Microbiome Analysis Investigating the Impacts of Fermented Spent Mushroom Substrates on the Composition of Microbiota in Weaned Piglets Hindgut

Effects of Salmonella Outer Membrane Vesicles on Intestinal Microbiota and Intestinal Barrier Function

Salmonella enterica is one of the most important zoonotic pathogens causing foodborne gastroenteritis worldwide. Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are lipid-bilayer vesicles produced by Gram-negative bacteria, which contain biologically active components. We hypothesized that OMVs are an important weapon of S. enterica to initiate enteric diseases pathologies. In this study, the effects of S. enterica OMVs (SeOMVs) on intestinal microbiota and intestinal barrier function were investigated. In vitro fecal culture experiments showed that alpha diversity indexes and microbiota composition were altered by SeOMV supplementation. SeOMV supplementation showed an increase of pH, a decrease of OD630 and total short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations. In vitro IPEC-J2 cells culture experiments showed that SeOMV supplementation did not affect the IPEC-J2 cell viability and the indicated genes expression. In vivo experiments in mice showed that SeOMVs had adverse effects on average daily gain (p < 0.05) and feed:gain ratio (p < 0.05), and had a tendency to decrease the final body weight (p = 0.073) in mice. SeOMV administration decreased serum interleukin-10 level (p < 0.05), decreased the relative abundance of bacteria belonging to the genera BacC-u-018 and Akkermansia (p < 0.05). Furthermore, SeOMV administration damaged the ileum mucosa (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that SeOMVs play an important role in the activation of intestinal inflammatory response induced by S. enterica, and downregulation of SCFA-producing bacteria is a possible mechanism.

Spent substrate from mushroom cultivation: exploitation potential toward various applications and value-added products

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is the residual biomass generated after harvesting the fruitbodies of edible/medicinal fungi. Disposal of SMS, the main by-product of the mushroom cultivation process, often leads to serious environmental problems and is financially demanding. Efficient recycling and valorization of SMS are crucial for the sustainable development of the mushroom industry in the frame of the circular economy principles. The physical properties and chemical composition of SMS are a solid fundament for developing several applications, and recent literature shows an increasing research interest in exploiting that inherent potential. This review provides a thorough outlook on SMS exploitation possibilities and discusses critically recent findings related to specific applications in plant and mushroom cultivation, animal husbandry, and recovery of enzymes and bioactive compounds.

Expanding the valorization of waste mushroom substrates in agricultural production: progress and challenges

Waste mushroom substrate (WMS) generated in large quantities from mushroom production process has caused severe environmental pollution. As a sustainable resource, the valorization of WMS in the agricultural field has attracted attention due to the abundant active components. A comprehensive review of valorization of WMS in agricultural production is meaningful to promote the further utilization of this resource. This paper provided an overview of the valorization in sustainable agricultural production using WMS, including animal and crop farming improvement, and agricultural environmental restoration. Moreover, the limitations and the possible development directions of WMS in agricultural production were discussed. Different sustainable cycle models for WMS in agricultural production were proposed. The aim of this review is to provide a feasible solution for the favorable treatment of WMS and improvement of agricultural production quality.

Dietary Eucommia ulmoides Extract Alleviates the Effect of Cold Stress on Chick Growth Performance, Antioxidant and Immune Ability

Simple Summary

The cold stress that chicks suffer from has caused huge losses to the chicken industry. It is very important to find an effective way to alleviate cold stress in chicks. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that dietary Eucommia ulmoides extract alleviates the effect of cold stress on chick growth performance, antioxidants, and immune ability. Interestingly, Eucommia ulmoides extract supplementation improved the growth performance, antioxidant status, and immune response and reduced the organ damage of chicks caused by cold stress, which shows that Eucommia ulmoides extract has potent protective effects against cold stress. These findings will be very beneficial to break down the bottleneck issue of chick production caused by cold stress.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the protective value of Eucommia ulmoides extract (EUE) on chicks under cold stress. A total of 21 compounds were identified in EUE using mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Ninety chicks were divided into a control group (CS) fed a basal diet and an experimental group supplemented with EUE, exposed to 10 ± 1 °C for 8 h per day. Results showed, compared with the CS group, the body weights (BW) (p < 0.01) and average daily gains ADG (p < 0.05) of the EUE group were increased throughout the study period. Chicks fed EUE had higher AFI (0–7 d, p < 0.001) and lower feed-to-gain ratios (F/G) (0–15 d, p < 0.001). EUE increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (15 d, p < 0.05) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (7 d, p < 0.05), whereas it decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) (15 d, p < 0.01). The contents of IgA (7 d, p < 0.05), IgG (7 d; 15 d, p < 0.01), and IgM (15 d, p < 0. 001) were higher in the EUE group. Dietary EUE could also reduce chick organ damage. Overall, EUE as a natural feed additive can improve the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immune level, and reduce the organ damage of cold-stressed chicks.