Abstract
The use of next-generation probiotics(NGP)in pigs for combating diseases has been subject to limited research.Here we explored the potential of a well-known NGP candidate Akkermansia muciniphila tar-geting pig gut health.In the first screening experiment,we found that the abundance of A.muciniphila peaked at 14 d old but decreased at weaning(21 d old;P＜0.05),suggesting the weaning period may be an effective window for A.muciniphila intervention.Following that,48 crossbred weaned pigs at 28 d old were randomly assigned to five groups:control(CON),high/low live A.muciniphila(HA/LA),and high/low heat-killed A.muciniphila(HIA/LIA).From 1 to 28 d old,the CON group received gastric infusion of anaerobic sterile saline every other day;the HA and LA groups were gavaged every other day with 1 × 1010 CFU/5 mL and 5 × 108 CFU/5 mL live A.muciniphila,respectively;and the HIA and LIA groups were gavaged every other day with 1 × 1010 CFU/5 mL and 5 × 108 CFU/5 mL heat-killed A.muciniphila,respectively.At d 29,pigs in the CON group were randomly and equally divided into two groups,one of which was named the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC)group,and all groups except CON received a 5-d ETEC challenge.The supplementation of A.muciniphila numerically reduced the diarrhea rate of weaned pigs compared to the pigs that only received the ETEC challenge(P=0.57),but the LIA group had a higher diarrhea rate than the CON group(P＜0.05).Consistent with this,the supplementation of A.muciniphila improved the small intestinal morphology and structure,proportion of CD4+T lymphocytes in the blood,as well as the expression of genes related to intestinal barrier and antioxidant indices of pigs with ETEC challenge,especially for the LA group(P＜0.05).Meanwhile,A.muciniphila supplementation reduced the expression of ETEC virulence factor genes in the ileum and colon of pigs challenged by ETEC(P＜0.05).Therefore,A.muciniphila may protect the intestinal health of weaned piglets from damage caused by ETEC infection,but the effect may vary depending on the concentration and activity of A.muciniphila.
基金项目
Sichuan Provincial Natural Science Foundation(2023NSFSC0237)
National Natural Science Foundation of China(32372900)
National Natural Science Foundation of China(32072743)
Nanjing Agricultural University for donating A.muciniphila(DSM 22959)
NETL
NSTL
万方数据