This study explored the effects of different preparations of Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK) on the gut microbiota and jejunal transcriptome of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 100 one-day-old broilers were divided into five groups, including control group (Control), LPS injection (LPS), gavage of AKK broth culture plus LPS injection (AKK), gavage of viable AKK suspension plus LPS injection (Active) and gavage of heat-inactivated AKK suspension plus LPS injection (Inactive). Growth performance results showed that LPS significantly reduced the body weight of broilers. Alpha diversity showed no significant group differences. At the phylum level, Firmicutes was significantly lower in groups with AKK gavage. At the genus level, Bacteroides was relatively more abundant, whereas Streptococcus was numerically less abundant in AKK-treated groups. The Active group had the highest abundance of Akkermansia. Transcriptome analysis revealed the Inactive group had significantly lower Occludin. Combined KEGG and GO analyses revealed that the LPS challenge suppressed innate immunity by downregulating the Retinoic acid-inducible gene (RIG)-I-like receptor signaling pathway. In response, different interventions distinctly modulated the transcriptome. The AKK group counteracted this suppression by upregulating innate immune and antiviral defense responses. The Active group primarily influenced metabolism, downregulating pathways for drug and glutathione metabolism and xenobiotic responses while upregulating retinol metabolism. In addition, the Inactive group demonstrated an upregulation of ribosome biogenesis, and energy metabolism, suggesting a restoration of core cellular functions. In summary, all gavaged AKK preparations maintained broiler gut microbiome stability, while AKK broth culture demonstrated superior efficacy in alleviating LPS-induced jejunal stress.

The diversity and stability of the gut microbiota, along with various microbial and host–microbe interactions, are crucial factors in maintaining a healthy state. In this study, a total of 12 healthy 1–2 years old cats of similar weight were recruited and divided into two groups according to the experimental design and breed: the British shorthair (BS) group and the nulla luctus felis (NLF) group. After 21 days of the same diet, we analyzed and compared the gut microbiota of BS and NLF. Our results showed that the values of the serum biochemical indicators of the BS and NLF selected for this experiment were within the normal range. The Venn diagram showed that the two groups had 310 common operational taxonomic units. Significant differences in beta diversity (P < 0.05), but not in alpha diversity (P > 0.05), distinguished the two groups. Comparative analysis revealed the NLF group was enriched in Lactobacillus and Bacillus, but depleted in Enterococcus at the genus level (P < 0.05). Furthermore, 59 taxa were established as biomarkers based on a linear discriminant analysis score greater than 3.5. According to PICRUSt2 function analyses, the BS group and NLF group had a ratio of 77.11% and 76.55% for metabolism at level 1, respectively. At level 3, the NLF group significantly increased 15 metabolism pathways, while decreasing 13 metabolism pathways (P < 0.05). Finally, NLF-P1, which was screened from the feces of NLF, exhibited a good antibacterial effect on three strains of pet-associated pathogens, and the evolutionary tree was constructed to show that it may be Lactobacillus paracasei or Lactobacillus casei. In conclusion, there were significant differences in intestinal microbiota composition between BS and NLF, and NLF-P1 has research and application potential.

Embryo loss during the implantation period is one of the main factors limiting litter size in sows. This study aimed to investigate whether combined supplementation with sodium butyrate (SB), selenium yeast (SeY) and soy isoflavones (SIF) during early pregnancy could improve embryo implantation and consequently increase litter size. 103 Landrace × Yorkshire sows of parity 6–7 were randomly allocated into: (1) control group (n = 56) fed basal diet, and (2) SB-SeY-SIF treatment group (n = 47) supplemented with 0.05% SB, 50 ppm SeY, and 0.02% SIF in the basal diet from pregnancy days 1–28. Serum and fecal samples were collected on pregnancy day 14 and 28. After farrowing, reproductive performance data were recorded for both groups. SB-SeY-SIF supplementation increased the litter size (17.70 vs. 16.46) and the number of normal neonatal piglets (birth weight > 0.7 kg and without malformations, 14.21 vs. 13.23) (P < 0.05). Further analyses demonstrated that SB-SeY-SIF enhanced serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels, improved total antioxidant capacity and the activities of key antioxidant enzymes including catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, while reduced malondialdehyde levels (P < 0.05). Correlation analyses between reproductive performance and differential gut microbiota, and differential serum and fecal metabolites revealed that potential beneficial bacteria (such as Phascolarctobacterium succinatutens) and metabolites associated with blastocyst development and implantation (such as betaine and Prostaglandin I2) were positively correlated with both litter size and normal neonatal piglet numbers (P < 0.05). During early pregnancy, the beneficial effects of dietary SB-SeY-SIF supplementation on increasing litter size and the number of normal neonatal piglets were associated with enhanced steroid hormone synthesis, improved antioxidant capacity, and pronounced alterations in the gut microbiota and serum metabolic profiles.

The successful establishment of the bacterial community in the gastrointestinal tract is of crucial importance for growth, metabolic health, performance and welfare in early and later stages of ruminants. This study aimed to investigate the development of oral- and rumen-associated bacteria in pre-weaning calves and to compare them with respect to the different genetic backgrounds and the type of $\beta $-casein in the milk fed. Calves were kept in the same defined nutritional and housing environment. Saliva samples were taken at three time points up to 27 days of age before weaning via buccal swabs, and the extracted DNA was analysed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The development of the microbiota in the rumen and oral cavity was differentially analysed and evaluated. Age-dependent changes were observed, with a clear shift in rumen-associated bacteria over time and increasing alpha diversity, while oral-associated bacteria stabilized more rapidly at a young age, demonstrating the robustness of the analysis. Breed-specific differences were noted at the genus level, and minor effects of milk type (based on β-casein type) were detected. A significant interaction was detected between calf age and bacterial abundance, as well as between the breed and bacterial abundance, but not for milk type. The method for analysing and evaluating saliva samples provided valuable insights into the development of the microbiota in the oral cavity and the rumen under the influence of breed and the milk fed by the successful separation of oral- and rumen-associated bacteria. Due to the exclusive use of samples from the oral cavity, invasive examination methods could be largely avoided in the future and would only serve as additional controls to confirm the results of the buccal swab analyses.

This study employed Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics to investigate the impact of probiotic supplementation on the metabolite profile in broiler chickens. Broilers were fed a diet supplemented with a Bacillus blend (F1) containing three strains (BPR-11, BPR-16 and BPR-17). NMR-based metabolomic analysis revealed significant increases in metabolites associated with energy production, including short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), glucose, choline and other trimethylammonium compounds, taurine, and alanine. Elevated SCFAs indicated enhanced breakdown of indigestible fibers, providing additional energy resources. Increased levels of glucose, choline, taurine, and alanine pointed to activation of gluconeogenesis and lipid metabolism pathways. These findings provided new insights into the biochemical effects of Bacillus supplementation in broiler chickens and may inform the development of more effective Bacillus-based formulations and feeding strategies in poultry production.

α-Tocopherol, the most biologically active form of vitamin E, plays a central role in maintaining animal well-being and enhancing performance through its potent antioxidant function. This review explores the nutritional significance of α-tocopherol in animal systems, with a focus on its bioavailability, biopotency, and broader physiological roles. Among the eight vitamin E vitamers, α-tocopherol is preferentially retained and distributed due to its selective binding by hepatic α-tocopherol transfer protein, which facilitates its incorporation into very-low-density lipoproteins and delivery to tissues. Its antioxidant activity is closely linked to its membrane localization, where it scavenges lipid peroxyl radicals and prevents oxidative damage. The tocopheroxyl radical formed in this process can be regenerated in an antioxidant network by co-antioxidants such as vitamin C, preserving its antioxidant capacity. These molecular mechanisms support membrane integrity, immune function, and metabolic stability, especially under oxidative stress conditions common in livestock production. Despite its well-established importance, the bioavailability and biopotency of α-tocopherol are influenced by several factors, such as chemical form, dietary composition, species-specific gastrointestinal physiology, digestive efficiency, tissue distribution, metabolism, and excretion. α-Tocopherol has the highest biopotency of all vitamin E forms. Thereby, natural RRR-α-tocopherol exhibits greater biopotency than synthetic all-rac-α-tocopherol due to stereoisomer-specific differences in tissue distribution and retention. Esterified forms such as α-tocopheryl acetate, though more stable in feed, require enzymatic hydrolysis for absorption affecting bioavailability, which may be impaired in young or stressed animals. Current challenges include the lack of standardized biomarkers for vitamin E status, limited cross-species biopotency data, and insufficient understanding of how environmental and dietary factors modulate utilization and requirements. This review highlights the need for integrative approaches combining pharmacokinetics, tissue deposition, and functional outcomes to improve the precision of α-tocopherol supplementation strategies. Advancing this understanding is essential to fully harness the nutritional power of α-tocopherol in diverse animal production systems.

Lycium barbarum by-products (LBPs), including residual branches, leaves and fruits generated during processing, are rich in bioactive compounds exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. However, their efficient utilization remains limited. This study investigated the effects of fermentation duration on the chemical composition and bioactivity of LBPs. Anaerobic solid-state fermentation was conducted using a mixed microbial consortium of Bacillus subtilis PFK1702, Lactobacillus, and yeast for 0 (CON), 3 (F3) and 5 (F5) days. Fermentation significantly altered the nutritional composition of LBPs, increasing crude protein and total polyphenol contents while reducing crude fat and crude fiber levels (P < 0.05). Nontargeted metabolomics identified 16 flavonoid metabolites, including 6,7,8-tetrahydroxy-5-methoxyflavone, diosmetin, rhamnocitrin, hispidulin, nepetin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside (cynaroside) and others. Most flavonoid metabolites were upregulated in F3 and F5 compared with CON, with the highest accumulation observed after 5 days of fermentation. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that luteolin-7-O-glucoside (cynaroside) may participate in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway of LBPs, although further experimental validation is needed. Overall, prolonged fermentation enhanced flavonoid biosynthesis and improved the nutritional and functional properties of LBPs, suggesting that a 5-day fermentation period is optimal. These results offer theoretical and practical insights into the valorization of LBPs as functional feed or natural antioxidant resources.

This study aimed to investigate the abundance distribution of Quinella in yak rumen, a dominant microbe associated with low methane emissions and high propionate yield, and its modulation of microbial carbohydrate metabolism. A high-quality genomic database for rumen Quinella was constructed through the screening of 12 717 published metagenome-assembled genomes from 12 ruminant species. Genomic annotation indicated that Quinella possessed two distinct gene clusters for converting fumarate to propionate. The 16S rRNA sequencing data revealed that the ruminal Quinella abundance is host-dependent, with a markedly higher prevalence in yaks (56.3%) than in cattle (3.01%). In yaks, higher rumen Quinella abundance was accompanied by the lower abundances of enoyl-CoA hydratase and acetate CoA transferase, encoding two butyrate synthetases but higher abundances of key genes involved in propionate synthesis. In vivo analyses found that yaks carrying more Quinella abundance (high or low groups, n = 9 per group) exhibited higher total volatile fatty acids and lower butyrate percentage in their ruminal contents. Additionally, comparative metagenomic analysis indicated that microbial genes from yaks with higher Quinella were enriched in critical metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, the reductive Krebs cycle, and the conversion of acetyl-CoA to acetate. However, no significant differences in methane production (prediction based) were observed between yaks with higher or lower Quinella (n = 9 per group). In summary, this study provided a valuable genomic resource for further research on Quinella and partially verified its potential in microbial carbohydrate metabolism, specifically enhancing volatile fatty acid production. However, its role in yak methane emission requires further validation.

As an essential trace element, iron is indispensable for oxygen transport, energy metabolism, and other physiological processes. During the physiological stage of gestation, the iron demand of sows increases substantially. Iron deficiency anemia is highly prevalent in pregnant sows, adversely affecting their reproductive performance and potentially inducing growth retardation, weakened immunity, and compromised health in piglets. Consequently, these adverse outcomes can ultimately compromise the sustainable production of sows. To address this issue, dietary iron supplements have evolved from inorganic forms like ferrous sulfate through organic salts such as ferrous fumarate to the current chelated iron, which is currently known for its high bioavailability. This paper reviews the relationship between iron metabolism and anemia in pregnant sows, analyzes the negative impacts of anemia on sow reproductive performance and piglet health, and discusses nutritional strategies for iron regulation within the context of sustainable swine production. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis for improving sow productivity and promoting sustainable development in the swine industry.

A total of 60 healthy lambs were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: control (CON), and groups receiving basal diet (dry matter base) supplemented with 400 mg/kg (CA400) and 800 mg/kg (CA800) of cinnamaldehyde (CA), the CA additive used silicon dioxide as adsorbent and the CA content was 25% (m/m). The study lasted 75 days, including a 15-day pre-trial and a 60-day trial period. Results showed average daily gain, feed-to-gain ratio, as well as digestibility rates of organic matter and crude protein were significantly improved compare with CON (P < 0.05). Serum total protein and immunoglobulin G levels were elevated in both CA groups (P < 0.05). The CA800 group had significantly higher total superoxide dismutase compared to CON, while glucose (Glu) levels were lower in CA groups (P < 0.05). Ruminal ammonia nitrogen level was significantly lower in the CA groups compared to CON (P < 0.05). The total volatile fatty acid concentration was highest in the CA400 group, followed by CON, with the lowest in the CA800 group; the acetate/propionate ratio tended to be lower in the CA groups (P > 0.05). The abundance of Bacteroidetes in CA800 group was significantly higher than that in CON (P < 0.05), and the abundance of Firmicutes in CA400 and CA800 groups were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The abundance of Prevotella in CA400 and CA800 groups was significantly increased (P < 0.05), while abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group was significantly lower than that in CON group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of SiO2 adsorbing CA to the diet of lambs can improve the growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, antioxidant and immune ability, and changed composition of ruminal bacterial community, addition of 400 mg/kg (equivalent to 100 mg/kg pure) has the best effect.

Weaning stress impacts piglet performance, prompting antimicrobial resistance concerns from antibiotic overuse. Clostridium butyricum-derived antimicrobial peptides (CBP) show potentials as a safe, effective antibiotic alternative. We initially characterized novel antimicrobial peptides within the CBP fraction, synthesizing and confirming their potent activity. This study evaluated CBP’s effects on intestinal health and growth performance of weaned piglets using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model. Fifty weaned Jinhua piglets (45 days, 9.95 ± 2.03 kg) were randomly allocated to control group (CON) and CBP group (n = 25), with five replicates each. Piglets in the CBP group were orally administered 3 mL of CBP daily (145.59 mg of total peptide) for 21 days, while the CON group received sterile water. During this period, CBP significantly improved growth performance, evidenced by increased average daily gain (P = 0.047) and reduced feed conversion ratio (P = 0.015), alongside a decrease in diarrhea incidence (P < 0.05). To further investigate the mechanism, a subset of animals from each group was challenged with LPS on day 21 to induce intestinal inflammation. Mechanistically, CBP enhanced intestinal barrier functions by optimizing crypt architecture and upregulating tight junction proteins expression (P < 0.05). CBP also exerted a potent anti-inflammatory effect, substantially reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.05) and suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Integrated microbiome and metabolomic analyses revealed CBP modulated the gut microbiota by increasing beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus and Coprococcus (P < 0.05) and elevating protective metabolites, including butyrate and hyocholic acid (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that CBP supplementation effectively promotes piglet growth and alleviates intestinal injury by regulating the gut microbiota and associated metabolic profiles. These effects are mediated through enhanced intestinal barrier functions and suppressed inflammation via the GPR43-NLRP3 pathway. This study provides strong evidence for CBP as a promising, safe alternative to antibiotics.

This study investigated effects of fermented feed from broccoli stems and leaves (FBSL) on the growth performance, gut microbiota and carcass quality of Jinhua pigs. A total of 36 Jinhua pigs (54.50 ± 1.76 kg) were divided into two groups: control group fed basal diet, FBSL group fed basal diet containing 10% FBSL. The results showed that compared with the CON group, the average daily weight gain, lean meat percentage, loin eye area, pork redness, myoglobin content and inosine monophosphate content in FBSL group were increased by 7.31%, 5.69%, 11.03%, 18.88%, 26.50% and 30.32%, respectively (P < 0.05). Compared to the CON groups, the three-point backfat thickness, and the drip loss were decreased in FBSL group by 14.37% and 18.84%, respectively (P < 0.05). In the dorsal subcutaneous fat, the mRNA expression levels of DGAT1, DGAT2, FADS1 and PPARG were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while INSIG1, CPT1A and CPT2 were significantly increased (P < 0.05); the contents of acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid in colon were significantly increased (P < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing results indicated that at the phylum level, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes in the FBSL group was significantly increased, while the relative abundance of Proteobacteria was decreased significantly (P < 0.05); at the genus level, the relative abundances of Lactobacillus, Prevotella-9 and Treponema were significantly increased, while Escherichia was decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that the relative abundances of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were significantly increased, while Escherichia coli was decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Results suggest FBSL improves the growth performance and carcass quality of Jinhua pigs by optimizing gut microbiota structure, increasing the content of gut short-chain fatty acids, and affecting the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in newborn animals is linked to impaired intestinal health, yet the characteristics of their gut microbiota and circulating exosomal miRNAs remain incompletely understood. This study compared the cecal microbiota composition and serum exosomal miRNA profiles to characterize differences between IUGR and normal birth weight (NBW) piglets. Compared to NBW piglets, IUGR piglets displayed significant reductions in body and organ weights (heart, liver, kidney) as well as shorter jejunal and ileal lengths (p < 0.05). Microbial diversity, reflected by the Chao1 and Shannon index, was significantly reduced in IUGR piglets (p < 0.001). Taxonomic analysis revealed decreased abundances of Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Fusobacterium (p < 0.05), alongside increased abundances of potential pathogenic taxa, including Proteobacteria, Escherichia-Shigella, and Sutterella (p < 0.05). Moreover, three serum exosomal miRNAs (ssc-miR-16, ssc-miR-19b, and ssc-let-7c) emerged from the analysis as potential key regulators of IUGR. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that ssc-miR-16 and ssc-miR-19b were significantly increased in IUGR piglets, mainly targeting genes involved in cellular signaling, metabolism, and immune regulation, including the mTOR and infection-related pathways. In contrast, ssc-let-7c was significantly downregulated and linked to metabolic processes such as protein digestion and absorption. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that IUGR disrupts intestinal barrier development and microbial homeostasis, while identifying three serum exosomal miRNAs as potential biomarkers and mechanistic contributors to the pathological processes underlying IUGR.

Global demand for pork, the most consumed meat worldwide, continues to rise, driving producers to adopt early weaning practices to increase pigs born each year. However, early weaning disrupts intestinal development and function, which can limit growth, therefore, understanding the mechanisms associated with maintenance of intestinal health are central to maximizing growth performance and productivity of pigs. The stressors of the post-weaning period induce changes to the complex microbiota–host–immune interactions that are further influenced by dietary nutrients. Central to these interactions is the recognition of changes in the intestinal microbiota by pattern recognition receptors of enterocytes and immune cells. Recognition of conserved microbial structures activates signaling cascades that regulate cytokine production, epithelial barrier function and redox balance. Bacterial influence on these pathways differs, with some bacteria promoting tolerance and anti-inflammatory signaling, whereas others induce pro-inflammatory responses. Dietary composition, including protein and non-starch polysaccharides content, and select feed additives, can influence the composition of the microbiota, thereby modulating microbiota–host–immune interactions. By utilizing nutriomics, an integrative framework that combines nutritional interventions with multi-omics technologies to connect dietary inputs to changes in the microbiota–host–immune interactions, this review highlights the complexity and context-dependent nature of these interactions and the role of nutrition to optimize intestinal health and enhance growth performance in nursery pigs.

Early weaning can cause intestinal injury, diarrhea, and even death in piglets, leading to huge economic losses in swine production. Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms underlying weaning-induced intestinal injury is of great importance for effectively alleviating such injury in early-weaned piglets and improving their health and production performance. After weaning, the loss of maternal antibody protection disrupts the intestinal immune system. An increase in intestinal pH and incomplete nutrient digestion following weaning promotes the overgrowth of harmful bacteria, resulting in intestinal microbial dysbiosis. Additionally, weaning stress disrupts the intestinal redox balance, causing an abnormal increase in reactive oxygen and subsequently enhancing apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells. The appropriate use of feed additives can help maintain intestinal barrier integrity and microbial homeostasis in piglets. Piglets have a high protein requirement for growth; however, high-protein diets with excessive protein levels can cause intestinal dysfunction. Therefore, appropriately reducing dietary protein levels while supplementing with crystalline amino acids may be an effective strategy to alleviate intestinal damage in weaned piglets. Dietary fiber is a nutrient that can improve intestinal function in weaned piglets, primarily by promoting the production of short-chain fatty acids and maintaining microbial homeostasis. Additionally, feed processing can effectively enhance nutrient digestibility and utilization, thereby mitigating intestinal injury caused by solid feed. Here, we synthesize the mechanisms by which weaning induces intestinal injury in piglets and the mitigating effects of various nutritional interventions, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and practical references for alleviating and treating weaning-associated intestinal damage in piglets.

Rapid etiological diagnosis of diarrheal disease is challenging in multi-pathogen settings. Host blood transcriptomes provide a pathogen-agnostic signal, but models must be accurate and interpretable. We analyzed peripheral blood transcriptomes from pigs experimentally challenged with Lawsonia intracellularis, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, transmissible gastroenteritis virus, porcine deltacoronavirus, and Clostridium perfringens type C, plus healthy controls. Six machine learning algorithms were compared. The best model, a deep neural network (DNN), underwent feature selection to build 50-, 20-, and 5-gene classifiers. Performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis and standard metrics. Interpretability was achieved using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and a 20-gene Kolmogorov–Arnold network (KAN) that provided explicit gene-to-node functions. The DNN outperformed other algorithms (AUC: 0.690, accuracy: 73.2%, recall: 91.3%, F1: 0.792). A 20-gene DNN preserved this performance (AUC: 0.690, 95% CI: 0.507–0.854) and was chosen as the optimal model, whereas a 5-gene model slightly increased AUC but reduced recall. Pathway enrichment of the 20 genes implicated immune and metabolic pathways, including PI3K–Akt, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, and AMPK signaling. SHAP consistently identified ACTG1, SLC5A1, and ATP1A1 as dominant contributors across pathogens. The 20-gene KAN achieved comparable performance (AUC: 0.71) and yielded simple linear mappings showing negative effects of ACTG1/SLC5A1 and positive effects of ATP1A1 on the internal risk signal. A compact, biologically coherent 20-gene host signature enables accurate and interpretable prediction of diverse diarrheal pathogens, with ACTG1, SLC5A1, and ATP1A1 emerging as core cross-pathogen markers and promising diagnostic candidates.