Intestinal Growth Research Articles

Aflatoxin B1: Challenges and Strategies for the Intestinal Microbiota and Intestinal Health of Monogastric Animals

The objective of this review is to investigate the impacts of aflatoxins, particularly aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), on intestinal microbiota, intestinal health, and growth performance in monogastric animals, primarily chickens and pigs, as well as dietary interventions to mitigate these effects. Aflatoxin B1 contamination in feeds disrupts intestinal microbiota, induces immune responses and oxidative damage, increases antioxidant activity, and impairs jejunal cell viability, barrier function, and morphology in the small intestine. These changes compromise nutrient digestion and reduce growth performance in animals. The negative impact of AFB1 on the % change in average daily gain (ΔADG) of chickens and pigs was estimated based on meta-analysis: ΔADG (%)chicken = −0.13 × AFB1 intake per body weight (ng/g·d) and ΔADG (%)pig = −0.74 × AFB1 intake per body weight (µg/kg·d), indicating that increasing AFB1 contamination linearly reduces the growth of animals. To mitigate the harmful impacts of AFB1, various dietary strategies have been effective. Mycotoxin-detoxifying agents include mycotoxin-adsorbing agents, such as clay and yeast cell wall compounds, binding to AFB1 and mycotoxin-biotransforming agents, such as specific strains of Bacillus subtilis and mycotoxin-degrading enzyme, degrading AFB1 into non-toxic metabolites such as aflatoxin D1. Multiple mycotoxin-detoxifying agents are often combined and used together to improve the intestinal health and growth of chickens and pigs fed AFB1-contaminated feeds. In summary, AFB1 negatively impacts intestinal microbiota, induces immune responses and oxidative stress, disrupts intestinal morphology, and impairs nutrient digestion in the small intestine, leading to reduced growth performance. Supplementing multi-component mycotoxin-detoxifying agents in feeds could effectively adsorb and degrade AFB1 co-contaminated with other mycotoxins prior to its absorption in the small intestine, preventing its negative impacts on the intestinal health and growth performance of chickens and pigs.

Development of a new flippase-dependent mouse model for red fluorescence-based isolation of KRASG12D oncogene-expressing tumor cells

Proto-oncogene KRAS, GTPase (KRAS) is one of the most intensively studied oncogenes in cancer research. Although several mouse models allow for regulated expression of mutant KRAS, selective isolation and analysis of transforming or tumor cells that produce the KRAS oncogene remains a challenge. In our study, we present a knock-in model of oncogenic variant KRASG12D that enables the “activation” of KRASG12D expression together with production of red fluorescent protein tdTomato. Both proteins are expressed from the endogenous Kras locus after recombination of a transcriptional stop box in the genomic DNA by the enzyme flippase (Flp). We have demonstrated the functionality of the allele termed RedRas (abbreviated KrasRR) under in vitro conditions with mouse embryonic fibroblasts and organoids and in vivo in the lung and colon epithelium. After recombination with adenoviral vectors carrying the Flp gene, the KrasRR allele itself triggers formation of lung adenomas. In the colon epithelium, it causes the progression of adenomas that are triggered by the loss of tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). Importantly, cells in which recombination has successfully occurred can be visualized and isolated using the fluorescence emitted by tdTomato. Furthermore, we show that KRASG12D production enables intestinal organoid growth independent of epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling and that the KRASG12D function is effectively suppressed by specific inhibitor MRTX1133.

Intestinal Barrier Damage and Growth Retardation Caused by Exposure to Polystyrene Nanoplastics Through Lactation Milk in Developing Mice.

Microplastics, defined as plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, degrade from larger pollutants, with nanoscale microplastic particles presenting significant biological interactions. This study investigates the toxic effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) on juvenile mice, which were exposed through lactation milk and drinking water at concentrations of 0.01 mg/mL, 0.1 mg/mL, and 1 mg/mL. The results show that PS-NP exposure during lactation and juvenile periods caused delayed weight gain and impaired organ development, particularly in the liver and kidneys, without causing functional abnormalities or toxic injuries. The primary toxicity of PS-NPs was observed in the intestinal tract, including shortened villi, disrupted tight junctions, inhibited epithelial cell proliferation, and oxidative stress responses. These findings highlight the importance of evaluating the developmental toxicity of nanoplastics at environmentally relevant doses.

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum as a feed additive: modulating gut microbiota for enhancing nutritional transport and growth performance in Jinhua yellow chickens.

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (TH) has attracted much attention for its heat clearing and detoxification effects, but whether it can become an effective feed supplement in chickens remains unclear. Herein, a total of 120 male Jinhua yellow chickens (two-mth-old) were randomly divided into into four groups (CON, TH-L, TH-M, and TH-H) for a 56-day feeding trial to explore its effects on growth performance and underlying mechanism. Results revealed that dietary TH notably increased the average daily growth (ADG), and decreased the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in TH-H group during 29-56 days. Meanwhile, dietary TH improved the development of duodenum and notably increased the contents of essential amino acids and flavor amino acids, while the serum oxidation stress index as well as abdominal fat deposition were not affected in Jinhua yellow chickens. Additionally, TH supplementation notably increased gut microbiota richness, then selectively increased the colonization of potential probiotics and the microbial abundance associated to amino acid synthesis and metabolic pathways in duodenum. Furthermore, qPCR analysis results preliminarily verified that dietary TH not only enhanced intestinal amino acids (rBAT and EAAT3) and peptides (PepT1 and APN) transport but also alleviated the inflammation (IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-γ), thus thereby improved intestinal development and growth performance in Jinhua yellow chickens. These findings demonstrated that TH is a feed additive that can improve growth performance, muscle amino acids composition and intestinal development.

Human artificial chromosome carrying R-spondin1 and IL-22 expression cassettes in rejuvenated MSCs enhances therapeutic efficacy in ulcerative colitis model mice.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an incurable intestinal disease, with current treatments mainly focused on inflammation control and, in severe cases, surgical resection. Recent studies have highlighted the need for new therapies that promote tissue regeneration. R-spondin-1 (RSPO1) and interleukin-22 (IL-22) have shown anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects in UC models, but have short half-lives and poor targeting abilities. Another therapeutic tool, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), offer promising migratory and homing capabilities; however, the preparation of homogeneous therapeutic MSCs at sufficient levels in vitro is challenging. Therefore, we developed a novel line of MSCs (HAC-MSC) with significant therapeutic effects in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mice. Construction of HAC-MSC involved a two-part strategy: 1) establishment of a non-integrating human artificial chromosome (HAC) vector carrying therapeutic genes encoding IL22 and RSPO1; and 2) transfer of the HAC to previously characterized rejuvenated MSCs (rej-MSCs) prepared using Sendai virus technology for prolonged proliferation capacity in vitro. HAC-MSC stably and efficiently produced therapeutic factors in vitro and, following intraperitoneal administration to DSS-induced colitis mice, showed continuous expression of the therapeutic factors over 5 days. Additionally, HAC-MSC-treated mice showed alleviation of the disease activity index score, reduced depth of injury, and promotion of intestinal growth compared with MSC-treated mice. Furthermore, effective treatment with HAC-MSC required only a fraction (1 %-10 %) of the number of cells needed for conventional MSC therapy. These findings highlight the outstanding potential of rej-MSCs carrying therapeutic factor-loaded HACs as a cell therapy tool with prospective applications in the treatment of UC and other diseases.

Correlation analysis of the impact of Clonorchis sinensis juvenile on gut microbiota and transcriptome in mice.

This study highlighted the impact of C. sinensis juvenile infection on the gut microbiota and transcriptome of BALB/c mice. It induced liver inflammation, promoted intestinal villi growth, and altered goblet cell numbers. The infection also disrupted the diversity and structure of gut microbiota, particularly affecting beneficial bacteria. Transcriptome analysis revealed increased expression of genes related to immune response and detoxification processes. Important pathways affected included circadian rhythm, glutathione metabolism, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. Notable genes implicated included Igkv12-41, Mcpt2, Arntl, Npas2, Cry1, and Gsta1. Bacteroides_sartorii emerged as a potential key regulator in this interaction.

Serum Zinc Levels in Celiac Paediatric Patients on Gluten Free Diet

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder with both genetic and environmental factors involved in its pathogenesis. It characterizes by small intestinal atrophy and malabsorption of essential nutrients, vitamins and trace elements due to ingestion of gluten. Zinc is an essential trace element for maintaining integrity of intestinal mucosa, immunity, and growth in children. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate serum zinc levels in celiac paediatric patients on Gluten Free Diet (GFD) and compares it with healthy children. Sera of 22 celiac paediatric patients on GFD and 16 healthy children as a control group were obtained. The samples were prepared and zinc level was estimated via atomic emission spectrophotometer. Ninety one percent of celiac children on GFD had low zinc. The median plasma zinc concentration was significantly lower in celiac children on GFD (0.20 μg/ml) versus controls (0.86 μg/ml) with p value of < 0.0001. The current study shows that serum zinc concentrations are decreased significantly in celiac paediatric patients on GFD, suggesting zinc deficiency. Thus, good dietary guidance, zinc supplement therapy, and regular monitoring of zinc levels are highly recommended for celiac children on GFD.

Evaluation of dietary oyster mushroom on intestinal histology, growth performance, and immuno-serological parameters of juvenile rainbow trout

Evaluation of dietary oyster mushroom on intestinal histology, growth performance, and immuno-serological parameters of juvenile rainbow trout

Effect of pre-farrowing hygiene routine (sub-standard vs. optimal) and creep feeding regime (dry pelleted starter diet vs. liquid mixture of milk replacer and starter diet) on post-weaning intestinal parameters and growth to slaughter in pigs.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of providing dry pelleted starter diet (DPS) or a liquid mixture of milk replacer and starter diet (LMR+S) to suckling pigs housed in farrowing pens of sub-standard or optimal hygiene conditions on pig growth to slaughter, and post-weaning (PW) intestinal parameters. On day (d) 107 of gestation, 87 sows were randomly allocated to one of four treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement. The factors were creep feeding (DPS or LMR+S) and pre-farrowing hygiene routine (SUB-STANDARD or OPTIMAL). Pigs were provided with DPS (manually) from d11 to weaning (at d28±1.2 of age) or LMR+S using an automatic liquid feeding system from d4 to weaning. The SUB-STANDARD hygiene routine (pens washed and dried for ~18h, sows not washed or disinfected) and the OPTIMAL hygiene routine (pens pre-soaked, detergent applied, washed, dried for 3 days, chlorocresol-based disinfectant applied, dried for 3 more days and sows washed and disinfected with Virkon) were used to obtain SUB-STANDARD or OPTIMAL hygiene conditions, respectively in farrowing rooms prior to entry of sows. Microbiome analysis was performed on fecal samples from 8 focal pigs/treatment, before weaning and at d21 and d114 PW. On d4 PW, 10 pigs/treatment were euthanized to collect intestinal tissue and digesta samples for histological, enzyme activity and microbiome analysis. Feeding LMR+S to pigs born into the OPTIMAL hygiene increased total dry matter intake compared to all of the other groups (P ≤ 0.05) and increased weaning weight compared to DPS feeding under both OPTIMAL and SUB-STANDARD hygiene conditions (P ≤ 0.05). Pigs from OPTIMAL farrowing pens had lower clinical cases of disease, diarrhoea prevalence and were slaughtered 3.8 days earlier than those from SUB-STANDARD farrowing pens (P ≤ 0.05). Suckling piglet mortality was reduced with LMR+S (P ≤ 0.05). On d4 PW, jejunal and ileal villus height were increased by OPTIMAL hygiene and ileal sucrase activity was increased by LMR+S (P ≤ 0.05). On d4 PW, LMR+S-fed pigs from OPTIMAL farrowing pens had lower relative abundance of Clostridium_P in the jejunum. In conclusion, the OPTIMAL hygiene routine increased pre-weaning LMR+S feed intake, reduced clinical cases of disease, improved intestinal structure and reduced the weaning to slaughter duration, while LMR+S feeding increased weaning weight, intestinal maturity and reduced pre-weaning mortality.

Initial pig developmental stage influences intestinal organoid growth but not cellular composition.

Intestinal organoids are promising tools in the context of animal experiment reduction but a thorough characterization of the impact of the origin of intestinal stem cells (ISC) on organoid phenotype is needed to routinely use this cellular model. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of ISC donor age on the growth, morphology and cellular composition of intestinal organoids derived from pig. Organoids were derived from jejunal and colonic ISC obtained from 1-, 7-, 28-, 36- and 180-day-old pigs and passaged three times. We first confirmed by qPCR that the expression of 18% of the >80 studied genes related to various intestinal functions differed between jejunal and colonic organoids after two passages (p < 0.05). Growth and morphology of organoids depended on intestinal location (greater number and larger organoids derived from colonic than jejunal ISC, p < 0.05) but also pig age. Indeed, when ISC were derived from young piglets, the ratio of organoids to spheroids was greater (p < 0.05), spheroids were larger during the primary culture but smaller after two passages (p < 0.05) and organoids were smaller after one passage (p > 0.05) compared to ISC from older pigs. Finally, no difference in cellular composition, evaluated by immunostaining of markers of the major intestinal cell types (absorptive, enteroendocrine and goblet cells) was observed between organoids originating from 7- or 180-day-old pigs, but differences between intestinal site origins were noticed. In conclusion, while the age of the tissue donor affected organoid growth and morphology, it did not influence the phenotype.

Effects of single or conjoint administration of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate and Bacillus subtilis on growth, antioxidant capacity and apoptosis of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

This study aims to assess single or conjoint administration of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and Bacillus subtilis on growth, the function and morphology of hepatopancreas and intestines, antioxidant capacity, inflammation and apoptosis in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). In this study, four diets were formulated according to a 2 × 2 factorial design, including control diet (without PHB and B. subtilis), B. subtilis diet (with 1 × 108 CFU/g B. subtilis), PHB diet (4%PHB) and PHB+B. subtilis diet (with 4%PHB and 1 × 108 CFU/g B. subtilis). Common carp (3.50 ± 0.03g) were allocated into 4 groups (3 replicates per group, 30 fish per replicate) and fed for 8 weeks. Results demonstrated that single or conjoint administration of 4%PHB and 1 × 108 CFU/g B. subtilis promoted the growth performance and feed utilization, with interaction (P<0.05). 4%PHB and 1 × 108 CFU/g B. subtilis increased the levels of protease in intestines, lipase and amylase in hepatopancreas and intestines, AST and ALT in hepatopancreas, intestinal permeability (DAO, D-LA, 5-HT and ET-1), intestinal tight junction protein-related mRNA, intestinal growth indexes (fold height and muscular layer thickness), antioxidant capacity (CAT, T-AOC, T-SOD and GSH-PX in hepatopancreas and intestines, Nrf2, SOD, CAT and GSH-PX mRNA in hepatopancreas and intestines, HO-1 mRNA in hepatopancreas), anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis (TGF-β, IL-10 and Bcl-2 mRNA in hepatopancreas and intestines) (P<0.05), decreased the levels AST and ALT in serum, intestinal growth indexes (lamina propria width), oxidative stress indicator (MDA) and Keap1 mRNA in hepatopancreas and intestines, pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptosis (NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9 mRNA in hepatopancreas and intestines) (P<0.05), improved the morphology of hepatopancreas and intestines. Whereas the levels of protease in hepatopancreas were only increased by 1 × 108 CFU/g B. subtilis (P<0.05), the levels of HO-1 mRNA in intestines were only up-regulated by 4%PHB (P<0.05). Furthermore, the interaction between 4%PHB and 1 × 108 CFU/g B. subtilis was discovered for the levels of AST, ALT and 5-HT in serum, intestinal Occludin mRNA, MDA in hepatopancreas and intestines, Keap1, HO-1 and IL-1β mRNA in hepatopancreas, GSH-PX mRNA in hepatopancreas and intestines, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 mRNA in intestines (P<0.05). In conclusion, this study indicated that conjoint administration of 4%PHB and 1 × 108 CFU/g B. subtilis had synergistic promotion on the growth performance, digestive function, antioxidant capacity, hepatopancreatic and intestinal functions of common carp.

Literature review: Opportunities with phytobiotics for health and growth of pigs

Abstract Phytobiotics are plant-derived rich in bioactive compounds such as phenolics, organosulfur compounds, terpenes, and aldehydes. Phytobiotics can be classified based on their origin or chemical structure, with the main categories being essential oils, oleoresins, and herbs and spices. Phytobiotics have gained interest due to their positive effects on animal health, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties resulting in improved growth performance. This review explores the mode of action of phytobiotics based on their bioactive compounds and highlights their impacts on intestinal health and growth performance in pigs. The inclusion of phytobiotics in pig diets has shown promise in mitigate negative impacts caused by environmental and dietary challenges by reducing inflammatory and oxidative stress responses, enhancing intestinal barrier function, and exhibiting antimicrobial properties against pathogens like Escherichia coli. Collectively, phytobiotics showed a diverse biological activity through different mode of actions, resulting in improved growth performance and overall health in pigs, making phytobiotics a valuable feed additive in pig nutrition and production.

Hydrogenogenic and methanogenic variants of small intestine bacterial overgrowth in children with gastrointestinal and allergic pathology

BACKGROUND: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is defined as an overgrowth of microorganisms more than 103 microbial bodies in 1 ml and non-specific symptoms (abdominal pain, flatulence, unstable stool, diarrhea or constipation). AIM: The aim of the study is to based on the study of the prevalence and age characteristics of various variants of the course of the syndrome of excessive bacterial growth of the small intestine in children with gastroenterological and allergic pathology, to increase the quality of diagnosis and therapeutic approaches to this pathological syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 102 patients (55 female and 47 male), median age: 10.0 [7.2–12.0], with functional dyspepsia (n = 32), functional constipation (n = 20), chronic diseases of the upper digestive tract (n = 13), atopic dermatitis (n = 21) and allergic diseases of the respiratory system (n = 16). All patients underwent gastroenterological and allergological examination including hydrogen breath test on the Lactophan apparatus and hydrogen-methane test on the GastroCheck Gastrolyzer apparatus to diagnose of hydrogenogenic (H2-SIBO) and methanogenic SIBO (CH4-SIBO). RESULTS: Inclusion of methane level in exhaled air into the diagnostic algorithm increased the frequency of SIBO diagnosis depending on pathology by 10–30%. In older age groups, there was a tendency to decrease the frequency of H2-SIBO, with a significant difference between preschool and high school age (18/75% and 12/42.9 %, p = 0.018), and a tendency to increase CH4-SIBO from 4.2 % to 17.9%. The frequency of H2-SIBO was significantly higher in children with functional versus chronic diseases of the upper digestive tract (22/71% и 4/30,8 %, p = 0,02). The highest frequency of SIBO was found in children with functional dyspepsia (89.8 %), functional constipation (87.9%) and atopic dermatitis (94.5%). CH4-SIBO was predominant in children with functional constipation (33%). CONCLUSIONS: Parallel identification of hydrogen and methane in exhaled air increased the frequency of SIBO diagnosis in children of different age groups with gastroenterological and allergic pathology, which is relevant for further examination and therapy. CH4-SIBO flow was more typical for older children and H2-SIBO for younger age groups.

Probiotics Enhance Coilia nasus Growth Performance and Nutritional Value by Regulating Glucolipid Metabolism via the Gut-Liver Axis.

Large-scale intensive feeding triggered reduced growth performance and nutritional value. Exogenous probiotics can promote the growth performance and nutritional value of fish through improving the intestinal microbiota. However, detailed research on the correlation between the intestinal microbiota, growth performance, and nutritional value remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we performed metagenomic and metabolomic analysis to investigate the effects of probiotic addition to basal diet (1.0 × 108 CFU/g) (PF) and water (1.0 × 108 CFU/g) (PW) on the growth performance, muscle nutritional value, intestinal microbiota and their metabolites, and glucolipid metabolism in Coilia nasus. The results showed that FBW, BL, and SGR were enhanced in PF and PW groups. The concentrations of EAAs, TAAs, SFAs, MUFAs, and PUFAs were increased in PF and PW groups. Metagenomic and metabolic analyses revealed that bacterial community structure and metabolism were changed in the PF and PW groups. Moreover, adding probiotics to diet and water increased SCFAs and bile acids in the intestine. The gene expression associated with lipolysis and oxidation (hsl, pparα, cpt1, and acadm) and glycolysis (gck and pfk) was upregulated, while the gene expression associated with lipid synthesis (srebp1, acc, dgat, and elovl6) and gluconeogenesis (g6pca1, g6pca2, and pck) was downregulated in the liver. Correlation analysis displayed that hepatic glucolipid metabolism was regulated through the microbiota-gut-liver axis. Mantel test analysis showed that growth performance and muscle nutritional value were improved by the gut-liver axis. Our findings offered novel insights into the mechanisms that underlie the enhancement of growth performance and nutritional value in C. nasus and other fish by adding probiotics.

Nano-Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as a dietary intervention in nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Effects on resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila challenge, immune-antioxidant responses, digestive/absorptive capacity, and growth

The present investigation proposed an innovative trial at the probable beneficial effects of nano-Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (NBA) dietary incorporation on the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The investigation included the impact on the growth, digestive functions, immune-antioxidant indices, and resistance to Aeromonas hydrophila challenge. A total of 135 fish (35.14 ± 0.12 g) were equally allocated into three groups (45 fish/group; 15 fish/replicate) in triplicates for 70 days. The control, NBA2, and NBA4 groups were fed basal diets enriched with 0, 102, and 104 CFU/kg NBA, respectively. Following the feeding experiment, all experimental groups were injected with 0.1 mL (1.5 × 106) A. hydrophila, and the fish mortalities were observed for 14 days. The outcomes showed that dietary NBA (NBA4 followed by the NBA2 diet) augmented the growth variables (final body weight, total weight gain, and specific growth rate) and condition factor and declined the feed conversion ratio. The intestinal digestive enzyme (amylase and lipase) and growth hormone levels were increased and the serum glucose level was decreased by dietary NBA. Furthermore, NBA diets enhanced the immune (total protein, globulin, lysozyme, complement 3, myeloperoxidase, and phagocytic activity) and antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity) parameters. The intestinal histology revealed no pathological lesions with a significant improvement in the intestinal histomorpho-measures (villus height and width, villus surface area, lamina propria thickness, and tunica muscularis thickness) by NBA diets in a dose-dependent manner. In the fish intestine, the B. amyloliquefaciens count was increased in the NBA groups (NBA4 group followed by NBA2 group) with no discernible difference in the total bacterial count. Fish resistance to the A. hydrophila challenge was increased by increasing the survival % in the NBA4 group (91.70 %) followed by the NBA2 group (83.30 %) compared to the control group (70.80 %). Overall, dietary NBA (especially 104 CFU/kg diet) could be a promising feed supplement in the Nile tilapia diets for improving their growth, health, and resistance to bacterial challenges.

Impacts of replacing soybean meal with processed soybean meal on intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs challenged with F18+ Escherichia coli.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of different level of soybean meal (SBM) replaced by soy protein concentrate on intestinal health and growth performance of nursery pigs under F18+ Escherichia. coli (E. coli). Forty-eight newly weaned pigs (6.6 ± 0.3 kg) were randomly allotted to 4 treatments arranged by 2 × 2 factors using randomized complete block design with initial body weight and sex as blocks. Two factors were F18+ E. coli challenge (0 or 2.1 × 1010 CFU) and the level of SBM (24% or 12% in phase 1 and 26% or 14% in phase 2). Pigs were fed for 25 d in 2 phases (phase 1 for 11 d and phase 2 for 14 d). At the end of study, all pigs were euthanized to collect jejunal mucosa and tissues to measure parameters related to intestinal health. Data were analyzed using a MIXED procedure in SAS. The F18+ E. coli challenge decreased (p<0.05) overall average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) and decreased (p<0.05) gain to feed ratio on d 7 to 11. The High SBM tended to have a greater overall ADG (p=0.054) and ADFI (p=0.078) compared with low SBM under F18+ E. coli challenge, but not in unchallenged conditions. The F18+ E. coli challenge increased (p<0.05) fecal score on d 7 to 18. The tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1β in jejunal mucosa were decreased (p<0.05) in High SBM treatments. The High SBM tended to increase (p=0.085) occludin expression in jejunum. High SBM increased crypt depth in jejunum under F18+ E. coli challenge, but not in unchallenged conditions (p<0.05). High SBM in nursery diets could alleviate the detrimental effects of F18+ E. coli challenge on growth performance of pigs under compared to low SBM inclusion, which might be attributed to decreased intestinal inflammation and improved intestinal integrity.

Effects of high-dose glucose oxidase on broiler growth performance, antioxidant function, and intestinal microbiota in broilers.

Glucose oxidase (GOD) has been investigated as a potential additive for enhancing intestinal health and growth performance in poultry. However, limited research exists on the effects of ultra-high doses of GOD in practical poultry production. This study aimed to investigate the impact of high dietary GOD levels on broiler growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota. A total of 400 healthy, 1-day-old, slow-growing broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four treatment groups. The control group was fed a standard basal diet, while the other groups (G1, G2, and G3) were fed the basal diet supplemented with 4 U/g, 20 U/g, and 100 U/g of VTR GOD, respectively. The results showed that a dose of 100 U/g GOD significantly improved the final body weight and average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p < 0.05). Additionally, the G3 group exhibited a marked increase in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (p < 0.05), reflecting enhanced antioxidant function. Gut morphology remained intact across all groups, indicating no adverse effects on intestinal barrier integrity. Microbiota analysis revealed significant increases (p < 0.05) in Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobiota abundance at the phylum level in the GOD-supplemented groups. Moreover, GOD treatments significantly increased the abundance of Faecalibacterium, Mucispirllum, and CHKCI001 at the genus level. Metabolic function predictions suggested that high-dose GOD supplementation enriched carbohydrate metabolism, particularly starch and sucrose metabolism. Correlation analysis indicated that Faecalibacterium and CHCKI001 were two bacteria strongly influenced by GOD supplementation and were associated with enhanced growth performance and improved gut health. In conclusion, high-dose GOD supplementation had no adverse effects and demonstrated significant benefits, promoting both growth performance and gut health in broilers.

Dietary supplementary with ellagic acid improves the intestinal barrier function and flora structure of broiler chicken challenged with E. coli K88

Ellagic acid (EA) contributes to the immunity and anti-oxidant function of body, whereas there are few reports about its effect on the intestinal health and growth performance of broiler chickens. Hence, the present study was arranged to investigate the effect of dietary supplementary with EA on the intestinal barrier function and flora structure of broiler chickens challenged with Escherichia coli K88 (E. coli K88). A total of 216 healthy 1-day-old, Ross 308 broilers with uniform weight were randomly assigned into three treatment groups, six replicates in each group and twelve birds in each replicate. Broilers in the control (CTR) group and E. coli K88 infected group (ETEC) were fed with the basic diet, and 200 mg/kg EA was supplemented into the diet of the E. coli K88 infected group treated with EA (EAETEC). The animal trial had lasted for 42 days, and the outcomes showed that the ADG and ADFI during the animal trial, the jejunal villi height (VH) and the ratio of VH to crypt depth (CD) tended to be decreased with E. coli K88 treated (P< 0.05). Additionally, the level of serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and intestinal malondialdehyde (MDA) were elevated, the activity of intestinal total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), the mRNA levels in jejunal claudin-1 and occludin were down-regulated with E. coli K88 treated as well as the transcription levels of ileal Mucin-2, aquaporin-3 (AQP-3) and Na+/H+ exchanger proteins-3 (NHE-3) (P< 0.05). In addition, E. coli K88 down-regulated the α-diversity index of cecal flora, the ratio of Bacteroidota to Firmicutes and the relative abundance of Barnesiella were up-regulated and it of Alistipes was descended with E. coli K88 treated (P< 0.05). Beyond that, the content of propionic acid in the cecal chyme was decreased and the amino acid metabolic pathways were inhibited with E. coli K88 challenged (P< 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant positive correlation between the relative abundance of Alistipes and the levels of butyric acid in the caecal chyme and the activity of GSH-Px in the intestine (P< 0.05). Interestingly, dietary supplementary with EA could reshape the intestinal flora structure and alleviate the above negative effects of E. coli K88 on broiler chickens. In conclusion, dietary supplementary with ellagic acid improved the intestinal barrier function and flora structure of broiler chickens challenged with E. coli K88.

Lactiplantibacillus argentoratensis AGMB00912 alleviates diarrhea and promotes the growth performance of piglets during the weaning transition

BackgroundPreventing post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in weaned piglets is a crucial challenge in the swine production industry. The stress of weaning, dietary shifts from maternal milk to solid feed, and environmental changes lead to decreased microbial diversity, increased pathogen abundance, and compromised intestinal integrity. We have previously identified Lactiplantibacillus argentoratensis AGMB00912 (LA) in healthy porcine feces, which demonstrated antimicrobial activity against pathogens and enhanced short-chain fatty acid production. This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of LA strain supplementation as a strategy to inhibit PWD and enhance overall growth performance in weaned piglets.ResultsLA supplementation in weaned piglets significantly increased body weight gain, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake. It also alleviated diarrhea symptoms (diarrhea score and incidence). Notably, LA was found to enrich beneficial microbial populations (Lactobacillus, Anaerobutyricum, Roseburia, Lachnospiraceae, and Blautia) while reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria (Helicobacter and Campylobacter). This not only reduces the direct impact of pathogens but also improves the overall gut microbiota structure, thus enhancing the resilience of weaned piglets. LA treatment also promotes the growth of the small intestinal epithelial structure, strengthens gut barrier integrity, and increases short-chain fatty acid levels in the gut.ConclusionsThe study findings demonstrate the promising potential of LA in preventing PWD. Supplementation with the LA strain offers a promising feed additive for improving intestinal health and growth in piglets during the weaning transition, with the potential to significantly reduce the incidence and severity of PWD.

Changes in the intestinal microbiome of the preterm baby associated with stopping non-invasive pressure support: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundIntestinal dysbiosis is implicated in the pathogenesis of necrotising enterocolitis and late-onset sepsis in preterm babies. The provision of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation is a common clinical intervention in preterm...