Fructo-Oligosaccharide Alleviates Soybean-Induced Anaphylaxis in Piglets by Modulating Gut Microbes

Ultrasound-assisted glycation and the allergenicity of α-lactalbumin

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound-assisted glycation is a promising method for decreasing the allergenicity of α-lactalbumin (ALA). However, there is a lack of in vivo studies on the allergenicity of ultrasound-assisted glycated ALA. In this study, the effects of the ultrasound-assisted glycation of ALA on the allergenicity and intestinal microflora were characterized using a BALB/c mouse model.

RESULTS

Increased immunoglobulin -G/ immunoglobulin-E (IgG/IgE) and interleukin-4/6 (IL-4/6) secretions, and reduced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretions were found in the serum of ALA sensitized and challenged, mice in comparison with a control group. However, there was no significant difference between the mice fed with ultrasound-assisted glycated ALA and the control group. Mice that were sensitized and challenged with ALA showed disrupted intestinal microflora, manifesting in significantly decreased Firmicutes and significantly increased Proteobacteria. It was found that 100ALA-gal could maintain the intestinal microflora of mice in a normal state. Pearson's rank correlation showed that Proteobacteria and Spirochaetota were correlated positively with the IL-4/IL-6 level and were correlated negatively with the expression of IFN-γ. Proteobacteria were also significantly positively correlated with IL-6 and negatively correlated with IFN-γ (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that ultrasound-assisted glycation on ALA can maintain the intestinal microflora in a normal state thus balancing the proportion of Th1/Th2 to decrease allergic reaction. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of diets with different amino acid release characteristics on the gut microbiota and barrier function of weaned pigs

BACKGROUND

The absorption and utilization of proteins by animals is affected by the amino acid (AA) release characteristics of their diets. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effects of diets with various amino acid release characteristics on the intestinal barrier function and diversity of gut microbiota of weaned pigs.

RESULTS

Forty-eight pigs (7.45 ± 0.58 kg) were fed with diets having different amino acid release characteristics during a period of 28 days. We used a 2 × 3 full-factor (two protein levels and three protein sources with differing amino acid release characteristics) experimental design, with normal (standard terminal ileal digestibility of 17.5%) or low (standard terminal ileal digestibility of 14.9%) protein levels as the first factor. Casein (CAS), corn gluten meal (CGM) and a MIX diet were used as protein sources. Due to the more balanced release of amino acids, the diamine oxidase (DAO) concentrations in the CAS and MIX groups were significantly lower than those in the CGM group (P < 0.05); Reducing the dietary protein content from 17.5% to 14.9% had no significant effects on the levels of serum DAO or D-lactic acid. By contrast, it increased the microbial diversity (chao1 and ACE values) and the number of Lactobacillus in the jejunum (P < 0.05). The CAS-containing diet and the MIX diet resulted in significantly higher microbial diversity (Simpson and Shannon) than the CGM-containing diet in the jejunum.

CONCLUSION

The balanced release of amino acids in CAS and MIX diets maintained intestinal barrier function and increased gut microbiota diversity. These findings could potentially provide a scientific reference for the rational preparation of piglet feed.

Dietary supplementation of Pseudoalteromonas piscicida 1UB and fructooligosaccharide enhance growth performance and protect the whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) against WSSV and Vibrio harveyi coinfection

P. piscicida 1Ub and FOS were evaluated for their potential synbiotic effects on growth, immunological responses, and disease resistance against white spot syndrome virus and V. harveyi coinfection, the major pathogen in whiteleg shrimp aquaculture. Four different supplemented diets were used to feed the experimental shrimp for 40 days: control (control, no probiotic, and prebiotic), probiotic (PRO, P. piscisida 1UB 10⁸ CFU mL^-1), prebiotic (PRE, FOS 0.5% w/w), and the synbiotic (SYN, PRO + PRE). Shrimp's body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, survival, digestive enzyme activity, and metabolism-related gene expression were all evaluated on day 40. After 40 days, shrimp were infected with WSSV as the primary infection and V. harveyi as the secondary infection 24 h later. Shrimp were then grown for seven days and fed with a control diet. Survival, total hemocyte count (THC), differential hemocyte, phenol-oxidase (PO), respiratory burst activity (RB), and immune-gene expression were all analyzed at 0, 3, and 7 days after infection. The results showed that the PRO, PRE, and SYN supplementation improves whiteleg shrimp growth performance, immune responses, and protection against WSSV and V. harveyi coinfection. The increased activity of digestive enzymes and metabolism-related genes correlates with higher growth performance. The increase in THC, PO, RB, and immune-related gene expression after coinfection was associated with a significant reduction in shrimp mortality. Our findings also suggest that supplementing with synbiotics improves the overall performance of whiteleg shrimp significantly more than probiotics or prebiotics only.

Gut microbiota: A target for prebiotics and probiotics in the intervention and therapy of food allergy

Food allergy has become a major public health problem all over the world. Evidence showed that allergic reactions induced by food proteins often lead to disturbances in the gut microbiota (symbiotic bacteria). Gut microbiota plays an important role in maintaining the balance between intestinal immune tolerance and allergic reactions. Dietary intervention has gradually become an important method for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases, and changing the composition of gut microbiota through oral intake of prebiotics and probiotics may serve as a new effective adjuvant treatment measure for allergic diseases. In this paper, the main mechanism of food allergy based on intestinal immunity was described firstly. Then, the clinical and experimental evidence showed that different prebiotics and probiotics affect food allergy by changing the structure and composition of gut microbiota was summarized. Moreover, the molecular mechanism in which the gut microbiota and their metabolites may directly or indirectly regulate the immune system or intestinal epithelial barrier function to affect food immune tolerance of host were also reviewed to help in the development of food allergy prevention and treatment strategies based on prebiotics and probiotics.

Supplementation with galacto-oligosaccharides in early life persistently facilitates the microbial colonization of the rumen and promotes growth of preweaning Holstein dairy calves

We aimed to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) on the growth performance, serum parameters, and the rumen microbial colonization and fermentation of pre-weaning dairy calves. The study comprised 2 phases of 28 and 42 d, respectively. During phase 1, 24 newborn female Holstein dairy calves were randomly allocated to consume a diet supplemented with 10 g/d GOS (GOS, n = 12) or not (CON, n = 12). Thereafter, during phase 2, the GOS group was further divided into 2 groups: one that continued to consume GOS (GOSC, n = 6) and one that no longer consumed GOS (GOSS, n = 6), alongside the CON group. Galacto-oligosaccharides increased the average daily gain (ADG), body weight, feed efficiency, and serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration of dairy calves during phase 1 (P < 0.05). Supplementation with GOS for the entire study reduced the incidence of diarrhea and increased the serum total protein and Ca concentrations (P < 0.05) compared with the CON group. The effect of GOS supplementation persisted after it was stopped because the ADG and final body weight of the GOSS group were higher than those of the CON group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the GOSS group showed a persistently lower incidence of diarrhea and greater colonization of the rumen with probiotics, at the expense of less beneficial bacteria, which would promote ruminal fermentation and microbial protein synthesis. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the rational application of prebiotics and have important practical implications for the design of early life dietary interventions in dairy calf rearing.

Fermented Soy and Fish Protein Dietary Sources Shape Ileal and Colonic Microbiota, Improving Nutrient Digestibility and Host Health in a Piglet Model

Suitable protein sources are essential requirements for piglet growth and health. Typically, intestinal microbiota co-develops with the host and impact its physiology, which make it more plastic to dietary protein sources at early stages. However, the effects of fermented soybean meal (FSB) and fish meal (FM) on foregut and hindgut microbiota, and their relationship with nutrient digestion and host health remain unclear. In this study, we identified interactions between ileac and colonic microbiota which were reshaped by FSB and FM, and assessed host digestibility and host health in a piglet model. Eighteen weaned piglets (mean weight = 8.58 ± 0.44 kg) were divided into three dietary treatments, with six replicates/treatment. The level of dietary protein was 16%, with FSB, FM, and a mixture of fermented soybean meal and fish meal (MFSM) applied as protein sources. During days 1-14 and 1-28, diets containing MFSM generated higher piglet body weight and average daily gain, but lower feed to weight gain ratios when compared with the FM diet (P < 0.05). Piglets in MFSM and FM groups had lower apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (CP) compared with the FSB group (P < 0.05). Serum immunoglobulins (IgM and IgG) in MFSM and FM groups were significantly higher on day 28, but serum cytokines (interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α) were significantly lower than the FSB group on days 14 and 28 (P < 0.05). When compared with FSB and FM groups, dietary MFSM significantly increased colonic acetic acid and butyric acid levels (P < 0.05). Compared with the FM and MFSM groups, the FSB diet increased the relative abundance of ileac Lactobacillus and f_Lactobacillaceae, which were significant positively correlated with CP ATTD (P < 0.05). Compared with the FSB group, the relative abundance of f_Peptostreptococcaceae and Romboutsia in MFSM or FM groups were increased and were significant positively correlated with total carbohydrate (TC) ATTD (P < 0.05). Piglets fed FSB had higher α-diversity in colonic microbiota when compared with other groups (P < 0.05). The relative abundance of colonic unidentified_Clostridiales and Romboutsia in MFSM and FSB groups were significantly higher than in the FM group (P < 0.05). Dietary MFSM or FM increased the relative abundance of colonic Streptococcaceae and Streptococcus, but decreased the relative abundance of Christensenellaceae when compared with the FSB group (P < 0.05). These bacteria showed a significantly positive correlation with serum cytokine and immunoglobulin levels (P < 0.05). Therefore, dietary FSB improved CP digestibility by increasing the relative abundance of ileac f_Lactobacillaceae and Lactobacillus, while dietary MFSM benefited TC digestibility by increasing f_Peptostreptococcaceae and Romboutsia. Dietary MFSM and FM enhanced immunoglobulin secretion by increasing colonic f_Streptococcaceae and Streptococcus prevalence, while dietary FSB promoted cytokine production by increasing microbiota diversity and Romboutsia and Christensenellaceae. Our data provide a theoretical dietary basis for young animals using plant and animal protein sources.

4-Octyl Itaconate Supplementation Relieves Soybean Diet-Induced Liver Inflammation and Glycolipid Metabolic Disorders by Activating the Nrf2-Pparγ Pathway in Juvenile Gibel Carp

Itaconate is a promising new candidate for anti-inflammatory and metabolic reprogramming, and 4-octyl itaconate (OI) is a cell-permeable itaconate derivative. To investigate the effect of OI in inflammatory response and glycolipid metabolism, we fed gibel carp with a 40% dietary soybean meal diet containing 0.1% OI (SBM + 0.1OI) or not (SBM) and compared these with fishmeal (FM) as reference. Compared with FM, dietary SBM decreased the growth performance, induced inflammation in the intestine and liver, and decreased the glucose utilization ability of the liver. However, 0.1% OI supplementation in SBM significantly increased the growth performance (from 20.11 ± 0.77 to 23.33 ± 0.45 g, P < 0.05), reduced inflammation in different organs through Nrf2 activation, and alleviated SBM-induced high plasma glucose (from 6.06 ± 0.23 to 4.37 ± 0.14 g, P < 0.05) and low crude body lipid (from 4.08 ± 0.17 to 4.91 ± 0.10 g, P < 0.05). Multi-omics revealed that OI had obvious effects on carbohydrate metabolism. OI regulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (ppar-γ), and its target genes (glut2 and gk) enhance liver glycolysis and lipid de novo lipogenesis, which are also dependent on Nrf2 activation. To conclude, dietary 0.1% OI can promote the growth of gibel carp and alleviate foodborne intestinal and hepatic inflammation and abnormal glycolipid metabolism by Nrf2-regulated Pparγ expression.

Impact of Citrus Pulp or Inulin on Intestinal Microbiota and Metabolites, Barrier, and Immune Function of Weaned Piglets

We investigated the use of citrus pulp (CP) as a novel prebiotic capable of exerting microbiota and immunomodulating capacities to alleviate weaning stress. Inulin (IN), a well-known prebiotic, was used for comparison. Hundred and 28 male weaned piglets of 21 days old were assigned to 32 pens of 4 piglets each. Piglets were assigned to one of the four treatments, i.e., control, IN supplemented at 0.2% (IN0.2%), and CP supplemented either at 0.2% (CP0.2%) or at 2% (CP2%). On d10–11 and d31–32 post-weaning, one pig per pen was euthanized for intestinal sampling to evaluate the growth performance, chyme characteristics, small intestinal morphology, colonic inflammatory response and barrier integrity, metabolite profiles [gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)], and microbial populations. The IN treatment and the two CP treatments induced higher small intestinal villus height to crypt depth ratios in comparison with the control diet at both sampling times. All treatments decreased acidic goblet cell absolute counts in the crypts in comparison to the control diet of the duodenum on d10–11 and d31–32. The gene expression of β-defensin 2 was downregulated in colonic tissues following the IN and CP2% inclusion on d31–32. On d31–32, piglets fed with IN and CP0.2% showed lower mRNA levels of occludin and claudin-3, respectively. Not surprisingly, flavonoids were observed in the colon in the CP treatments. Increased colonic acetate proportions on d10–11, at the expense of branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA) levels, were observed following the CP2% supplementation compared to the control diet, inferring a reduction of proteolytic fermentation in the hindgut. The beneficial microbial community Faecalibacterium spp. was promoted in the colon of piglets fed with CP2% on d10–11 (p = 0.04; false discovery rate (FDR) non-significant) and on d31–32 (p = 0.03; FDR non-significant) in comparison with the control diet. Additionally, on d31–32, CP2% increased the relative abundance of Megasphaera spp. compared to control values (p = 0.03; FDR non-significant). In conclusion, CP2% promoted the growth of beneficial bacterial communities in both post-weaning time points, modulating colonic fermentation patterns in the colon. The effects of CP supplementation were similar to those of IN and showed the potential as a beneficial feed supplement to alleviate weaning stress.

Effects of naturally oxidized corn oil on inflammatory reaction and intestinal health of broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of naturally oxidized corn oil on the inflammatory reaction and intestinal health of broilers. Total 450, one-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly divided into 5 treatments with 6 replicate cages (15 birds in each replicate cage). The dietary treatment array consisted of the varying ratio of nonoxidized corn oil to naturally oxidized corn oil from 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0, respectively. The experimental period was 42 d. Serum, jejunum, and contents of cecum samples were taken at the age of 42 d of broilers. The results showed no significant difference in the body weight gain (BWG) with a different proportion of oxidized corn oil compared with the 0% oxidized oil group on d 42. The feed intake (FI), the concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and interleukin-10 (IL10) in serum showed a significant quadratic response with the increase of oxidized oil concentration on d 42. The serum's concentration of IgG, IFN-γ, and IL-10 reached the highest value at 75% oxidized corn oil. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IFN-γ, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and myeloid differentiation factor-88 (MyD88) in the jejunum were significantly affected by different proportions of oxidized corn oil, and the gene expression levels were highest at 75% oxidized corn oil on d 42. The mRNA expression of Bcl2-associated X (Bax) in the jejunum showed a significantly quadratic curve with the increase of oxidized oil concentration, and its gene expression was the highest after adding 50% oxidized corn oil according to the regression equation on d 42. The villus height/crypt depth and goblet cells of jejunum decreased linearly with the increasing proportion of oxidized corn oil and reached the lowest point after adding 100% oxidized corn oil on d 42. The β diversity showed the remarkable differentiation of microbial communities among 5 groups, and the microbial community of the 0% oxidized oil group was significantly separated from that of 75 and 100% oxidized oil groups in the cecum. Taken together, these results showed that a low dose of naturally oxidized corn oil is not harmful to the growth of broilers, while a high dose of oxidized corn oil will trigger the inflammatory response and adversely affect the gut health of broilers.

Ruminiclostridium 5, Parabacteroides distasonis, and bile acid profile are modulated by prebiotic diet and associate with facilitated sleep/clock realignment after chronic disruption of rhythms

Chronic disruption of rhythms (CDR) impacts sleep and can result in circadian misalignment of physiological systems which, in turn, is associated with increased disease risk. Exposure to repeated or severe stressors also disturbs sleep and diurnal rhythms. Prebiotic nutrients produce favorable changes in gut microbial ecology, the gut metabolome, and reduce several negative impacts of acute severe stressor exposure, including disturbed sleep, core body temperature rhythmicity, and gut microbial dysbiosis. In light of previous compelling evidence that prebiotic diet broadly reduces negative impacts of acute, severe stressors, we hypothesize that prebiotic diet will also effectively mitigate the negative impacts of chronic disruption of circadian rhythms on physiology and sleep/wake behavior. Male, Sprague Dawley rats were fed diets enriched in prebiotic substrates or calorically matched control chow. After 5 weeks on diet, rats were exposed to CDR (12 h light/dark reversal, weekly for 8 weeks) or remained on undisturbed normal light/dark cycles (NLD). Sleep EEG, core body temperature, and locomotor activity were recorded via biotelemetry in freely moving rats. Fecal samples were collected on experimental days -33, 0 (day of onset of CDR), and 42. Taxonomic identification and relative abundances of gut microbes were measured in fecal samples using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomics. Fecal primary, bacterially modified secondary, and conjugated bile acids were measured using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Prebiotic diet produced rapid and stable increases in the relative abundances of Parabacteroides distasonis and Ruminiclostridium 5. Shotgun metagenomics analyses confirmed reliable increases in relative abundances of Parabacteroides distasonis and Clostridium leptum, a member of the Ruminiclostridium genus. Prebiotic diet also modified fecal bile acid profiles; and based on correlational and step-wise regression analyses, Parabacteroides distasonis and Ruminiclostridium 5 were positively associated with each other and negatively associated with secondary and conjugated bile acids. Prebiotic diet, but not CDR, impacted beta diversity. Measures of alpha diversity evenness were decreased by CDR and prebiotic diet prevented that effect. Rats exposed to CDR while eating prebiotic, compared to control diet, more quickly realigned NREM sleep and core body temperature (ClockLab) diurnal rhythms to the altered light/dark cycle. Finally, both cholic acid and Ruminiclostridium 5 prior to CDR were associated with time to realign CBT rhythms to the new light/dark cycle after CDR; whereas both Ruminiclostridium 5 and taurocholic acid prior to CDR were associated with NREM sleep recovery after CDR. These results support our hypothesis and suggest that ingestion of prebiotic substrates is an effective strategy to increase the relative abundance of health promoting microbes, alter the fecal bile acid profile, and facilitate the recovery and realignment of sleep and diurnal rhythms after circadian disruption.

Identification of Allergic Epitopes of Soybean β-Conglycinin in Different Animal Species

Soybean can cause allergy in both humans and animals. The herein study aims to identify the antigenic determinants (epitopes) of β-conglycinin that lead to allergy in different animal species (swine, bovine, and rats). The epitopes of β-conglycinin were identified through co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. The binding abilities of seven identified epitope peptides to allergic sera of three animal species were compared by ELISA and dot-blot techniques. Some epitope peptides could be recognized by the three animal allergic sera, while most epitopes showed some differences in binding abilities to the different animal sera. The strongest reaction using swine sera was detected with peptides α2, β2, and β3, but the biggest sensitive regions for bovine and rats were peptides α2, β1, and β4. Most epitopes of β-conglycinin exhibited different binding abilities to the three animal sera, in which the biggest sensitive regions were peptides α2, β2, and β3 for swine, but peptides α2, β1, and β4 were detected for bovine and rats.

Opportunities of prebiotics for the intestinal health of monogastric animals

The goal of prebiotic applications from different sources is to improve the gut ecosystem where the host and microbiota can benefit from prebiotics. It has already been recognized that prebiotics have potential roles in the gut ecosystem because gut microbiota ferment complex dietary macronutrients and carry out a broad range of functions in the host body, such as the production of nutrients and vitamins, protection against pathogens, and maintenance of immune system balance. The gut ecosystem is very crucial and can be affected by numerous factors consisting of dietary constituents and commensal bacteria. This review focuses on recent scientific evidence, confirming a beneficial effect of prebiotics on animal health, particularly in terms of protection against pathogenic bacteria and increasing the number of beneficial bacteria that may improve epithelial cell barrier functions. It has also been reviewed that modification of the gut ecosystem through the utilization of prebiotics significantly affects the intestinal health of animals. However, the identification and characterization of novel potential prebiotics remain a topical issue and elucidation of the metagenomics relationship between gut microbiota alteration and prebiotic substances is necessary for future prebiotic studies.

Physiological, antimicrobial, intestine morphological, and immunological effects of fructooligosaccharides in pigs

In pig nutrition, there are some periods when natural alternatives to antibiotics are more required, such as during suckling and weaning. Fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) are a group of prebiotics applied as feed ingredients in animal nutrition since their positive effects on growth performance, immunological parameters, intestinal microbiota, and gut morphology are reported. Accordingly, FOS may be candidate molecules to improve the mentioned properties in pigs. Previous studies defined FOS as inhibiting the activity of pathogens and increasing the colonization of beneficial bacteria in the gut, although metabolites of FOS decreased the intestinal pH value. Beneficial effects on digestive-enzyme activities and on protein digestion were determined in some studies. All of the three types of FOS (inulin, oligomeric fructans, and short-chain FOSs) promoted the microbial composition of the gut by increasing the colonizations of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Prevotella genus. FOS also affected the immune response directly and indirectly and increased vaccine-specific IgA, serum IgG, and IgE levels. Moreover, FOS enhanced the activation of T cells and altered the secretions of some cytokines. Levels of vaccine-specific IgG could not be increased after FOS supplements. In most cases, FOS modified intestinal morphological parameters, such as longer villi, villus-height-to-crypt-depth ratio, and thicker mucosa, which could suggest better absorptive functions. Results are contradictory on growth performance, which might be influenced by the chemical structure, the duration, and the dose of FOS, so further studies are required. This review aims to gather information regarding immunological, antimicrobial, intestine morphological, and growth performance properties of fructooligosaccharides in pigs.

Altered vaginal microbiome and relative co-abundance network in pregnant women with penicillin allergy

Background

Penicillin allergy is frequently reported in adults and children. Recent studies suggest that microbiota plays a key role in the development and progression of allergy. In this study, the relationship between vaginal microbiome and pregnant women with penicillin allergy was investigated.

Methods

Vaginal samples before labor from 12 pregnant women with penicillin allergy and 15 non-allergic pregnant women were collected. Bacterial community structure of all study subjects and the discrepancies between the two groups were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing based on Illumina Hiseq 2500 platform.

Results

The abundant phyla among all participants were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The predominant genus was Lactobacillus. Compared to non-allergic pregnant women, Actinobacteria, Coriobacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Paraprevotella and Anoxybacillus significantly decreased, whereas Deltaproteobacteria, Peptostreptococcaceae, Enterococcus and Megamonas were more abundant in penicillin allergic women. Additionally, obvious discrepancies were observed in the co-abundance network at the genus level between the two groups.

Conclusions

There were differences in the microbial community structure and composition of reproduction tract between penicillin allergic and non-allergic pregnant women. These shifts may be related to maternal and neonatal health.