Effect of Fermented Corn-Soybean Meal on Serum Immunity, the Expression of Genes Related to Gut Immunity, Gut Microbiota, and Bacterial Metabolites in Grower-Finisher Pigs

Abstract

Fermented corn-soybean meal (fermented feed, FF) is commonly used in swine production, but the effects of FF on gut health remain unclear. In this study, serum immunity, mRNA abundances of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and Toll-like receptors (TLR1-9), bacterial abundance in the duodenum and colon, and colonic metabolic phenotypes were determined in crossbred barrows (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) fed FF or normal feed (unfermented feed, UF) (n = 6). When compared to the UF group, the results showed that serum levels of IgG and IgM were significantly increased in FF group pigs (P < 0.05). FF significantly decreased the abundances of Bacteroides and Verrucomicrobia in the duodenum and decreased the abundances of Bacteroides, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia in the colon while it significantly increased the abundances of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a Spearman’s correlation analysis showed that serum immunity and the expression of genes related to gut immunity were associated with bacterial strains at the family level. Moreover, differentially abundant colonic microbiota were associated with colonic metabolites. LC-MS data analyses identified a total of 1,351 metabolites that markedly differed between the UF and FF groups. C5-Branched dibasic acid metabolism was significantly upregulated whereas the purine metabolism was significantly downregulated (P < 0.05) in the colonic digesta of pigs in the FF meal group compared to the UF meal group. Collectively, these results indicated that FF meal could influence serum immunity and the expression of genes related to gut immunity, correlating with the gut microbiota and bacterial metabolites in grower-finisher pigs. This study may provide an alternative strategy for improving the intestinal health of grower-finisher pigs.

Effects of Fermented Soybean Meal Supplementation on the Growth Performance and Cecal Microbiota Community of Broiler Chickens

“…A growing number of studies indicate that microbial fermentation is an economically and widely available method to solve the issues of SBM [ 2 , 21 , 27 ]. In pig production, extensive evidence has shown that FSBM or fermented feed improves growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and immune function [ 16 , 19 , 26 , 28 ]. However, to date, information on the effects of FSBM on the growth performance of broilers is limited and inconsistent.…”

“…Serum immunoglobulin concentrations are commonly considered to be vital indicators of the humoral immunity of animals, as immunoglobulins are immune-active molecules that play important roles in defending the host against pathogenic viruses and microorganisms [ 19 , 34 ]. IgG, IgM, and IgA are the three major immunoglobulin classes in avian species.…”

“…However, the broiler gut microbiota includes hundreds of bacterial species, and it is difficult to cultivate and study the composition, diversity, and structure of intestinal microbiota using traditional culture-based approaches [ 17 ]. In recent years, 16s rDNA gene amplicon deep sequencing has been widely applied in a range of studies to investigate microbial composition and diversity and their relationship to the growth performance [ 17 , 18 ] and immunity of animals [ 15 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Formulation of traditional Chinese medicine and its application on intestinal flora of constipated rats

“…In vitro studies have shown that puerarin and iso-flavone can be metabolized into more effective daidzein and maorui iso-flavone by bacteria in the intestinal tract, which has a strong therapeutic effect [ 11 ]. The intestinal flora is closely related to the medicine and food taken cut contact [ 12 – 14 ]. The composition of traditional Chinese medicine is complex [ 15 ].…”

Formulation of traditional Chinese medicine and its application on intestinal flora of constipated rats

“…In vitro studies have shown that puerarin and iso-avone can be metabolized into more effective daidzein and maorui iso-avone by bacteria in the intestinal tract, which has a strong therapeutic effect [11]. The intestinal ora is related to the physiology and pathology of the human body, and closely related to the medicine and food taken cut contact [12][13][14]. The composition of traditional Chinese medicine is complex, therefore, the addition to the ingredients with good therapeutic effect, and it also contains polysaccharides, microelements, proteins, vitamins and other nutrients.…”