Immunobiotic Feed Developed with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii TUA4408L and the Soymilk By-Product Okara Improves Health and Growth Performance in Pigs

Abstract

Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii TUA4408L is able to differentially modulate the innate immune response of porcine intestinal epithelial cells triggered by TLR4 activation. This strain also has a remarkable ability to grow on plant substrates. These two immunological and biotechnological characteristics prompted us to evaluate whether the soymilk by-product okara fermented with the TUA4408L strain can serve as an immunobiotic feed with the ability to beneficially modulate the intestinal immunity of piglets after weaning to improve their productivity. Our in vivo studies demonstrated that the administration of immunobiotic TUA4408L-fermented okara feed significantly increased piglet growth performance and meat quality. These positive effects were associated with the ability of the TUA4408L-fermented okara feed to beneficially modulate both intestinal microbiota and immunity in pigs. The immunobiotic feed improved the abundance of the beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus and Lactococcus in the gut of pigs, reduced blood markers of inflammation, and differentially regulated the expression of inflammatory and regulatory cytokines in the intestinal mucosa. These findings indicate that the immunobiotic TUA4408L-fermented okara feed could be an economical and environmentally friendly option to improve the growth performance and immune health of pigs.

Immunomodulation Potential of Probiotics: A Novel Strategy for Improving Livestock Health, Immunity, and Productivity

“…A potential alternative solution to these problems is the addition of naturally derived dietary additives, such as probiotics, that have enhancing effects on livestock health and productivity (Tables 1-3). Recent research with probiotic LAB in livestock suggested that the LAB might be used as an alternative strategy to antibiotic growth promoters [11,18,32,[59][60][61][62].…”

“…The in vivo study by Islam et al (2021) revealed that immunobiotic feeding resulted in significant positive health benefits when using rakkyo pickled juice fermented with L. plantarum N14 in pigs, thus increasing feed intake, efficiency, and carcass quality [31]. In addition, another study by Suda et al (2021) suggested that the immunobiotic L. delbrueckii subsp. Delbrueckii TUA4408L okara feed significantly improved growth performance and meat quality in piglets [32].…”

“…In addition, another study by Suda et al (2021) suggested that the immunobiotic L. delbrueckii subsp. Delbrueckii TUA4408L okara feed significantly improved growth performance and meat quality in piglets [32]. Tian et al ( 2021) investigated the influence of diet supplemented with L. reuteri 1 (LR1) or antibiotics (olaquindox and aureomycin) on the longissimus thoracis (LT) and concluded that the probiotic might enhance health condition and carcass quality of treated pigs as compared with the control group [33].…”

Probiotics and Postbiotics as Substitutes of Antibiotics in Farm Animals: A Review

“…The beneficial intestinal microbiota improved, the amount of Lactobacillus and Lactococcus increased, and the immunity also increased. The piglets showed better meat quality and growth performance [ 68 ]. In addition, the use of L. delebureckii CCTCC M 207,040 as a diet supplement by Chen et al (2021) improved the gut structure resulting in increased gut integrity in lipolisaccharides (LPS)-challenged piglets.…”

Effects of Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum Supplementation on the Fecal Microbiotas of Piglets

“…Conversely, polysaccharidedegrading Prevotella increases after weaning [8]. As the efficiency by which the animal utilizes feed to reach the optimal body weight by the required finishing time, determines production performance [9], a healthy microbiota is deemed necessary to maintain the homeostasis and hence production performance of the piglet.…”