Maintaining Gut Health Research Articles

Microbiome and Human Health: Recent Insights and Future Directions

The human microbiome comprises a complicated assembly of microorganisms inhabiting the body and its surfaces. It plays an important role in various physiological functions, such as digestion, immune homeostasis, and disease prevention. The development and improvement of sequencing technologies have advanced our knowledge of these microbial ecosystems and their interactions with host species. Probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation are the therapeutic methods in this regard that have been the focus of considerable research regarding their role as a means to alter the microbiome toward better health. Probiotics are preparations of live antibiotic-producing microbes, which favorably affect intestinal barrier integrity, alter the immunologic response of the host, and stimulate the growth of probiotic bacteria. Prebiotics are dietary nondigestible fibers, whose selective fermentation promotes the growth or activity of beneficial bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the risk of disease by maintaining gut health. In spite of the fact that it is a very promising technique, with the exception of treatments for Clostridioides difficile infections, most require further studies before general use. The gut microbiome is also highly dependent on diet and lifestyle. Diets high in fiber enhance the abundance of symbiotic bacteria, whereas high-fat diets strongly reduce microbial diversity and increase proinflammatory bacterial species. In addition, regular exercise and sleep are critically important for coping with stressful conditions. Poor sleep and chronic stress degrade microbial communities, leading to dysbiosis. Apart from the potential of such research in microbiomes, other challenges include individual variability and ethical concerns; these are very important to note during translation to the clinic. Ongoing microbiome research holds tremendous promise for personalized health and prevention that deserves to be encouraged toward future treatments and human health.

Association between the composite dietary antioxidant index and constipation: Evidence from NHANES 2005-2010.

Dietary antioxidants have been found to improve various diseases, including digestive, cardiovascular, and urinary disorders. However, the relationship between CDAI and constipation remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the potential link between CDAI and constipation among adults in the United States. This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected between 2005 and 2010. Dietary data from the respondents were obtained through two 24-hour dietary recall interviews. Multiple statistical methods, including multivariable logistic regression, subgroup analysis, and smooth curve fitting analysis, were used to explore the association between CDAI and chronic constipation. A total of 10,904 participants were included in the study, of whom 1,184 were identified as having chronic constipation. After adjusting for potential confounders, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that higher CDAI was significantly associated with a lower risk of constipation (OR = 0.958 [0.929, 0.987]). Compared to the lowest quartile, the highest quartile of CDAI was associated with a significantly reduced prevalence of constipation (OR = 0.704 [0.535, 0.927]). Subgroup analysis indicated that differences in gender, alcohol intake, and smoking status might influence the association between CDAI and constipation. Smooth curve analysis revealed an "n" shaped relationship between CDAI and constipation among non-alcohol consumers, with a turning point at a CDAI value of 1.08. An elevated CDAI is negatively correlated with the incidence of chronic constipation, suggesting that increasing dietary antioxidant intake may reduce constipation prevalence. These findings underscore the importance of dietary antioxidants in maintaining gut health and provide comprehensive guidance for clinical and public health practices.

Efek intervensi permen probiotik Lactobacillus plantarum Dad-13 terhadap kualitas feses dan komposisi mikrobia usus balita gizi kurang

Background: Undernutrition, a high nutritional problem in Indonesia, can be caused by the imbalance of the gut microbiota composition and gut healthiness. Probiotic intervention is one of the ways that can maintain those aspects. Preventive steps to address malnutrition can improve human resources in the future.Objectives: This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of probiotic L. plantarum Dad-13 intervention on fecal quality and gut microbiota modulation of undernourished infants. Methods: This research was conducted in Tirtoadi Village, Sleman, Yogyakarta, from January to March 2020, using a randomized, double-blind clinical control trial design with two groups: placebo (n:15) and probiotic (n:15), over a 50-day intervention period. The probiotic group was given L. plantarum Dad-13 candy, while the placebo group was given candy with the same composition but without adding L. plantarum Dad-13. Anthropometric measurements and feces sampling were carried out before and after the intervention. Fecal samples were then analyzed for fecal quality and intestinal microbial composition. The data obtained were analyzed using the Wilcoxon paired test for within-group differences (before and after the intervention). In contrast, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for between-group analysis (placebo and probiotic).Results: The result showed that the intervention of L. plantarum Dad-13 candy improved defecation frequency (p<0,024) and fecal consistency towards the normal category. Besides that, although there is no change in the F/B ratio, L. plantarum Dad-13 intervention also enhanced the number of genus-related Firmicutes phylum, which have the benefit of maintaining gut health and inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria.Conclusion: Therefore, probiotic L. plantarum Dad-13 can prevent the progression of stunting in undernourished children.

Dysregulation of the Kynurenine Pathway, Cytokine Expression Pattern, and Proteomics Profile Link to Symptomology in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

Dysregulation of the kynurenine pathway (KP) is believed to play a significant role in neurodegenerative and cognitive disorders. While some evidence links the KP to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), further studies are needed to clarify the overall picture of how inflammation-driven KP disturbances may contribute to symptomology in ME/CFS. Here, we report that plasma levels of most bioactive KP metabolites differed significantly between ME/CFS patients and healthy controls in a manner consistent with their known contribution to symptomology in other neurological disorders. Importantly, we found that enhanced production of the first KP metabolite, kynurenine (KYN), correlated with symptom severity, highlighting the relationship between inflammation, KP dysregulation, and ME/CFS symptomology. Other significant changes in the KP included lower levels of the downstream KP metabolites 3-HK, 3-HAA, QUIN, and PIC that could negatively impact cellular energetics. We also rationalized KP dysregulation to changes in the expression of inflammatory cytokines and, for the first time, assessed levels of the iron (Fe)-regulating hormone hepcidin that is also inflammation-responsive. Levels of hepcidin in ME/CFS decreased nearly by half, which might reflect systemic low Fe levels or possibly ongoing hypoxia. We next performed a proteomics screen to survey for other significant differences in protein expression in ME/CFS. Interestingly, out of the seven most significantly modulated proteins in ME/CFS patient plasma, 5 proteins have roles in maintaining gut health, which considering the new appreciation of how gut microbiome and health modulates systemic KP could highlight a new explanation of symptomology in ME/CFS patients and potential new prognostic biomarker/s and/or treatment avenues.

Roles and regulation of Aquaporin-3 in maintaining the gut health: an updated review

Aquaporin-3 (AQP3) is a predominant water channel protein expressed in the intestine, and plays important roles in the gut physiology and pathophysiology due to its permeability to water, glycerol and hydrogen peroxide. In this review, we systematically summarized the current understanding of the expression of AQP3 in the intestine of different species, and focused on the potential roles of AQP3 in water transport, different types of diarrhea and constipation, intestinal inflammation, intestinal barrier function, oxidative stress, and autophagy. These updated findings have supported that AQP3 may function as an important target in maintaining gut health of human and animals.

Plant miRNA bol-miR159 Regulates Gut Microbiota Composition in Mice: In Vivo Evidence of the Crosstalk between Plant miRNAs and Intestinal Microbes.

New evidence reveals that bol-miR159, an miRNA rich in fruits and vegetables, cross-kingdomly functions in mammalian bodies. However, whether the miRNA could regulate gut microbiota remains unclear. Here, the effect of miR159 on mouse intestinal microbes was comprehensively examined. The results showed that supplementation of miR159 to the chow diet significantly enhanced the diversity of mouse gut microbiota without causing pathological lesions or inflammatory responses on the intestines. At the phylum level, miR159 increased the abundance of Proteobacteria and decreased the Firmicute-to-Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio. miR159 had prebiotic-like effects on mouse gut microbiota, as it promoted the growth of the bacteria that is beneficial for maintaining gut health. The miRNA can target bacteria genes and get into the bacteria cells. The data provide direct in vivo evidence on the crosstalk between plant miRNAs and intestinal microbes, highlighting the potential for miRNA-based strategies that modulate gut microbes to improve host health.

Proline fuels ILC3s to maintain gut health.

Proline fuels ILC3s to maintain gut health.

Anthocyanins-rich purple potato extract prevents low-grade chronic inflammation-associated metabolic disorders

Dietary polyphenols including anthocyanins possess strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and are known to help reduce risks of oxidative stress-induced chronic diseases. However, their effects on various aspects of the gut microenvironment towards preventing the unhealthy diet-induced metabolic disorders are still not well understood. The present study aims to verify the in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the anthocyanin-rich extracts of purple potato (PPE), using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity C57/BL6J mouse model, and to examine the effects of PPE on LPS+HFD-impaired metabolic homeostasis and the underlying mechanisms. We found that PPE, especially at higher dose significantly improved the glucose and lipid metabolism, and reduced inflammation in the plasma and various tissues. It significantly improved intestinal barrier integrity, altered fecal metabolite profile and gut microbiota composition. Our findings provide new insights into the roles of highly-pigmented vegetable-derived anthocyanins in maintaining gut health and ameliorating metabolic syndrome.

From trash to treasure: the role of bacterial extracellular vesicles in gut health and disease.

Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) have emerged as critical factors involved in gut health regulation, transcending their traditional roles as byproducts of bacterial metabolism. These vesicles function as cargo carriers and contribute to various aspects of intestinal homeostasis, including microbial balance, antimicrobial peptide secretion, physical barrier integrity, and immune system activation. Therefore, any imbalance in BEV production can cause several gut-related issues including intestinal infection, inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic dysregulation, and even cancer. BEVs derived from beneficial or commensal bacteria can act as potent immune regulators and have been implicated in maintaining gut health. They also show promise for future clinical applications in vaccine development and tumor immunotherapy. This review examines the multifaceted role of BEVs in gut health and disease, and also delves into future research directions and potential applications.

Immune-Stimulating Potential of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LM1019 in RAW 264.7 Cells and Immunosuppressed Mice Induced by Cyclophosphamide.

Probiotics, including Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus), have gained recognition for their potential health benefits, such as enhancing immune function, maintaining gut health, and improving nutrient absorption. This study investigated the effectiveness of L. rhamnosus LM1019 (LM1019) in enhancing immune function. In RAW 264.7 cells, LM1019 demonstrated dose-dependent immune stimulation by increasing nitric oxide production, gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). These effects were mediated through the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) translocation without inducing cytotoxicity. Furthermore, orally administered LM1019 was evaluated in immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX). High-dose administration of LM1019 significantly increased the subpopulations of lymphocytes, specifically helper T cells (CD4+), as well as two subtypes of natural killer (NK) cells, namely, IFN-γ+ and granzyme B+ NK cells. Additionally, LM1019 at a high dose led to elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ and IL-12, compared to CTX-treated mice. These findings highlight the potential of LM1019 in enhancing the immune system. The study contributes to the growing body of research on the beneficial effects of probiotics on immune function.

High-Throughput Viability Testing of Microbial Communities in a Probiotic Product Using Flow Cytometry

There is growing scientific and commercial interest in multi-species probiotic products due to their potential benefits in maintaining gut health. Determining the viability of probiotic microorganisms in these products is essential to ensure that they confer maximal health benefits. The gold standard for enumerating probiotic viability is the plate count method. However, this may be inaccurate for enumerating mixed probiotic populations, with recognised limitations including difficulty measuring metabolically active yet unculturable, very slow growing microbes, microencapsulated, enteric coated microbes, or multi-strain formulations that require differing growth media. Here, we developed a flow-cytometry-based approach using SYTOXTM Green dye to assess the viability of probiotic microorganisms in a multi-species, fibre-containing probiotic product and compared this to the traditional plate count method. This method was suitable for enumerating both total bacterial cells and the viable cell fraction in the complete product mixture, and could also be used to assess how stressors, such as gastric digestion and exposure to bile acids, affect bacterial cell viability. Flow cytometry measurements routinely detected higher viable cell counts than plate counting. This work demonstrates that flow cytometry assays can be established as a suitable method for rapid enumeration of viable cells in complex, multi-species probiotics.

In Vitro Prebiotic Effects and Antibacterial Activity of Five Leguminous Honeys.

Honey is a natural remedy for various health conditions. It exhibits a prebiotic effect on the gut microbiome, including lactobacilli, essential for maintaining gut health and regulating the im-mune system. In addition, monofloral honey can show peculiar therapeutic properties. We in-vestigated some legumes honey's prebiotic properties and potential antimicrobial action against different pathogens. We assessed the prebiotic potentiality of honey by evaluating the antioxidant activity, the growth, and the in vitro adhesion of Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus intact cells. We also tested the honey's capacity to inhibit or limit the biofilm produced by five pathogenic strains. Finally, we assessed the anti-biofilm activity of the growth medium of probiotics cultured with honey as an energy source. Most probiotics increased their growth or the in vitro adhesion ability to 84.13% and 48.67%, respectively. Overall, alfalfa honey best influenced the probiotic strains' growth and in vitro adhesion properties. Their radical-scavenging activity arrived at 83.7%. All types of honey increased the antioxidant activity of the probiotic cells, except for the less sensitive L. plantarum. Except for a few cases, we observed a bio-film-inhibitory action of all legumes' honey, with percentages up to 81.71%. Carob honey was the most effective in inhibiting the biofilm of Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus; it retained almost entirely the ability to act against the bio-film of E. coli, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus also when added to the bacterial growth medium instead of glucose. On the other hand, alfalfa and astragalus honey exhibited greater efficacy in acting against the biofilm of Acinetobacter baumannii. Indigo honey, whose biofilm-inhibitory action was fragile per se, was very effective when we added it to the culture broth of L. casei, whose supernatant exhibited an anti-biofilm activity against all the pathogenic strains tested. Conclusions: the five kinds of honey in different ways can improve some prebiotic properties and have an inhibitory biofilm effect when consumed.

Molecular networking identifies an AHR-modulating benzothiazole from white button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus).

Diet-derived aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligands have potential to maintain gut health. However, among the myriad bioactive compounds from foods, identifying novel functional ligands which would significantly impact gastrointestinal health is a challenge. In this study, a novel AHR modulator is predicted, identified, and characterized in the white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). Using a molecular networking approach, a methylated analog to benzothiazole was indicated in white button mushrooms, which was subsequently isolated and identified as 2-amino-4-methyl-benzothiazole(2A4). Cell-based AHR transcriptional assays revealed that 2-amino-4-methyl-benzothiazole possesses agonistic activity and upregulated CYP1A1 expression. This contrasts with previous findings that whole white button mushroom extract has overall antagonistic activity in vivo, underscoring the importance of studying the roles each chemical component plays in a whole food. The findings suggest that 2-amino-4-methyl-benzothiazole is a previously unidentified AHR modulator from white button mushroom and demonstrate that molecular networking has potential to identify novel receptor modulators from natural products.

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

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

Review: Current challenges in poultry nutrition, health, and welfare.

The poultry industry has benefited greatly from advances in genetics, nutrition, housing and management strategies. Geneticists have made welfare and health traits important components of selection programs, and in general, modern, high-producing poultry are healthier than 30years ago. However, increased productivity means that the birds are closer to their physiological limits, and nutrition, environment and management have become increasingly important. The move away from in-feed antibiotic growth promotors has resulted in challenges in maintaining gut health and consequently, bird performance. However, as the industry adapts to production without the use of antibiotic growth promotors, long-term benefits may be realized due to a reduction in antimicrobial resistance. Intensive selection for meat yield and efficiency are associated with an increased risk of muscle myopathies that affect bird health and meat quality. As genetic selection increased broiler production traits, it became necessary to restrict parent stock nutrient intake in order to prevent excessive muscle and fat deposition, reduce metabolic disease, and maintain ovarian control. With continued selection for broiler production traits, the degree of restriction implemented has become a welfare issue. Additionally, recent research suggests that highly efficient broiler lines may have limited fat deposition and therefore energy reserves to support sexual maturation and egg production, especially if typical broiler breeder BW targets are maintained. A re-examination of broiler breeder feeding programs is necessary to maintain productivity and welfare. Modern laying hens are capable of laying cycles in excess of 100weeks of age. This has reduced the use of stress-inducing forced molting programs and reduces the total number of hens needed to meet the demand for egg production. The important role of the skeletal system in eggshell deposition demands that skeletal development during rearing be carefully managed to avoid shell and skeletal problems at the end of the production cycle. As the production potential of modern poultry continues to increase through genetic and genomic selection, even greater care must be paid in order to maintain bird health and welfare. The poultry industry has successfully faced many challenges in the past and is likely to overcome the existing challenges as well.

Dietary Supplementation with Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis S6 Improves Intestinal Integrity via Modulating Intestinal Barrier Function and Microbial Diversity in Weaned Piglets

Bacillus licheniformis (B. Licheniformis) has been considered to be an effective probiotic to maintain gut health and boost productivity in the pig industry, but there is no complete understanding of its mechanisms. We determined whether weaned piglets exposed to BL-S6 (probiotic) had altered intestinal barrier function or microbiota composition. In our study, 108 weaned piglets (54 barrows and 54 gilts) were divided equally into three groups, each with six pens and six piglets/pen, and fed a basal diet supplemented without or with antibiotic (40 g/t of Virginiamycin and 500 g/t of Chlortetracycline) or probiotic (1000 g/t of B. Licheniformis) for a 14-day trial. On day 14, one piglet was chosen from each pen to collect blood and intestinal samples. Compared with the control group, dietary supplementation with a probiotic promoted body weight (BW) gain and average daily gains (ADG) while reducing diarrhea incidence (p < 0.05). Probiotics enhanced superoxidase dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum (p < 0.05), and increased the level of mRNA expression of SOD1, Nrf2, and HO-1 (p < 0.05) in the jejunum mucosa. Moreover, supplementation with probiotics improved intestinal mucosal integrity as evidenced by higher villus heights and a higher ratio of villus heights to crypt depths (duodenum and jejunum) and higher mRNA and protein levels of occludin and ZO-1 in jejunum mucosa (p < 0.05). The intestinal sIgA levels (p < 0.05) were elevated in the probiotic group, and that of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) tended to be higher (p = 0.09). Furthermore, weaning piglets who were given probiotics had a better balance of the cecum microbiota, with lactobacillus abundance increased and clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 abundance decreased. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with the probiotic BL-S6 promoted intestinal integrity, which was associated, in part, with modulating intestinal barrier function and microbial diversity in weaned piglets; it may offer a promising alternative to antibiotics to prevent diarrhea.

Catechins prevent obesity-induced kidney damage by modulating PPARγ/CD36 pathway and gut-kidney axis in rats

Obesity is an epidemic and a growing public health concern worldwide. It is one of the significant risk factors for developing chronic kidney disease. In the present study, we evaluated the preventive effect of green tea catechins (GTC) against obesity-induced kidney damage and revealed the underlying molecular mechanism of action. Various green tea catechins were quantified in the catechins-rich fraction using HPLC. In vitro, the palmitic and oleic acid-treated NRK-52E cells showed reduced fat accumulation and modulated expressions of PPARγ, CD36, and TGFβ after GTC treatment. In vivo, rats were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD), and the effect of GTC was assessed at 150 and 300 mg/kg body weight doses. HFD-fed rats showed a significant reduction in weight gain and improved serum creatinine, urea, and urine microalbumin levels after GTC treatment. The improved adipokines and insulin levels in GTC treated groups indicated the insulin-sensitizing effect. Histopathology revealed reduced degenerative changes, fibrous tissue deposition, and mesangial matrix proliferation in GTC treated groups. GTC treatment also downregulated the gene expressions of lipogenic and inflammatory factors and improved the altered expressions of CD36 and PPARγ in the kidney tissue. Further, GTC prevented gut dysbiosis in rats by promoting healthy microbes like Akkermansia muciniphila and Lactobacillus reuteri. Faecal metabolome revealed reduced saturated fatty acids, and improved amino acid levels in the GTC treated groups, which help to maintain gut health and metabolism. Overall, GTC prevented obesity-induced kidney damage by modulating PPARγ/CD36 signaling and maintaining gut health in rats.

Bacteroides-derived isovaleric acid enhances mucosal immunity by facilitating intestinal IgA response in broilers

BackgroundThe interaction between nutrition and immunity plays a vital role in nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism during poultry production. Recent studies showed that the gut microbiota contributes to the development of intestinal mucosal immunity. However, the mechanisms by which gut microbes regulate this process remain unclear.MethodsWe compared the intestinal mucosal immunity and gut microbiota of Arbor Acre broilers (AA (lower mucosal immunity) and Chinese native Wuliang Mountain Black-bone chickens (WLMB) (higher mucosal immunity) using 16S rDNA sequencing, transcriptomic analysis, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody repertoire sequencing. We then combined 16S rDNA sequencing with transcriptomics to identify the key microbes and found that they were positively correlated with IgA production. Next, we transplanted candidate microbes into 1-day-old broiler to explore their role in intestinal mucosal immunity. Finally, we verified the function of candidate microbial metabolites in regulating the immune function of macrophages and the intestinal-epithelial cells (IECs) using in vitro experiments.ResultsWLMB performs stronger mucosal immunity than AA, including higher IgA levels, more diverse IgA antibody repertoire, and higher bacterial affinity. Bacteroides was identified as the key microbes related to the intestinal IgA response. Bacteroides transplantation could increase IgA concentration in the duodenal contents by enhancing the expression of IgA, polymeric immunoglobin receptor (PIgR), B cell-activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF), and activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) in the duodenum. Additionally, Bacteroides-derived isovaleric acid promoted M2 macrophage polarization of macrophage via mTOR/PPAR-γ/STAT3 signaling pathways and regulated the immunologic function of IECs to produce cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-10, IL-4, BAFF, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), thus promoting IgA production in B cells by facilitating AID expression.ConclusionOur study revealed that Bacteroides modulate the intestinal IgA response and maintain gut health in broilers. Bacteroides may be a promising alternative as an immunomodulatory microbial agent for developing next-generation probiotics for broiler production.

Thallium(III) exposure alters diversity and co-occurrence networks of bacterial and fungal communities and intestinal immune response along the digestive tract in mice.

The gut microbiota, which includes fungi and bacteria, plays an important role in maintaining gut health. Our previous studies have shown that monovalent thallium [Tl(I)] exposure is associated with disturbances in intestinal flora. However, research on acute Tl(III) poisoning through drinking water and the related changes in the gut microbiota is insufficient. In this study, we showed that Tl(III) exposure (10ppm for 2weeks) reduced the alpha diversity of bacteria in the ileum, colon, and feces of mice, as well as the alpha diversity of fecal fungi. In addition, principal coordinate analysis showed that Tl(III) exposure had little effect on the bacterial and fungal beta diversity. LEfSe analyses revealed that Tl(III) exposure altered the abundance of intestinal bacteria in the digestive tract and feces. Moreover, Tl(III) exposure had little effect on fungal abundance in the ileum, cecum, and colon, but had a considerable effect on fungal abundance in feces. After Tl(III) exposure, the fungal composition was more disrupted in feces than in the intestinal tract, suggesting that feces can serve as a representative of the gut mycobiota in Tl(III) exposure studies. Intra-kingdom network analyses showed that Tl(III) exposure affected the complexity of bacterial-bacterial and fungal-fungal co-occurrence networks along the digestive tract. The bacterial-fungal interkingdom co-occurrence networks exhibited increased complexity after Tl(III) exposure, except for those in the colon. Additionally, Tl(III) exposure altered the intestinal immune response. These results reveal the perturbation in gut bacterial and fungal diversity, abundance, and co-occurrence network complexity, as well as the gut immune response, caused by Tl(III) exposure.

Spray-dried porcine plasma enhances feed efficiency, intestinal integrity, and immune response of broilers challenged with necrotic enteritis

Re-emergence of enteric diseases in the postantibiotic era has imposed severe loss to the poultry industry leading to the urgent need for appropriate additives to maintain gut health. Recently, more attention has been paid to animal plasma due to its high concentrations of active components such as albumins and globulins. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of spray-dried porcine plasma (SDP) supplementation during the starter phase (d 0-10) on growth performance, intestine health, and immune response of broilers under necrotic enteritis (NE) challenge. A total of 720 day-old male broiler parental line chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to a 2 (NE challenge: no, yes)×2 (SDP: 0, 2%) factorial arrangement with 12 replications of 15 chicks each. To induce NE, birds were inoculated with live Eimeria vaccine on d 9 and Clostridium perfringens on d 14. The body weight of birds and feed consumption were measured per pen on d 8, 10, 24, and 29 to calculate performance parameters. On d 16, three birds per pen were sampled to analyse the intestinal lesion score, gut permeability, villi morphology, relative weight of organs, and immune response. Results showed that SDP improved (P < 0.001) FCR in the pre-challenge phase (d 0-8). The results indicated that supplementing SDP lowered (P < 0.01) FCR at the end of the experiment (d 29). Dietary SDP decreased (P < 0.05) the concentration of FITC-d in serum samples of challenged broilers, although it did not affect the intestinal morphology and lesion score. Birds fed with SDP had a higher (P < 0.05) relative weight of bursa (g/kg live body weight) compared to non-supplemented birds. Supplementing SDP reduced the concentration of interleukin-6 (P < 0.05) and α-1 acid glycoprotein (P=0.051) in serum samples of broilers. In conclusion, supplementation of SDP in the starter phase enhanced feed efficiency and gut integrity in NE challenged broilers, possibly through manipulating the immune response, while further studies targeting intestinal microflora and key genes are required to explore the mode of action.