Intestinal Growth Research Articles

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.

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...

Fructose shields human colorectal cancer cells from hypoxia-induced necroptosis

Recent studies have shown that high dietary fructose intake enhances intestinal tumor growth in mice. Our previous work indicated that glucose enables hypoxic colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to resist receptor-interacting protein (RIP)-dependent necroptosis. Despite having the same chemical formula, glucose and fructose are absorbed through different transporters yet both can enter the glycolytic metabolic pathway. The excessive intake of dietary fructose, leading to its overflow into the colon, allows colonic cells to absorb fructose apically. This study explores the mechanisms behind apical fructose-mediated death resistance in CRC cells under hypoxic stress. Utilizing three CRC cell lines (Caco-2, HT29, and T84) under normoxic and hypoxic conditions with varying fructose concentrations, we assessed lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, RIP1/3 complex formation (a necroptosis marker), and cell integrity. We investigated the role of fructose in glycolytic-mediated death resistance using glycolytic inhibitors iodoacetate (IA, a glycolytic inhibitor to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase), and UK5099 (UK, an inhibitor to mitochondrial pyruvate carrier). Our findings reveal that apical fructose prevents the hypoxia-induced RIP-dependent necroptosis in Caco-2 and HT29 cells. Fructose exposure under hypoxia also preserved epithelial integrity. IA, but not UK, blocked fructose-mediated glycolytic metabolite production and necrosis, indicating that anaerobic glycolytic metabolites facilitate death resistance. Notably, fructose treatment upregulated pyruvate kinase (PK)-M1 mRNA in hypoxic Caco-2 and HT29 cells, while PKM2 upregulation was exclusive to HT29 cells. In conclusion, apical fructose utilization through glycolysis effectively inhibits hypoxia-induced RIP-dependent necroptosis in CRC cells, shedding light on potential metabolic adaptation mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment and suggesting novel targets for therapeutic intervention.

Assessing the Impact of Clove (Syzygium Aromaticum) Extract on Intestinal and Hepatic Histological Alterations in Broiler Chickens Infected with Salmonella typhimurium

This study investigated effects of aqueous and ethanolic clove extracts in small intestine and liver of chickens exposed to Salmonella typhimurium. Two hundred fifty-day-old chicks were divided into five groups. Group 1 served as the control and received a basic diet.Group 2 was orally infected with Salmonella typhimurium. Group 3 received same infection but was treated with Ciprofloxacin. Groups 4 and 5 were infected but received treatments of aqueous and ethanolic clove extracts, respectively. The findings revealed that Group 1 exhibited normal small intestine, while Group 2 displayed severe abnormalities, including flattened mucosa, damaged villi, and inflammation. Group 3 showed improvements, increased cell growth and goblet cells in the small intestine. Group 4 displayed nearly normal intestinal features. Group 5 had fully restored intestinal health. In the liver, Group 1 showed typical hepatic structure, whereas Group 2 exhibited signs of inflammation and hepatocyte necrosis. Group 3 displayed severe hepatocyte damage, while Group 4 demonstrated restored liver structure with slight sinusoidal dilation. Group 5 had a well-preserved hepatic architecture with minor inflammation. Administration of 2 mg/kg of aqueous and ethanolic clove extracts demonstrated alleviate histological alterations in small intestine and liver caused by Salmonella typhimurium infection. Notably, the aqueous extract is more effective than ethanolic extract in reducing liver and intestine damage.

Augmentation of Fermentability and Bioavailability Characteristics of Wheat Bran via the Synergistic Interaction between Arabinoxylan-Specific Degrading Enzymes and Lactic Acid Bacteria.

To enhance the use of wheat bran in chicken feed, a solid-state fermentation approach was used with Lactobacillus paracasei LAC28 and Pediococcus acidilactici BCC-1, along with arabinoxylan-specific degrading enzymes (xylanase, arabinofuranosidase, feruloyl esterase, XAF). The effects of the fermentation process were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro study, XAF supplementation demonstrated superior performance, significantly reducing the pH of the fermented wheat bran (FWB) and increasing lactic, acetic, and butyric acid levels, total phenol content, and free radical scavenging capacity (P < 0.05) compared to the XAF-free group. In the in vivo study, broilers were fed diets containing either unfermented wheat bran (UFWB) or FWB (fermented individually with LAC28 or BCC-1). Broilers fed FWB with BCC-1 exhibited significant improvements in body weight gain, intestinal morphology, and nutrient digestibility (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. Moreover, the FWB established a healthier microbial community in the avian gastrointestinal tract. Overall, this study demonstrated the potential of combining XAF and bacteria to enhance wheat bran fermentation, benefiting broiler intestinal health and growth. This innovative approach holds promise as a cost-efficient and sustainable strategy to improve the nutritional quality of wheat bran for animal feed applications.

Simiao Wan attenuates high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia in mice by modulating the gut microbiota–bile acid axis

Ethnopharmacological relevanceHyperlipidemia is a lipid metabolism disorder and a risk factor for obesity, diabetes, and coronary heart disease. It occurs mostly in the old adults; however, its incidence rate is increasing annually and there is a trend towards younger adults. Current clinical drugs for treating hyperlipidemia have multiple side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to develop safe and effective drugs from natural products to prevent and treat hyperlipidemia. Simiao Wan (SMW) is a classic Chinese medicine prescription first recorded in the Cheng Fang Bian Du of the Qing Dynasty. Studies have shown that SMW has excellent efficacy in metabolic diseases, which can effectively improve hyperlipidemia combined with other metabolic diseases. However, its underlying mechanism in hyperlipidemia treatment is yet to be clarified. Aim of the studyTo investigate the hypolipidemic effect of SMW on hyperlipidemic mice and explore whether the gut microbiota-bile acid (BA) axis is the potential mechanism. Materials and methodsA hyperlipidemic mouse model was established using a high-fat diet (HFD), and the hypolipidemic effect of SMW was detected in vivo. We performed 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and BA metabolism analysis to explore the hypolipidemic mechanisms of SMW. Western blotting was conducted to detect the expression of proteins involved in the gut microbiota-BA axis to determine the potential lipid-lowering pathway. ResultsExcessive obesity in hyperlipidemic mice was alleviated after 8 weeks of SMW treatment. The total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased significantly, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased. SMW also reduced hepatic lipid and inguinal white adipose tissue accumulation in HFD-induced hyperlipidemic mice. Furthermore, intestinal bile saline hydrolase (BSH) level, associated with BA excretion, decreased. Meanwhile, SMW decreased the abundance of BSH-enriched microbes in hyperlipidemic mice. SMW increased the intestinal conjugated-BAs contents in hyperlipidemic mice, especially tauro-β-muricholic acid and tauro-ursodeoxycholic acid, which are ileac farnesoid X receptor (FXR) antagonists. Inhibited intestinal FXR signaling with SMW was accompanied by a decreased expression of intestinal fibroblast growth factor 15 and the activation of hepatic FXR, which promoted hepatic cholesterol conversion to BA. ConclusionSMW indirectly attenuated HFD-induced hyperlipidemia in mice by regulating the gut microbiota-BA axis. Our results provide a pharmacological basis for SMW treating hyperlipidemia and suggest a new idea for developing lipid-lowering drugs.

Effects of cottonseed meal protein hydrolysate on intestinal microbiota of yellow-feather broilers.

We evaluated the effects of cottonseed meal protein hydrolysate (CPH) on the intestinal microbiota of yellow-feather broilers. We randomly divided 240 chicks into four groups with six replicates: basal diet with 0% (CON), 1% (LCPH), 3% (MCPH), or 5% (HCPH) CPH. The test lasted 63 days and included days 1-21, 22-42, and 43-63 phases. The ACE, Chao1, and Shannon indices in the MCPH and HCPH groups of 42-day-old broilers were higher than those in the CON group (p < 0.05), indicating that the cecum microbial diversity and richness were higher in these groups. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla; however, the main genera varied during the different periods. The abundance of Lactobacillus in CPH treatment groups of 21-day-old broilers was high (p < 0.05); in the 42-day-old broilers, the abundances of Barnesiella, Clostridia_vadinBB60_group, and Parasutterella in the LCPH group, Desulfovibrio, Lactobacillus, Clostridia_vadinBB60_group, and Butyricicoccus in the MCPH group, and Megamonas and Streptococcus in the HCPH group increased; in the 63-day-old broilers, the abundance of Clostridia_UCG-014 and Synergistes in the LCPH and HCPH group, respectively, increased (p < 0.05), and that of Alistipes in the LCPH and MCPH groups decreased (p < 0.05). And changes in the abundance of probiotics were beneficial to improve the intestinal morphology and growth performance. In addition, the LCPH treatment increased the complexity of the microbial network, while the MCPH treatment had the same effect in 42-day-old broilers. Thus, CPH increased the relative abundance of beneficial intestinal microbiota and enhanced the richness and diversity of the bacterial microbiota in broilers aged <42 days; this effect was weakened after 42 days.

In Vitro Utilization of Prebiotics by Listeria monocytogenes.

Listeria monocytognes is an emerging pathogen responsible for the serious foodborne disease, listeriosis. The commensal gut microbiota is the first line of defense against pathogen internalization. The gut microbiome can be modified by prebiotic substrates, which are frequently added to food products and dietary supplements. Prebiotics should selectively support the growth of beneficial microbes and thus improve host health. Nevertheless, little is known about their effect on the growth of L. monocytogenes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth ability of four L. monocytogenes strains, representing the most common serotypes, on prebiotic oligosaccharides (beta-(1,3)-D-glucan, inulin, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, lactulose, raffinose, stachyose and 2'-fucosyllactose and a mixture of human milk oligosaccharides) as a sole carbon source. The results showed that only beta-(1,3)-D-glucan was metabolized by L. monocytogenes. These cell culture data suggest that beta-(1,3)-D-glucan may not be selectively utilized by healthy commensal bacteria, and its role in intestinal pathogen growth warrants further exploration in vivo.

Selective Agonism of Liver and Gut FXR Prevents Cholestasis and Intestinal Atrophy in Parenterally Fed Neonatal Pigs.

We aimed to investigate the relative efficacy of feeding different bile acids in preventing PNALD in neonatal pigs. Newborn pigs given total parenteral nutrition (TPN) combined with minimal enteral feeding of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), or increasing doses of obeticholic acid (OCA) for 19 days. Enteral OCA (5 and 15 mg/kg), but not CDCA (30 mg/kg) reduced blood cholestasis markers compared to TPN controls and increased bile acids in the gallbladder and intestine. Major bile acids in the liver and distal intestine were CDCA, HCA, HDCA and OCA, and their relative proportions were increased by the type of bile acid (CDCA or OCA) given enterally. High doses of OCA increased the total NR1H4-agonistic bile acid profile in the liver and intestine above 50% total bile acids. Both CDCA and OCA treatments suppressed hepatic cyp7a1 expression, but only OCA increased hepatobiliary transporters, ABCB11, ABCC$ and ABCB1. Plasma phytosterol levels were reduced and biliary levels were increased by CDCA and OCA and hepatic sterol transporters, abcg5/8, expression were increased by OCA. Both CDCA and OCA increased plasma FGF19 and OCA increased intestinal FGF19, FABP6, and SLC51A. Both CDCA and OCA increased intestinal mucosal growth, whereas CDCA increased the plasma GLP-2, GLP-1 and GIP. Enteral OCA prevented cholestasis and phytosterolemia by increased hepatic bile acid and sterol transport via induction of hepatobiliary transporter FXR target genes and not by suppression of bile acid synthesis genes. We also showed an intestinal trophic action of OCA that demonstrates a dual clinical benefit of FXR agonism in the prevention of PNALD in piglets.

Breed-Driven Microbiome Heterogeneity Regulates Intestinal Stem Cell Proliferation via Lactobacillus-Lactate-GPR81 Signaling.

Genetically lean and obese individuals have distinct intestinal microbiota and function. However, the underlying mechanisms of the microbiome heterogeneity and its regulation on epithelial function such as intestinal stem cell (ISC) fate remain unclear. Employing pigs of genetically distinct breeds (obese Meishan and lean Yorkshire), this study reveals transcriptome-wide variations in microbial ecology of the jejunum, characterized by enrichment of active Lactobacillus species, notably the predominant Lactobacillus amylovorus (L. amylovorus), and lactate metabolism network in obese breeds. The L. amylovorus-dominant heterogeneity is paralleled with epithelial functionality difference as reflected by highly expressed GPR81, more proliferative ISCs and activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Experiments using in-house developed porcine jejunal organoids prove that live L. amylovorus and its metabolite lactate promote intestinal organoid growth. Mechanistically, L. amylovorus and lactate activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling in a GPR81-dependent manner to promote ISC-mediated epithelial proliferation. However, heat-killed L. amylovorus fail to cause these changes. These findings uncover a previously underrepresented role of L. amylovorus in regulating jejunal stem cells via Lactobacillus-lactate-GPR81 axis, a key mechanism bridging breed-driven intestinal microbiome heterogeneity with ISC fate. Thus, results from this study provide new insights into the role of gut microbiome and stem cell interactions in maintaining intestinal homeostasis.

Carboxypeptidase inhibitor Latexin (LXN) regulates intestinal organogenesis and intestinal remodeling involved in intestinal injury repair in mice

The self-renewal and regeneration of intestinal epithelium are mainly driven by intestinal stem cells resided in crypts, which are crucial for rapid recovery intestinal tissue following injury. Latexin (LXN) is a highly expressed stem cell proliferation and differentiation related gene in intestinal tissue. However, it is still ambiguous whether LXN participates in intestine regeneration by regulating intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Here, we report that LXN colocalizes with Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) in intestinal crypts, and deletion of LXN upregulates the expression of Lgr5 in intestinal crypts. LXN deficiency promotes the proliferation of ISCs, thereby enhances the development of intestinal organoids. Mechanically, we show that LXN deficiency enhances the expression of Lgr5 in ISCs by activating the Yes-associated protein (YAP) and wingless (Wnt) signal pathways, thus accelerating intestinal normal growth and regeneration post-injury. In summary, these findings uncover a novel function of LXN in intestinal regeneration post-injury and intestinal organogenesis, suggesting the potential role of LXN in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Evaluation of Increasing Levels of Acacia mearnsii Tannins on Growth Performance and Intestinal Morphometrics of Broiler Chickens Undergoing a Salmonella Heidelberg Challenge

Phytogenic additives such as tannins are characterized as polyphenolic compounds known for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunostimulatory properties that have been used to enhance the performance, intestinal health, and meat quality of broiler chickens. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary supplementation of tannins from Acacia mearnsii on the intestinal morphometrics, litter moisture, and growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of 1400 Cobb 500 one-day-old male chicks were randomly distributed into five dietary treatments with eight replicates (35 birds/pen) until 42 days of age. The treatments consisted of Salmonella Heidelberg-challenged groups supplemented with 0, 300, 500, 700, or 900 mg/kg tannin from Acacia mearnsii. A four-phase feeding program was used with pre-starter, starter, grower, and finisher feeds. At 3 days of age, birds were orally gavaged with an S. Heidelberg culture. Feed intake, body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were evaluated until day 42. The morphometry of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum was measured at 7 and 42 days of age. From 1 to 28, 1 to 35, and 1 to 42 days of age, tannin supplementation for broilers under S. Heidelberg challenge led to quadratic increases (p &lt; 0.05) in BWG, with optimal responses at 265, 412, and 456 mg/kg, respectively. No effects of tannin were observed on FCR in all periods. Villus height was similar in all segments on day 7 (p &gt; 0.05); however, on day 42, tannin supplementation that improved villus height of the ileum was 600 mg/kg (p = 0.0100). In conclusion, tannins from Acacia mearnsii were able to improve body weight gain and intestinal morphometry of broiler chickens under an imposed challenge of S. Heidelberg.

Dietary Intervention of Benzoic Acid for Intestinal Health and Growth of Nursery Pigs.

The objectives of this review are to investigate how benzoic acid can mitigate the negative effects of weaning stress, improve the intestinal microbiota, intestinal health, and growth of nursery pigs, determine the optimal dose level of benzoic acid for the growth rate in nursery pigs, and compare the efficacy of benzoic acid and other acids in pig feeds. After weaning, pigs are exposed to less lactose and solid feed with high acid-binding capacity at infrequent intervals, causing an increase in digesta pH, reducing protein digestion, and increasing ammonia-producing bacteria in the stomach. Benzoic acid supplementation has improved the intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs through its antimicrobial properties and pH reduction in the digesta. The positive modulation of luminal microbiota in the small intestine of pigs by benzoic acid improves intestinal morphology and enhances nutrient utilization, especially nitrogen, of nursery pigs. Benzoic acid supplementation of up to 1% in feeds also increases hippuric acid contents in the urine of nursery pigs, decreasing urinary pH, which is related to ammonia emission and barn conditions in intensive pig production. Supported by the beneficial impacts of benzoic acid, the growth performance of nursery pigs was also improved. However, excessive benzoic acid (over 2.5% up to 5%) in feeds reduces the growth performance of nursery pigs. Thus, this review conducted a meta-analysis of the results from 16 papers to determine the optimal dose level of benzoic acid for body weight gain of nursery pigs, which was found to be 0.60%. The efficacy of benzoic acid was similar to that of other organic acids, including citric acid, fumaric acid, formic acid, and formate salts. Collectively, benzoic acid supplementation can positively modulate the luminal and mucosal microbiota in the small intestine, increase nutrient utilization and intestinal health, decrease urinary pH, and improve the growth performance of nursery pigs.

Somatotype and microbiome: trends and correlations in liver cirrhosis

Introduction. Characteristic changes against the background of liver cirrhosis are violations of the composition and number of representatives of the intestinal microbiota (intestinal dysbiosis) and excessive bacterial growth in the small intestine. The aim is to identify a correlation between the somatotype of a patient with liver cirrhosis and changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Material and methods. The study included 46 patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis of various etiologies. The somatotype of the patients was determined using a bioimpedance analyzer of body composition (ABC-01 "Medass"). The intestinal microbiota was analyzed once by 16s rRNA sequencing. The processing of the received data was carried out using the program “Statistica". Results. Among 46 patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, the majority (26 patients) had a mesoendomorphic somatotype, 14 patients were representatives of endomesomorphs. The predominance of representatives of the genera Streptococcus (p-value = 0.02), Campylobacter (p-value = 0.049) and Holdemanella (p-value = 0.048) was statistically significant in the group of endomesomorphs, while bacteria from the genera Klebsiella (p-value = 0.01) and Gammaproteobacteria (p-value = 0.048) prevailed in the group of mesoendomorphs.value = 0.02). Taxa of the intestinal microbiota of Pyramidobacter were expressed in patients with endomorphic somatotype (p-value = 0.016). Conclusions. Different somatotypes of patients with liver cirrhosis are associated with certain taxa of the intestinal microbiota, which prevail over other families of bacteria.

Effects of a multi-strain Bacillus probiotic on the intestinal microbiome, haemato-immunology, and growth performance of Nile tilapia.

The study evaluated dietary supplementation with a feed additive composed of multi-strain Bacillus for Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. In vitro and in vivo assays employing culture-based microbiological methods and metagenomics were performed. Additionally, the study assessed the haemato-immunology, intestinal microbiome, and growth performance of the animals. For this, 30 juvenile Nile tilapia were used in the in vitro assay and 180 (60 + 120) in the in vivo assays. In the in vitro assay, we found evidence of adhesion of the probiotic bacteria to the intestinal mucus of fish, corroborated in the 15-day in vivo assay, in which the count of B. licheniformis was significantly higher in fish fed with probiotic when compared to fish of the control group. Furthermore, in the 50-day in vivo trial, a metagenomic analysis provided evidence for the modulation of the intestine microbiome of Nile tilapia by dietary supplementation of the probiotic. In addition, there was an increase in species richness, higher abundance of potentially probiotic autochthonous species and a lower abundance of Aeromonas sp. when the animals were fed the supplemented diet. Finally, no significant differences were observed in growth performance and haemato-immunological analyses, suggesting no harm to fish health when the product was supplemented for 15 and 50 days. The in vitro results indicate that the multi-strain probiotics were able to adhere to the intestinal mucus of Nile tilapia. Additionally, a modulation of the intestinal microbiome was evidenced in the in vivo assay.

Intestinal organoids to model Salmonella infection and its impact on progenitors

In order to survive and replicate, Salmonella has evolved mechanisms to gain access to intestinal epithelial cells of the crypt. However, the impact of Salmonella Typhimurium on stem cells and progenitors, which are responsible for the ability of the intestinal epithelium to renew and protect itself, remains unclear. Given that intestinal organoids growth is sustained by stem cells and progenitors activity, we have used this model to document the effects of Salmonella Typhimurium infection on epithelial proliferation and differentiation, and compared it to an in vivo model of Salmonella infection in mice. Among gut segments, the caecum was preferentially targeted by Salmonella. Analysis of infected crypts and organoids demonstrated increased length and size, respectively. mRNA transcription profiles of infected crypts and organoids pointed to upregulated EGFR-dependent signals, associated with a decrease in secretory cell lineage differentiation. To conclude, we show that organoids are suited to mimic the impact of Salmonella on stem cells and progenitors cells, carrying a great potential to drastically reduce the use of animals for scientific studies on that topic. In both models, the EGFR pathway, crucial to stem cells and progenitors proliferation and differentiation, is dysregulated by Salmonella, suggesting that repeated infections might have consequences on crypt integrity and further oncogenesis.