Effect of three lactobacilli with strain-specific activities on the growth performance, faecal microbiota and ileum mucosa proteomics of piglets

Abstract

BackgroundThe beneficial effects of Lactobacillus probiotics in animal production are often strain-related. Different strains from the same species may exert different weight-gain effect on hosts in vivo. Most lactobacilli are selected based on their in vitro activities, and their metabolism and regulation on the intestine based on strain-related characters are largely unexplored. The objective of the present study was to study the in vivo effects of the three lactobacilli on growth performance and to compare the differential effects of the strains on the faecal microbiota and ileum mucosa proteomics of piglets.MethodsThree hundred and sixty piglets were assigned to one of four treatments, which included an antibiotics-treated control and three experimental groups supplemented with the three lactobacilli, L. salivarius G1-1, L. reuteri G8-5 and L. reuteri G22-2, respectively. Piglets were weighed and the feed intake was recorded to compare the growth performance. The faecal lactobacilli and coliform was quantified using quantitative PCR and the faecal microbiota was profiled by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The proteomic approach was applied to compare the differential expression of proteins in the ileum mucosa.ResultsNo statistical difference was found among the three Lactobacillus-treated groups in animal growth performance compared with the antibiotics-treated group (P > 0.05). Supplementation of lactobacilli in diets significantly increased the relative 16S rRNA gene copies of Lactobacillus genus on both d 14 and d 28 (P < 0.05)., and the bacterial community profiles based on DGGE from the lactobacilli-treated groups were distinctly different from the antibiotics-treated group (P < 0.05). The ileum mucosa of piglets responded to all Lactobacillus supplementation by producing more newly expressed proteins and the identified proteins were all associated with the functions beneficial for stabilization of cell structure. Besides, some other up-regulated and down-regulated proteins in different Lactobacillus-treated groups showed the expression of proteins were partly strain-related.ConclusionsAll the three lactobacilli in this study show comparable effects to antibiotics on piglets growth performance. The three lactobacilli were found able to modify intestinal microbiota and mucosa proteomics. The regulation of protein expression in the intestinal mucosa are partly associated with the strains administrated in feed.

Growth Performance and Post-Weaning Diarrhea in Piglets Fed a Diet Supplemented with Probiotic Complexes

“…These findings are supported by earlier studies that showed positive effects on feed intake and growth performance in piglets fed diets supplemented with a complex of lactic acid bacteria during a 21-day post-weaning period [18]. The enhanced growth performance observed in our study is consistent with previous published reports [9,19,20].…”

“…The EBL with Lactobacillus paracasei L9 had a more favorable effect on fecal microbial communities than the use of EBS, and the day21_EBL treatment was clustered into different groups from the control treatment. This result is in the line with the findings that Lactobacilli significantly modify intestinal microbiota in piglets, and reduce the PWD of piglets [9].…”

“…Many studies have shown that different probiotic complexes have various probiotic properties and can be used to improve the health status of weaned piglets. For example, the combination of Lactobacillus casei and Enterococcus faecalis was found to significantly increase average daily gain and decrease the diarrhea rate and mortality [9]. Supplementation with a bacteria-yeast complex was shown to result in better growth performance and lower incidence of diarrhea compared with supplementation with lactic acid bacteria alone [10].…”

Role of Lactobacillus reuteri in Human Health and Diseases

“…L. reuteri is able to influence the diversity, composition and metabolic function of the gut, oral, and vaginal microbiotas. These effects are largely strain-specific ( Yang Y. et al, 2015 ; Garcia Rodenas et al, 2016 ; Galley et al, 2017 ; Su et al, 2017 ).…”

Assessment of lactobacillus bulgaricus strain in human intestinal samples by denaturation gradient gel electrophoresis

“…The presence of probiotic strains of other Lactobacillus species was evaluated by DGGE in faecal samples (15,18), in the sour dough (19) as well as in naturally fermented lactic acid products (20). Using DGGE three lactobacilli were found able to modify intestinal microbiota in piglets (21). In the present study, the presence of selected L. bulgaricus strain in intestinal samples of volunteers consumed yoghurt containing this strain was assessed for the first time.…”