Oral Administration of a Select Mixture of Bacillus Probiotics Affects the Gut Microbiota and Goblet Cell Function following Escherichia coli Challenge in Newly Weaned Pigs of Genotype MUC4 That Are Supposed To Be Enterotoxigenic E. coli F4ab/ac Receptor Negative

Abstract

Structural disruption of the gut microbiota and impaired goblet cell function are collateral etiologic factors in enteric diseases. Low, moderate, or high doses of a Bacillus licheniformis-B. subtilis mixture (BLS mix) were orally administered to piglets of genotype MUC4 that are supposed to be F4-expressing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strain (F4 ϩ ETEC) F4ab/ac receptor negative (i.e., MUC4-resistant piglets) for 1 week before F4 ϩ ETEC challenge. The luminal contents were collected from the mucosa of the colon on day 8 after F4 ϩ ETEC challenge. The BLS mix attenuated E. coli-induced expansion of Bacteroides uniformis, Eubacterium eligens, Acetanaerobacterium, and Sporobacter populations. Clostridium and Turicibacter populations increased following F4 ϩ ETEC challenge in pigs pretreated with low-dose BLS mix. Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus salivarius populations increased after administration of BLS mix during E. coli infection. The beneficial effects of BLS mix were due in part to the expansion of certain Clostridium, Lactobacillus, and Turicibacter populations, with a corresponding increase in the number of goblet cells in the ileum via upregulated Atoh1 expression, in turn increasing MUC2 production and thus preserving the mucus barrier and enhancing host defenses against enteropathogenic bacteria. However, excessive BLS mix consumption may increase the risk for enteritis, partly through disruption of colonic microbial ecology, characterized by expansion of Proteobacteria and impaired goblet cell function in the ileum. Our findings suggest that oral administration of BLS mix reprograms the gut microbiota and enhances goblet cell function to ameliorate enteritis.IMPORTANCE The present study is important for improving our understanding of the protective role of probiotics against Escherichia coli infection in piglets. Structural disruption of the gut microbiota and impaired goblet cell function are collateral etiologic factors in enteric diseases. In this study, low, moderate, or high doses of a Bacillus licheniformis-B. subtilis mixture (BLS mix) were orally administered to MUC4-resistant piglets for 1 week before the F4-expressing ETEC strain (F4 ϩ ETEC) challenge. Our findings suggest that oral administration of BLS mix reprograms the gut microbiota and enhances goblet cell function to ameliorate enteritis. KEYWORDS

Bacillus licheniformis-Fermented Products Reduce Diarrhea Incidence and Alter the Fecal Microbiota Community in Weaning Piglets

“…Here, we also found that 4.5 g/kg of B. licheniformis-fermented products could reduce the number of Lactobacillus species in the feces of weaning piglets compared to the feces of piglets fed 1 g/kg of B. licheniformis-fermented products. In addition to the number of Lactobacillus species, the abundance of phylum Proteobacteria was increased in response to high-doses of Bacillus species-based probiotics treatment in the feces of weaning piglets challenged with F4 + ETEC [27]. Similar results were also observed in the fecal content of the group that was fed 4.5 g/kg of B. licheniformis-fermented products in the current study.…”

“…Dietary supplementation of B. licheniformis in combination with B. subtilis reprograms the microbiota of weaning piglets challenged with F4 positive enterotoxigenic E. coli. strain (F4 + ETEC) [27]. Low-doses of Bacillus species-based probiotics also increase the number of Lactobacillus species in the feces of weaning piglets challenged with F4 + ETEC, while high-doses of Bacillus species-based probiotics have a negative impact on the number of Lactobacillus species [27].…”

“…strain (F4 + ETEC) [27]. Low-doses of Bacillus species-based probiotics also increase the number of Lactobacillus species in the feces of weaning piglets challenged with F4 + ETEC, while high-doses of Bacillus species-based probiotics have a negative impact on the number of Lactobacillus species [27]. Here, we also found that 4.5 g/kg of B. licheniformis-fermented products could reduce the number of Lactobacillus species in the feces of weaning piglets compared to the feces of piglets fed 1 g/kg of B. licheniformis-fermented products.…”

“…However, the abundance of the Lactobacillus genus in the feces of piglets was not linearly correlated with the concentration of B. licheniformis-fermented products. It has been reported that excessive supplementation of B. licheniformis in combination with B. subtilis may disrupt the gut microbial ecology, thereby decreasing the abundance of the Lactobacillus genus in the feces of piglets [27]. Prevotella species are able to degrade polysaccharides in the plant cell wall by producing digestive enzymes and then produce short-chain fatty acids in the gut of growing pigs [29,30].…”

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract alleviates urethral dysfunction in diabetic rats through modulating the NO‑cGMP pathway

“…Subsequently, 10 rats selected randomly from each group (10/36) were placed in metabolic cages to measure body weight, blood glucose and urine volume. All experimental procedures were compliant with the Guidelines for Laboratory Animal Use and Care from the Chinese Center For Disease Control and Prevention and the Rules for Medical Laboratory Animals from the Chinese Ministry of Health, under protocol CAU-AEC-2013-073 (16) and were approved by the Ethical Committee of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Jinan, China; permit no. DWLL-20B-025).…”