Feeding Bacillus subtilis ATCC19659 to Broiler Chickens Enhances Growth Performance and Immune Function by Modulating Intestinal Morphology and Cecum Microbiota

Abstract

This study investigated dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis (BS) ATCC19659 on growth performance, biochemical indices, intestinal morphology, and cecum microflora in broiler chicks. A total of 600 Arbor 1-day Acres broilers of either sex were allotted to 5 treatments: chicks were fed a corn- and soybean-based diet (CON); chicks were fed basal diet containing 500 mg ZnB/kg (ZnB); chicks were fed basal diet containing 1 × 108 CFU/g feed of BS-ATCC19659 (BS-1); chicks were fed basal diet containing 3 × 108 CFU/g feed of BS-ATCC19659 (BS-3); and chicks were fed basal diet containing 5 × 108 CFU/g feed of BS-ATCC19659 (BS-5). Each treatment comprised 6 replicates with 20 birds for each replicate pen. Chicks in the BS-5 and BS-3 groups had higher body weight at the 21st and 42nd days and average daily gain from 1 to 21 days than that in the CON group (p < 0.05). Chicks in the BS-5 and ZnB groups had higher serum antioxidant activities and immunity response than those in the CON group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the liver mRNA abundance of GHR, TGF-β, IGF-1, IFN-γ, SOD, CAT, and GPX of chicks in three BS groups and the ileum villus length (μm) of chicks in BS-3 and ZnB groups was increased (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio of the ileum of chicks in the BS-5 and BS-3 groups and the crypt depth and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio of the jejunum in the BS-5 and ZnB groups were increased (p < 0.05). The abundance of the Cyanobacteria phyla in the cecum decreased in response to treatment with both BS-ATCC19659 and ZnB groups (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the cecum abundance of genera GCA-900066575 (Lachnospiraceae), Anaerofustis, and Papillibacter (Firmicutes phylum) in three BS groups were increased (p < 0.05); The abundance of genus Escherichia–Shigella reduced in the BS-3 group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the cecum abundance of genus Clostridia_unclassified in ZnB and BS-5 groups was decreased (p < 0.05) of broilers. Generally, Bacillus subtilis ATCC19659 as feed additive positively affected growth performance, immunity response, and cecal microflora of broilers.

Complete genome analysis of Bacillus subtilis derived from yaks and its probiotic characteristics

“…For instance, Zhang et al demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis PB6 administration dramatically increased villus height and maintain intestinal mucosal barrier function of ducks (41). Analogously, Mohamed et al found that Bacillus subtilis administration in the basal diet could dramatically enhance the growth performance of broiler chickens by regulating gut microbiota and intestinal morphology (42). However, most of the present studies focus on the beneficial mechanism of probiotics on the host and few research pay attention to the genomic characteristics of probiotics.…”

Rosemary extract improves egg quality by altering gut barrier function, intestinal microbiota, and oviductal gene expressions in late-phase laying hens

“…Eisenbergiella can play an important role in the synthesis of butyric acid, which is bene cial to the growth of intestinal epithelial cells [28]. Paraprevotella, Papillibacter, and Butyricimonas were associated with butyrate generation in the intestine, which was favorable to performance of chickens [29][30][31]. Moreover, unclassi ed_c__Clostridia has been implicated in the biosynthesis of SCFA [32].…”

Effect of Bacillus species–fermented products and essential oils on growth performance, gut morphology, cecal short-chain fatty acid levels, and microbiota community in broilers

“…Bacillus species are the most commonly used probiotic microorganisms in animal production. Dietary supplementation with B. subtilis or B. licheniformis can enhance growth performance and mitigate C. perfringens -induced necrotic enteritis in broilers ( Knap et al, 2010 ; Abudabos et al, 2013 ; Gong et al, 2018 ; Hussein et al, 2020 ; Mohamed et al, 2022 ). Both B. subtilis and B. licheniformis show some similarities with antibiotic growth promoters in terms of improving growth performance in broilers ( Musa et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Bacillus species–based probiotics are the most commonly used probiotics in animal production because of their sporulation ability, which enables their survival under harsh environmental conditions (low pH, bile salts, and heat), spore germination in the gastrointestinal tract, and production of antimicrobial substances ( Ramlucken et al, 2020 ). Bacillus species–based probiotics can promote animal growth and prevent pathogenic infections in poultry ( Abudabos et al, 2013 ; Abudabos et al, 2017 ; Grant et al, 2018 ; Mohamed et al, 2022 ). Our previous studies have demonstrated that antimicrobial substances derived from fermented products obtained from Bacillus species ( B. subtilis or B. licheniformis ) can inhibit the growth of pathogens, particularly gram-positive bacteria ( Horng et al, 2019 ).…”