This study examined the effects of defatted mealworm fermentation extract (MWF) on alcoholic liver injury in rats. The rats were fed either a Lieber-DeCarli control (Con) or alcohol liquid diet (EtOH). The alcohol-fed rats were administered MWF (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day) and silymarin (200 mg/kg/day) orally for eight weeks. MWF prevented alcohol-induced hepatocellular damage by decreasing their serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels significantly compared to the EtOH group. MWF effectively reduced the relative hepatic weight, lipid contents, and fat deposition, along with the down-regulation of transcriptional factors and genes involved in lipogenesis compared to the EtOH group. It also enhanced the antioxidant defense system by elevating the glutathione level and glutathione reductase activity. MWF attenuated the alcohol-induced inflammatory response by down-regulating hepatic inflammation-associated proteins expression, such as phosphorylated-inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B-alpha and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, in chronic alcohol-fed rats. Furthermore, sequencing analysis in the colonic microbiota showed that MWF tended to increase Lactobacillus johnsonii reduced by chronic alcohol consumption. These findings suggest that MWF can attenuate alcoholic liver injury by regulating the lipogenic and inflammatory pathway and antioxidant defense system, as well as by partially altering the microbial composition.

Butyrate is known to play a significant role in energy metabolism and regulating genomic activities that influence rumen nutrition utilization and function. Thus, this study investigated the effects of an isolated butyrate-producing bacteria, Clostridium saccharobutylicum, in rumen butyrate production, fermentation parameters and microbial population in Holstein-Friesian cow. An isolated butyrate-producing bacterium from the ruminal fluid of a Holstein-Friesian cow was identified and characterized as Clostridium saccharobutylicum RNAL841125 using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. The bacterium was evaluated on its effects as supplement on in vitro rumen fermentation and microbial population. Supplementation with 10 6 CFU/ml Clostridium saccharobutylicum increased (p < 0.05) microbial crude protein, butyrate and total volatile fatty acids concentration but had no significant effect on NH 3-N at 24 h incubation. Butyrate and total VFA concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) in supplementation with 10 6 CFU/ml Clostridium saccharobutylicum compared with control, with no differences observed for total gas production, NH 3-N and propionate concentration. However, as the inclusion rate (CFU/ml) of C. saccharobutylicum was increased, reduction of rumen fermentation values was observed. Furthermore, butyrate-producing bacteria and Fibrobacter succinogenes population in the rumen increased in response with supplementation of C. saccharobutylicum, while no differences in the population in total bacteria, protozoa and fungi were observed among treatments. Overall, our study suggests that supplementation with 10 6 CFU/ml C. saccharobutylicum has the potential to improve ruminal fermentation through increased concentrations of butyrate and total volatile fatty acid, and enhanced population of butyrate-producing bacteria and cellulolytic bacteria F. succinogenes.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of different roughages in total mixed ration (TMR) inoculated with or without coculture of <i>Lactobacillus acidophilus</i> (<i>L. acidophilus</i>) and <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> (<i>B. subtilis</i>) on <i>in vitro</i> rumen fermentation and microbial population.Methods: Three TMRs formulations composed of different forages were used and each TMR was grouped into two treatments: non-fermented TMR and fermented TMR (F-TMR) (inoculated with coculture of <i>L. acidophilus</i> and <i>B. subtilis</i>). After fermentation, the fermentation, chemical and microbial profile of the TMRs were determined. The treatments were used for <i>in vitro</i> rumen fermentation to determine total gas production, pH, ammonianitrogen (NH₃-N), and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Microbial populations were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All data were analyzed as a 3×2 factorial arrangement design using the MIXED procedure of Statistical Analysis Systems.Results: Changes in the fermentation (pH, lactate, acetate, propionate, and NH₃-N) and chemical composition (moisture, crude protein, crude fiber, and ash) were observed. For <i>in vitro</i> rumen fermentation, lower rumen pH, higher acetate, propionate, and total VFA content were observed in the F-TMR group after 24 h incubation (p<0.05). F-TMR group had higher acetate concentration compared with the non-fermented group. Total VFA was highest (p<0.05) in F-TMR containing combined forage of domestic and imported source (F-CF) and F-TMR containing Italian ryegrass silage and corn silage (F-IRS-CS) than that of TMR diet containing oat, timothy, and alfalfa hay. The microbial population was not affected by the different TMR diets.Conclusion: The use of Italian ryegrass silage and corn silage, as well as the inoculation of coculture of <i>L. acidophilus</i> and <i>B. subtilis</i>, in the TMR caused changes in the pH, lactate and acetate concentrations, and chemical composition of experimental diets. In addition, F-TMR composed with Italian ryegrass silage and corn silage altered ruminal pH and VFA concentrations during <i>in vitro</i> rumen fermentation experiment.

The effects of Ptecticus tenebrifer and Tenebrio molitor (PTM), as alternative fishmeal, on the growth performance, haematological values, biochemical and immune response and gut microbial diversity of Cyprinus carpio L. were investigated. Two hundred and forty hatchery‐reared juvenile C. carpio were divided among four experimental diet groups, formulated with the insect replacements: Control—30% fishmeal; Treatment 1—20% fishmeal + 10% PTM; Treatment 2—10% fishmeal + 20% PTM; Treatment 3—30% PTM. C. carpio fed 30% PTM had the highest final length and the largest increase in length. The red blood cell count was the highest in 10% PTM (0.92 M/µL) and lowest in the control group (0.23 M/µL). Fusobacteria was the dominant gut bacterial phylum, followed by Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Cetobacterium somerae was the dominant gut bacterial species, and its relative abundance was significant in the 10% and 30% PTM treatments. The relative abundance of Bacteroides massiliensis was the highest in the control group while there was decline in the treatments with PTM. These results suggest that P. tenebrifer and T. molitor as a fishmeal replacement lower the biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand in the culture tanks and increase the length and change the gut microbiome of C. carpio.

The effects of rumen buffer agents on ruminal fermentation parameters and bacterial community composition were determined using in vitro and in vivo experiments in three rumen-cannulated, high-concentrate fed Holstein Friesian dairy cows. Experiment 1 in vitro treatments included bentonite, calcium carbonate, calcium oxide, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sesquicarbonate, and processed coral, and unbuffered samples served as the control. Experiment 2 in vitro treatments were based on the formulation of various combinations of the buffer agents used in Experiment 1. Combinations were selected for the in vivo study based on their buffering ability. Calcium oxide, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium sesquicarbonate stabilized the ruminal pH and improved in vitro rumen fermentation. The combined buffer agents had a significant effect on pH, buffering capacity, total gas, and total volatile fatty acids. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla in both treatments and the control. Ruminococcus and Prevotella were found to be the dominant genera. Ruminococcus bromii was predominant in the treatment group. Prevotella jejuni was more abundant in the control group compared to the treatment group, in which its abundance was very low. Ruminococcus flavefaciens and Intestinimonas butyriciproducens gradually increased in abundance as cows received treatment. Overall, a high-concentrate diet administered to cows induced adverse changes in ruminal pH; however, buffer supplementation enhanced ruminal fermentation characteristics and altered bacterial community, which could contribute to preventing ruminal acidosis.

Salmonella infection can cause septicemia, acute or chronic enteritis and wasting in weaned pigs, but may occur in other age groups. The bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) gene plays an important role in the natural defense of the host and is found to be associated with resistance/susceptibility to Salmonella infection and identified as a candidate gene for disease resistance breeding in pig. This study was conducted to screen the resistance and/or susceptibility of pigs to Salmonella infection, to determine the genotype and evaluate presence of resistant allele of the BPI gene in population of pigs, and to establish genetic data for pig breeders for the improvement of Philippine pig industry. In this study, 389 blood samples from different pig breeds were collected from pig breeder farms in the Philippines. Genomic DNA was extracted from these samples and genotyping was done by PCR-RFLP analysis using AvaII restriction enzyme. Out of 389 pigs, the genotypic frequency showed that 98.4, 1.3, and 0.3% pigs are resistant (GG), heterozygous type (AG), and susceptible (AA), respectively. The application of BPI gene as marker for disease resistance will provide information to the pig industry to implement strategies for the identification of Salmonella infection-resistant pigs.

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Sung-Sill Lee (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4621-4333) Sang-Suk Lee (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1540-7041) Competing interestsNo potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.