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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Microorganisms in Vertebrate Digestive Systems
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1492035

Bacillus coagulans MF-06 alleviates intestinal mucosal barrier from damage in chicks infected with Salmonella Pullorum via activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Provisionally accepted
Li MA Li MA 1Guangming Tian Guangming Tian 1*Yuejin Pu Yuejin Pu 2*Xuguang Qin Xuguang Qin 3*Yinghu Zhang Yinghu Zhang 1*Haojie Wang Haojie Wang 1Lei You Lei You 1*Gaofeng Zhang Gaofeng Zhang 1*Chun Fang Chun Fang 1Xiongyan Liang Xiongyan Liang 1Hongbo Wei Hongbo Wei 1*Lei Tan Lei Tan 1Liren Jiang Liren Jiang 1*
  • 1 Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
  • 2 Hubei Provincial Livestock Technology Extension Center, Wuhan, Hebei Province, China
  • 3 Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Rizhao Shandong, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This study aimed to assess the protective efficacy of Bacillus coagulans MF-06 as a potential alternative to antibiotics in mitigating intestinal mucosal damage in chicks infected with Salmonella Pullorum. A total of 150 one-day-old SPF chicks were selected and randomly divided into five groups: control group (CK), probiotics group (EM), probiotics treatment group (PT), antibiotic treatment group (AT), Salmonella Pullorum group (SI), CK, AT and SI groups were fed a basal diet, EM and PT groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 1.0×10 8 CFU/g Bacillus coagulans; PT, AT and SI groups were gavaged with 1.0×10 9 CFU/0.5 mL Salmonella Pullorum at 7 days of age; AT group were fed with 0.375 g/kg neomycin sulfate in the basal diet from days 7-14. Subsequently, the study evaluated alterations in growth performance, the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, cytokines associated with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and gut microbiota composition. The results revealed that the administration of Bacillus coagulans MF-06 significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio of chicks (P < 0.05), and significantly increased the average daily weight gain and average daily feed intake in chicks challenged with Salmonella Pullorum (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Bacillus coagulans MF-06 treatment diminished the presence of Salmonella Pullorum colonies in the intestinal tract. Additionally, the administration of Bacillus coagulans MF-06 restored levels of (Diamine oxidase) DAO and (D-lactic acid) D-LA levels, as well as the levels of tight junction protein, including TJP1, CLDN1, CLDN2, Occludin, and MUC2 (P < 0.05). The study noted a significant decrease in cell apoptosis (P < 0.05) and a significant increase in the expression of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) and v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (C-MYC) (P < 0.05), which activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Analysis through 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the intake of Bacillus coagulans MF-06 led to a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Lachnoclostridium, Shuttleworthia, and unidentified-Eggerthellaceae (P < 0.05). Collectively, the Bacillus coagulans MF-06 may provide a protective effect against Salmonella Pullorum infection in chicks by enhancing growth performance, strengthening the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, and stabilizing the gut microbiota.

    Keywords: Bacillus coagulans, Salmonella pullorum, chick, Intestinal Mucosal Barrier, Wnt/β-Catenin pathway, Gut Microbiota

    Received: 06 Sep 2024; Accepted: 13 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 MA, Tian, Pu, Qin, Zhang, Wang, You, Zhang, Fang, Liang, Wei, Tan and Jiang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Guangming Tian, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
    Yuejin Pu, Hubei Provincial Livestock Technology Extension Center, Wuhan, Hebei Province, China
    Xuguang Qin, Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Rizhao Shandong, China
    Yinghu Zhang, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
    Lei You, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
    Gaofeng Zhang, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
    Hongbo Wei, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
    Liren Jiang, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China

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