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.