AUTHOR=Yu Xiaorong , Dai Zhenglie , Cao Guangtian , Cui Zhenchuan , Zhang Ruiqiang , Xu Yinglei , Wu Yanping , Yang Caimei 

TITLE=Protective effects of Bacillus licheniformis on growth performance, gut barrier functions, immunity and serum metabolome in lipopolysaccharide-challenged weaned piglets

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1140564

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1140564

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Bacillus licheniformis</italic> (<italic>B. licheniformis</italic>) is a well-accepted probiotic that has many benefits on both humans and animals. This study explored the effects of <italic>B. licheniformis</italic> on growth performance, intestinal mucosal barrier functions, immunity as well as serum metabolome in the weaned piglets exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). One hundred and twenty piglets weaned at four weeks of age were separated into two groups that received a basal diet (the control group, CON), and a basal diet complemented with <italic>B. licheniformis</italic> (500 mg/kg, the BL group, BL). Twenty-four piglets were chosen from the above two groups and 12 piglets were injected with LPS intraperitoneally at a concentration of 100 μg/kg and the others were injected with sterile saline solution of the same volume. All the piglets were sacrificed 4 h after LPS challenge. Results showed that <italic>B. licheniformis</italic> enhanced the ADG and final body weight and lowered the F/G and diarrhea rate. Pre-treatment with <italic>B. licheniformis</italic> markedly attenuated intestinal mucosal damage induced by LPS challenge. Supplementation with <italic>B. licheniformis</italic> strengthened immune function and suppressed inflammatory response by elevating the concentrations of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A and jejunum mucosal IgA and IgG and decreasing serum IL-6 and jejunum mucosal IL-1β. In addition, <italic>B. licheniformis</italic> pretreatment prevented LPS-induced intestinal injury by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, pretreatment with <italic>B. licheniformis</italic> tended to reverse the reduction of acetate and propionic acids in the colonic contents that occurred due to LPS stress. <italic>B. licheniformis</italic> markedly modulated the metabolites of saccharopine and allantoin from lysine and purine metabolic pathways, respectively. Overall, these data emphasize the potentiality of <italic>B. licheniformis</italic> as a dietary supplement to overcome the challenge of bacterial LPS in the animal and to enhance the food safety.</p>