Probiotic Feed Research Articles

Evaluation of Antibiotic-Sensitive Bacillus Strain as a Potential Probiotic for Enhanced Growth in Penaeus vannamei.

The safety of probiotics in aquaculture, particularly concerning the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), has become a significant concern. This study aims to isolate antibiotic-sensitive Bacillus strains from the gut of Penaeus vannamei and evaluate the potential for practical application in shrimp farming. The strain was tested for antibiotic sensitivity to 10 commonly used antibiotics, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined. Morphological analysis and 16S rRNA sequencing confirmed its identity. The probiotic properties, antibacterial activity, and feeding effects on P. vannamei were also assessed. The results showed that Bacillus sp. J3 and Lysinibacillus sp. R4 were generally sensitive to antibiotics but resistant to sulfapyridine and ciprofloxacin. Both strains exhibited acid and bile salt resistance in vitro and performed well in extracellular hydrolase tests. J3 demonstrated co-coagulation effects against Aeromonas veronii, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio alginolyticus, with coagulation rates over 35%, while R4 showed the highest co-coagulation rate (47%) against V. alginolyticus. Both strains exhibited strong antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones ranging from 20 to 22.5mm. Preliminary shrimp farming tests showed that R4 improved shrimp growth and survival rates compared to the control, and its combination with Bacillus coagulans resulted in even greater efficacy. These findings suggest that Lysinibacillus sp. R4 holds promise as a probiotic for enhancing P. vannamei growth, and future research could explore the use of multiple probiotic combinations in aquaculture.

Evaluation of Probiotic Effects on the Growth Performance and Microbiome of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in a High-Density Biofloc System.

Biofloc technology is an aquaculture production system that has gained popularity with tilapia production. Probiotics provide benefits for the host and/or aquatic environments by both regulating and modulating microbial communities and their metabolites. When a probiotic feed is combined with a biofloc system, the production amount may be improved through better fish growth, disease resistance, and/or improved water quality by reducing organic matter and stabilizing metrics such as pH and components of the nitrogen cycle. Two research trials measured Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) growth performance and composition of the microbial communities in the water and within the fish fecal material, following feeding with top-coated probiotic treatments. Trial A incorporated tilapia (71.4 ± 4.4 g), and a commercial diet (Control) that was top coated with either Bacillus velenzensis AP193 (AP193; 1 × 107 CFU g1) and BiOWiSH Feedbuilder Syn3 (BW; 3.6 × 104 CFU g-1). In Trial B, juvenile tilapia (5.34 ± 0.42 g) were fed treatment diets top coated with two different concentrations of BiOWiSH Feedbuilder Syn3 at final concentrations of 3.6 × 104 CFU g-1 (BWx1) and 7.2 × 104 CFU g-1 (BWx2). Tilapia were offered commercial feed (38% protein floating tilapia feed) as a control diet for both trials. Results from both growth trials indicated no differences in growth performance due to the probiotic additions, except for feed conversion ratio (FCR) in Trial B. Both BWx1 and BWx2 showed improved survival, water quality, solids management, and bacterial composition of water and fecal matter. Even though growth performance results presented no significant differences, results could differ based on the probiotic concentration, the route of probiotic administration, or their impact on the microbial community of the biofloc system culture water. Trial results indicated that testing on a larger scale with varied probiotic doses may be necessary to achieve an effective dosage for improving tilapia growth performance.

Solid-state method of production of probiotic feed additives for farm animals

A technology has been developed for producing a probiotic preparation by solid-state cultivation of a mixed culture of Bacillus subtilis B-8130, B. subtilis B-2984, B. subtilis B-4099 on beet pulp, which is shown in two preparations (ProStor and GerbaStor). Solid-state fermentation was carried out under conditions of limited access to oxygen at a temperature of 40 ± 5°C, pH 7.5‒8.0 and mixture humidity 45 ± 3% for 48‒50 hours. During the process, acidification of the reaction mass was observed, a significant increase in cell titer and the formation of a biofilm on phytosorbent. The cell titer depended on the factor “stage of fermentation”, but did not depend on the factor type of preparation ‒ ProStor or GerbaStor. Among the identified volatile products, by 48 hours of fermentation the content of acetic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, p-guaiacol and 2-n-pentylfuran increased, and aromatic substances of the phenolic series decreased. Additional metabolites were obtained that enhance the antibacterial properties and taste of the probiotic preparation. The formation of a biofilm made it possible to preserve viable cells during drying (45°C): in ProStor 1.2 × 108 CFU/g, and in GerbaStor 0.58 × 108 CFU/g. In HerbaStore with an expanded range of medicinal plants, a decrease in the titer of bacilli is associated with dehydration during drying and with the antibacterial properties of phytocomponents.

Evaluating the Impact of Dietary and Water-Based Probiotics on Tilapia Health and Resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila.

Aquaculture plays a critical role in global seafood production. Probiotics in aquaculture have gained popularity for enhancing fish health, growth, and water quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation through different methods-feed and/or water-on Nile tilapia's growth, health, and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila. A total of 270 Nile tilapia fingerlings (initial weight 10 ± 05 g) were randomly divided into four experimental groups: (1) control group (basal diet with no probiotics), (2) feed additive group (basal diet + probiotics in feed), (3) water additive group (basal diet + probiotics in water), and (4) combined feed and water additive group (basal diet + probiotics in both feed and water). The trial lasted for 12 weeks. The study assessed water quality, growth performance, feed efficiency, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal morphometry, biochemical and immunological parameters, oxidative status, and resistance to A. hydrophila. The results revealed significant improvements in water quality (reduction in TAN and NH3), growth performance, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activity (amylase, lipase), and immune responses in all probiotic-treated groups compared to the control. The group receiving probiotics in both feed and water showed the highest growth, survival rate, and immune function improvements. Additionally, gene expression analysis revealed upregulation of immune-related cytokines (IL-1β, TGF-β, TNF-α) in this group. In conclusion, administering probiotics via both feed and water significantly enhances Nile tilapia's health, growth, and resistance to bacterial infections, with the combined approach yielding the best results. This study highlights the importance of optimizing probiotic administration methods to maximize benefits in aquaculture systems.

Harnessing Probiotics to Combat Aflatoxin: A Natural Approach to Food Safety: A Review

Aflatoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced primarily by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, are among the most significant food safety challenges worldwide. These compounds are classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) due to their association with liver cancer, immune suppression, and acute toxicity. Aflatoxin contamination commonly affects staple food items such as grains, nuts, and seeds, particularly in regions with warm and humid climates. The economic burden of aflatoxin contamination extends to reduced agricultural productivity and trade restrictions, necessitating innovative and effective mitigation strategies. This review investigates the potential of probiotics as a natural solution to counter aflatoxin contamination. Probiotics, including strains such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces, offer several mechanisms for reducing aflatoxin toxicity. These include bioadsorption, where probiotics bind aflatoxins and limit their bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract; biotransformation, involving the enzymatic conversion of aflatoxins into less toxic metabolites; and competitive exclusion, which inhibits the growth of aflatoxin-producing molds. Additionally, probiotics contribute to immune modulation, enhancing the host's capacity to counteract aflatoxin exposure. Applications of probiotics in food systems and animal feed are promising. For instance, integrating probiotics into fermented foods has been shown to reduce aflatoxin concentrations significantly. Similarly, probiotics in livestock feed can decrease the absorption of aflatoxins, improving animal health and the safety of derived products. Despite these advances, challenges persist, including strain-specific efficacy, regulatory hurdles, and consumer acceptance of probiotic-enhanced food products. Future research should prioritize the development of innovative probiotic applications, such as bioencapsulation technologies to enhance stability and targeted delivery systems for maximizing their efficacy. Long-term clinical studies are needed to assess the sustainability and safety of probiotic interventions for aflatoxin detoxification. By addressing these challenges, probiotics could play a pivotal role in safeguarding public health, ensuring food safety, and enhancing the resilience of food systems globally.

Enhancing resistance to Salmonella typhimurium in yellow-feathered broilers: a study of a strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum as probiotic feed additives.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains are potentially rich sources of probiotics that could help avoid infections. In order to evaluate their efficacy in bolstering resistance to Salmonella typhimurium infection among chicks. In this study, L. plantarum and commercial probiotics were administered via the water supply at a dosage of 1×109 CFU per chicken from days 1 to 7 to establish a protective system for the chicks. On days 8 and 9, S. typhimurium was attacked to investigate the preventive effects and potential mechanisms of L. plantarum in comparison with commercial probiotics. Post-treatment, we took a broad range of measurements, including body weight, immune organ index changes, the viable count of S. typhimurium in the liver, spleen, and cecum, as well as pathological changes in the liver. Our findings demonstrated that both L. plantarum and the commercial probiotic could safeguard chicks from S. typhimurium infection. The data also suggested that probiotic medication could ease weight loss postinfection, lower the bacterial count in the liver, spleen, and cecum, and attenuate liver pathological damage among all treated participants. Subsequently, we did high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA to examine the fecal microbiota of the chicks 5 days post-infection. We discovered that both L. plantarum and the commercial probiotic could fend off the invasion of S. typhimurium by affecting the bacterial population of Anaerotruncus, Colidextribacter, and Lactobacillus. Generally speaking, the addition of L. plantarum as a feed additive protects yellow-feathered broilers from S. typhimurium illness, suggesting great potential for commercial uses in the poultry industry.

Probiotic post feed restriction supplementation on realimentation performances, carcass characteristic, gut morphology and gut microbes of broiler chicken

Probiotic post feed restriction supplementation on realimentation performances, carcass characteristic, gut morphology and gut microbes of broiler chicken

IS-USG: INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM ULTRASONOGRAPHY Machine Learning Implementation for Recognition of Pregnant Sheep in Gumukmas Multifarm Jember

In 2023, the government's program related to food independence emphasizes the importance of meat independence, including goat meat. CV. Gumukmas Multi Farm Jember faces several challenges in managing pregnant sheep, such as early detection of pregnancy, preventing abortion, and managing sheep health history. Therefore, the Intelligence System Ultrasonography (IS-USG) system was developed to detect sheep pregnancy more accurately and integrate medical data with the help of machine learning. This system allows automatic monitoring of pregnancy conditions and fetal health, and recommends interventions such as probiotic feeding. IS-USG is implemented using a web and mobile-based client-server architecture, with Laravel and MySQL backends, and RESTful API integration for real-time data synchronization. Testing was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the system, and initial results showed that this system can improve sheep reproductive management, accelerate pregnancy detection, and minimize the risk of birth failure.

Effect of Lactobacillus Probiotic Supplement on Growth and Haematological Performance of Indian Major Carp Labeo rohita

The influence of probiotics bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus improves the survival, growth, and Hematological performance of the Indian major carp Rohu (Labeo rohita). After acclimation, a 60-day experimental study was conducted with four different types of treatments; namely, T1: Control, i.e. Basal feed without Probiotic supplements, T2: Basal feed with Aeromonas hydrophila, T3: Lactobacillus supplemented probiotic feed without Aeromonas hydrophila, and T4: Lactobacillus supplemented probiotic feed with A. hydrophila. After the experimental study, growth parameters were monitored through Weight gain, Specific growth rates, survival percentage, and haematological parameters including WBC, RBC, haemoglobin (Hb), and haematocrit (Hct) values of probiotics treated group (T3 and T4) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than control and T2 group. The Present study indicated that the positive effects of the L. acidophilus probiotic supplement diet improved the survival, growth, and Haematological performance in aquaculture.

The Effect of Synbiotics and Probiotics on Ochratoxin Concentrations in Blood and Tissues, Health Status, and Gastrointestinal Function in Turkeys Fed Diets Contaminated with Ochratoxin A.

The aim of this study was to evaluate carcass quality and analyze gastrointestinal functional status, ochratoxin A (OTA) accumulation in tissues and organs, and the health status of turkeys fed diets contaminated with OTA and supplemented with synbiotic preparations in comparison with commercial probiotic feed additives. The research involved 120 female BIG 6 turkeys, divided into six treatment groups (five replicates, four birds per replicate). Wheat naturally contaminated with OTA (662.03 μg/kg) was used in turkey diets. Turkeys in group 1 received an OTA-contaminated diet without additives. Groups 2 and 3 received 0.4 g/kg of probiotic preparation BioPlus 2B or Cylactin. Groups 4, 5, and 6 received 0.5 g/kg of synbiotics S1, S2, or S3. The following parameters were monitored: growth performance, carcass quality, gastrointestinal tract structure and digesta pH, health status, and concentrations of OTA in the blood and tissues of turkeys. The study found no significant differences in the growth performance and carcass quality of turkey. However, the introduction of probiotics or synbiotics into OTA-contaminated feed mixtures resulted in a reduced pH of the digesta in certain sections of the turkey digestive tract (p < 0.05). Additionally, the tested synbiotic additives significantly reduced liver weight in turkeys at weeks 6 and 15 (p < 0.05). The addition of probiotic and synbiotic preparations based on lactic acid bacteria strains, inulin, and S. cerevisiae yeasts to OTA-contaminated diets in commercial turkey farming may improve health status (p < 0.05) and reduce mycotoxin accumulation in organs and tissues of poultry (p < 0.05).

The effect of the probiotic feed additive "Healthy calf" on the clinical and morphological parameters of the blood of calves with bronchopneumonia

The aim of the study was to establish the degree of influence of the feed additive "Healthy calf" on the normalization of clinical and morphological blood parameters, when it was introduced into the treatment regimen for bronchopneumonia in calves.The production experience was carried out in a farm that was safe for diseases of infectious etiology. The experiment involved 30 black-and-white calves aged 20 to 30 days, of which three groups were formed. The first (control) intact group (n=10) included clinically healthy animals. The second (n=10) and third (n=10) experimental groups included animals with a clinical manifestation of nonspecific catarrhal bronchopneumonia. The animals of the second and third groups were prescribed a treatment regimen based on antibacterial therapy. They were prescribed Streptomycin sulfate as an antimicrobial drug, at a dose of 10.0 mg / kg of body weight twice a day until full recovery. At the same time, during the entire experiment, as an addition to the above treatment regimen, animals of the third group were given oral probiotic supplement "Healthy Calf".Blood samples to determine the values of its main clinical and morphological parameters were taken at the beginning of the experiment, as well as on the seventh and 14th days of its conduct. Blood tests were performed using generally accepted techniques.It has been established that the use of probiotic feed additive "Healthy Calf" in addition to treatment regimens for catarrhal nonspecific bronchopneumonia can reduce the degree of anemia and the intensity of the inflammatory process.

Studying the application of a microbiological complex in sterbel growing

Abstract The main goal of the research is to establish the effect of the Bonaka-APK microbiological complex, which is a metabiotic for the management of fish autoflora and the comprehensive prevention of bacterial infections for fingerling sturgeon (sterbel). To achieve the goal, the following tasks were set: to establish the effect of Bonac-APK on fingerling sturgeon; establish the economic efficiency of its use for aquaculture. The study of the effect of the additive for growing aquaculture for yearling sturgeon fish (sterbel) was carried out with a fish weight of 130 g. The study showed that in an experiment on Sterbel the weight of fish at the end of rearing increased in experimental groups by 3.5-15.6%. The body length of fish in experimental groups increased by 1.1-2.2%. The survival rate of fish in all groups was 100%. Biochemical blood parameters of fish were within normal limits in both the control and experimental groups, which indicates that the probiotic feed additive Bonaka-APK does not have a harmful effect on the fish body. The level of lipid peroxidation increased, which indicates an increase in the antioxidant defense of the Sterbel body. The decrease in feed costs per 1 kg of weight gain compared to the control was 8.0-12.0% in experimental groups. It is recommended to use the microbiological complex Bonaka-APK in an amount of 0.4% by weight of the feed, which is a metabiotic for managing fish autoflora and complex prevention of bacterial infections for sturgeon fingerlings of the BONAKA Company.

КОМПЛЕКС КОРМОВЫХ ДОБАВОК В РАЦИОНАХ ЦЫПЛЯТ-БРОЙЛЕРОВ

To this date to achieve high indicators in poultry farming, the use of feed additives is relevant. The purpose of the study is to study the influence of firming of the probiotic and sorbents on the organoleptic indicators of poultry meat. Studies were conducted in the conditions of the Mikhailovskaya poultry farms of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, subject to all requirements for the methodology of scientific and production research on poultry feeding. Cross-Broilers Cross «Ross-308» were divided into four groups. The first group received full -time farming feed. The second group received compound feed with the addition of a “Sporotermine” probiotic. The third group - compound feeds with 0.1 % of the “Sporotermine” and bentonite 3.6 % of the mass of feed and the fourth - compound feed with the addition of a “Sporotermine” probiotic and active coal feed additive (ACFA). The tasting of the broth and meat was carried out on a 5-ballast scale. The overall assessment of the quality of the chest muscles of experimental groups varied with the control group-by 0.10-0.36 points. The quality of the broth, according to organoleptic, in the 3rd experimental group exceeded analogues from the control group - by 0.22 points. According to the indicators of the elementary chemical muscles the meat of chickens of 3 experimental groups which received a comprehensively both probiotic and sorbent, there was an increase in the content of CB in the chest muscles - by 0.72 %, protein - by 1.04 % reliably and against this background there is a decrease in the amount of fat - by 0.21 %.

Probiotic Feed Additives Mitigate Odor Emission in Cattle Farms through Microbial Community Changes

Probiotic Feed Additives Mitigate Odor Emission in Cattle Farms through Microbial Community Changes

Current Advances in the Black Tiger Shrimp Penaeus monodon Culture: A Review

ABSTRACTThe increasing high‐end market demand for the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon has brought tremendous industry opportunities. Although the industry has tried its best to increase production, according to the report data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), annual global production has shown no significant upward trend over the past decade. Besides that, newly implemented policies such as seafood safety and food security negatively impacted the industry and reduced production. However, P. monodon cultivation is still promising due to its larger body size and higher market acceptance as a premium product. Over the years, numerous studies have been conducted to increase the production of P. monodon by optimizing its culture conditions, implementing new culture system, increasing disease resistance to disease such as WSSV, AHPND, WFD, implementation of pre‐ and probiotics in feed, and selective breeding programs to increase genetic diversity and population of P. monodon broodstock. This review provides an overview of the current advances in P. monodon broodstock cultivation, thereby providing an essential baseline for P. monodon aquaculture. Areas needing urgent research focus are also highlighted. Future research should take great strides and take into account the impact of future climate change scenario during P. monodon culture and optimization, and increase biosecurity measures to prevent its introduction as an alien species in wild settings.

Supplementation of lysine and probiotics in artificial feed based on local raw materials on feed quality and feed conversion ratio of bileh fish (Rasbora sp.)

AbstractThis study aims to determine the effect of lysine and probiotic supplementation in artificial feed based on local raw materials on feed quality and feed conversion ratio of bileh fish (Rasbora sp.). This research was carried out from August to September 2023 at the Hatchery and Laboratory of Systems and Technology and the Aquaculture Environment, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Teuku Umar University. In this study, bileh fish measuring 2 - 2.5 cm long were used as test fish. The experimental design used was a non-factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 3 replications. The level of treatment applied in feed formulation is feed based on local raw materials as a control (P0), feed based on local raw materials with 1.2% lysine supplementation (P1), 1.4% (P2), 1.6% (P3), 1.8 % (P4) and probiotics 15 ml/kg feed. Feed is given at satiation 3 times a day. The test parameters observed were the quality of the feed produced, daily growth rate and feed conversion ratio of bileh fish (Rasbora sp.). The research results showed that lysine and probiotic supplementation in artificial feed based on local raw materials gave the same response to the quality of the feed produced, but had a significant effect on the daily growth rate and feed conversion ratio of bileh fish. The best daily growth rate and feed conversion ratio were obtained in the P3 treatment.Keywords: Artificial feed based on local raw materials; feed quality; feed conversion ratio; Rasbora sp.

Infl uence of biologically active additive on meat productivity of pigs

In order to improve the digestibility and assimilation of nutrients in feed by animals, biologically active additives have recently been used in practice. The purpose of the research was to study the infl uence of a biologically active additive on the meat productivity of pigs. The research was carried out at the Agrofi rma Ariant LLC in the Emanzhelinsky district one of the largest pig-breeding complexes in the Chelyabinsk region for the production of pork on an industrial basis. The data on the use of the probiotic Bifi dumbacterin in the diet of fattening pigs have been presented in the article. The probiotic feed additive was given to animals in the amount of 0.05 and 0.10 g/head/day. It was found that the absolute gain in live weight of young pigs in the control group during the experimental period was 69.60 kg, in the 1st experimental group it was 74.16 kg, which was by 4.56 kg more, and in the 2nd experimental group it was 76.56 kg, which was by 6.96 kg more. The average daily live weight gain of animals in the 1st and 2nd experimental groups was higher than in the control by 6.55 and 10.00 %, respectively. The use of a biologically active additive in addition to the main diet had a positive eff ect on the formation of meat productivity of fattened young pigs in the experimental groups. The pigs of the 1st and 2nd experimental groups exceeded the control group in slaughter weight by 5.35 and 7.81 %, respectively, in hot carcass weight by 5.13 and 7.39 %, in slaughter yield by 0.5 and 0.7 abs.%. Economic effi ciency in monetary terms was higher in the experimental groups. The use of Bifidumbacterin in feeding of young pigs made it possible to reduce the prime-cost of 1 centner of live weight gain by 294.14–423.17 rubles and increase the level of profitability of pork production by 7.26–10.74 abs.%.

Clostridium butyricum Probiotic Feed Additive: Modulation of Sow Milk Metabolomics and Mitigation of Pre-Weaning Piglet Diarrhea.

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of Clostridium butyricum probiotic feed additive on sow and piglet performances, together with alterations in the lipidomic and metabolomic profiles of sow milk. Sixty-four Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred sows and 794 piglets were included. Sows were divided into two groups; i.e., (i) conventional gestation diet (control; n = 35) and (ii) conventional diet added with 10 g/sow/day of probiotic C. butyricum spores (treatment; n = 29) from one week before the estimated farrowing day until weaning (29.6 ± 4.8 days). The sow and piglet performances and incidence of piglet diarrhea were recorded. Changes in gross chemical composition, fatty acid and non-volatile polar metabolite profiles of sow colostrum, transient milk and mature milk were evaluated. The results showed that relative backfat loss in the treatment group (-2.3%) was significantly lower than in control group (11.6%), especially in primiparous sows (p = 0.019). The application of C. butyricum probiotics in sows significantly reduced the incidence of diarrhea in piglets (p < 0.001) but no other effect on piglet performance was found. Lipidomic and metabolomic analyses revealed variations in sow colostrum and milk biomolecular profiles, with indicative compounds significantly altered by feeding with the C. butyricum probiotics. In conclusion, the use of C. butyricum probiotics in sows may improve sow body condition and reduce diarrhea incidence in piglets, with underlying changes in milk composition that warrant further investigation. These findings support the potential of C. butyricum as a beneficial feed additive in swine production.

Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals the Regulatory Mechanism of Different Probiotics on Growth Performance and Intestinal Health of Salmo trutta (S. trutta).

Probiotics play an important role in animal production, providing health benefits to the host by improving intestinal microbial balance. In this study, we added three different probiotics, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), Bacillus licheniformis (BL), and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and compared them with the control group (CON), to investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation on growth performance, gut microbiology, and gut flora of S. trutta. Our results showed that feeding probiotics improved the survival, growth, development, and fattening of S. trutta. Additionally, probiotic treatment causes changes in the gut probiotic community, and the gut flora microorganisms that cause significant changes vary among the probiotic treatments. However, in all three groups, the abundance of Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Rhizophagus bacterial genera was similar to that in the top three comparative controls. Furthermore, differences in the composition of intestinal microbiota among feed types were directly associated with significant changes in the metabolomic landscape, including lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, and organoheterocyclic compounds. The probiotic treatment altered the gut microbiome, gut metabolome, and growth performance of S. trutta. Using a multi-omics approach, we discovered that the addition of probiotics altered the composition of gut microbiota, potentially leading to modifications in gut function and host phenotype. Overall, our results highlight the importance of probiotics as a key factor in animal health and productivity, enabling us to better evaluate the functional potential of probiotics.

Effects of Dietary Multi-Strain Probiotics on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Status, Immune Response, and Intestinal Microbiota of Hybrid Groupers (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂).

This study aims to examine the effects of the mixture of Bacillus cereus G1-11 and Exiguobacterium acetylicum G1-33, isolated from the gut of hybrid groupers (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × E. lanceolatus ♂), on the host. The hybrid groupers were divided into a control (C, without any probiotics), B. cereus (BC, 1010 cfu/g), E. acetylicum (EA, 108 cfu/g), compound (mix, a 1:1 mixture of B. cereus and E. acetylicum), and positive reference group (P, Lactobacillus acidophilus, 5 × 108 cfu/L). Each group had four replicates, with 30 fish per replicate (53.30 ± 0.50 g), and were fed for 60 days. The results showed that adding probiotics to the feed significantly improved the weight gain, weight growth rate, specific growth rate, and digestive enzyme activities of hybrid groupers compared to the C group. The compound group was the most significant. In addition, composite probiotics added to feed significantly upregulated the expression levels of several growth-related genes in the liver and muscles. The activities of alkaline phosphatase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, lysozyme, and total antioxidant capacity in the serum and liver were significantly influenced through mixed probiotic feeding. Moreover, the expression levels of several immune-related genes in the liver, spleen, and head kidney were significantly enhanced by adding single and mixed probiotics to feed, with the synergy of mixed probiotics being the best. An analysis of the gut microbiota showed that adding composite bacteria enhanced the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota, significantly increasing the relative abundance of potential probiotics (Cetobacterium and Microbacterium) while decreasing the presence of potential pathogens (Mycoplasma). Overall, our findings highlighted the efficacy of mixed probiotics (B. cereus and E. acetylicum) in enhancing growth performance, nutritional value of hybrid grouper feed, antioxidant capacity, immune response, and intestinal health, in finding the best combination of functional feed additives.