use of a commercial probiotic (Probac) with a P2 level (2g/kg feed) had an effect on body weight, but had no effect on feed conversion and mortality in local Peking ducks. It is recommended to use a commercial probiotic (Probac) at a dose of 2g/kg of feed to increase the performance of local Peking ducks

Investigations on the Role of Commercial Probiotics on New Zealand White Rabbits Experimentally Infected with Eimeria stiedae

Coccidiosis is a serious parasitic disease that causes severe economic losses in rabbits. Commercial probiotics are widely used as potential therapeutic replacements for weight gain and increased resistance to many diseases. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of a probiotic product called MiaClost as a liquid extract to protect animals from Eimeria stiedae infection. Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 5 equal groups. Rabbits in the first 3 groups were treated with concentrations of 107, 108, and 109 colony-forming units (CFU) per ml of MiaClost in their drinking water for 10 days before experimental infection with 1 × 104 of sporulated oocyst of E. stiedae. The last 2 groups served as positive and negative control groups. We found a significant reduction in mortality in rabbits receiving 109 CFU/ml MiaClost as well as an improvement in weight retention and food consumption ratios. Beneficial low oocyst output in feces of rabbits treated with 109 CFU/ml MiaClost led to a reduction in pathological changes in the liver and gall bladder. Our findings suggest that a liquid extract of MiaClost in concentration of 109 CFU/ml can provide protection against hepatic coccidiosis. Further research is needed to test this product against other diseases through different routes of consumption in animals.

Effect of lactic acid fermentation and in vitro digestion on the bioactive compounds in Chinese wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) pulp

Two commercial probiotics, Lactobacillus helveticus 76 (Lh) and Bifidobacterium lactis 80 (Bla), were employed to investigate the effect of lactic acid fermentation and in vitro digestion on bioactive compounds in Chinese wolfberry pulp. The changes of antioxidant capacity of pulp were also studied. Our results demonstrated that Chinese wolfberry pulp was a suitable carrier for both probiotics. Lactic acid fermentation increased total phenolic, total flavonoids and betaine, and improved bioaccessibility of flavonoids and carotenoids in vitro digestion. Fermentation had no remarkable influence on the content and basic structure of polysaccharides, but reduced their particle size. In addition, fermentation improved the antioxidant activities of Chinese wolfberry pulp before and after in vitro digestion mainly due to the metabolism of polyphenols. This study thus would provide valuable information about the development of Chinese wolfberry as a functional drink fermented with probiotics.

Prospective Use of Probiotics to Maintain Astronaut Health during Spaceflight.

Maintaining an astronaut's health during space travel is crucial. Multiple studies have observed various changes in the gut microbiome and physiological health. Astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) had changes in the microbial communities in their gut, nose, and skin. Additionally, immune system cell alterations have been observed in astronauts with changes in neutrophils, monocytes, and T-cells. Probiotics help tackle these health issues caused during spaceflight by inhibiting pathogen adherence, enhancing epithelial barrier function by reducing permeability, and producing an anti-inflammatory effect. When exposed to microgravity, probiotics demonstrated a shorter lag phase, faster growth, improved acid tolerance, and bile resistance. A freeze-dried Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota capsule was tested for its stability on ISS for a month and has been shown to enhance innate immunity and balance intestinal microbiota. The usage of freeze-dried spores of B. subtilis proves to be advantageous to long-term spaceflight because it qualifies for all the aspects tested for commercial probiotics under simulated conditions. These results demonstrate a need to further study the effect of probiotics in simulated microgravity and spaceflight conditions and to apply them to overcome the effects caused by gut microbiome dysbiosis and issues that might occur during spaceflight.