DataSheet_1_Dietary Probiotic Supplementation Suppresses Subclinical Necrotic Enteritis in Broiler Chickens in a Microbiota-Dependent Manner.pdf

BackgroundChicken meat is one of the most consumed meats worldwide and poultry production is increasing at an exponential rate. Reducing antibiotic usage has resulted in the recurrence of subclinical necrotic enteritis again and influenced global poultry production. Probiotics are potential antibiotic substitutes that can be used to prevent subclinical necrotic enteriti. However, the precise mechanism of action of probiotics and information on which gut microbes confer this efficacy remain elusive.
Methods and resultsThe subclinical necrotic enteritis animal model was used to reveal the mechanism underlying the effect of probiotics on intestinal health through RNA sequencing and 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Bacillus licheniformis H2 feeding significantly reduced the relative abundance of Clostridium perfringens in the ileum and markedly ameliorated the pathological damage in the ileum and liver. In addition, oral administration of B. licheniformis H2 contributed to the enhancement of the intestinal barrier function and epithelial renewal, reducing energy consumption, and improving enteral nutrition absorption. Probiotic B. licheniformis H2 also ameliorated the inflammatory response and increased the immunity of subclinical necrotic enteritis infected broilers. Finally, B. licheniformis H2 feeding regulated liver gene expression to suppress immune response and promoted growth and metabolism depending on the gut microbiota.
ConclusionsThese results indicated the mechanism of probiotic action of B. licheniformis H2 in maintaining intestinal health and thus promoting growth and B. licheniformis H2 may serve as an antibiotic substitute to prevent subclinical necrotic enteritis in poultry farming.

背景：鸡肉是全球消费量最高的肉类之一，家禽养殖业正以指数级速率扩张。抗生素使用量的削减导致亚临床坏死性肠炎（subclinical necrotic enteritis）再次复发，对全球家禽养殖业造成负面影响。益生菌是潜在的抗生素替代品，可用于预防亚临床坏死性肠炎，但目前益生菌确切的作用机制，以及究竟是哪些肠道微生物介导了其防控功效，仍不甚明晰。

方法与结果：本研究通过RNA测序（RNA sequencing）与16S rDNA扩增子测序（16S rDNA amplicon sequencing），借助亚临床坏死性肠炎动物模型，揭示益生菌对肠道健康的作用机制。饲喂地衣芽孢杆菌H2（Bacillus licheniformis H2）可显著降低回肠中产气荚膜梭菌（Clostridium perfringens）的相对丰度，并显著改善回肠与肝脏的病理损伤。此外，灌服地衣芽孢杆菌H2能够增强肠道屏障功能与上皮细胞更新速率，减少能量消耗并提升肠道营养吸收效率。该益生菌还可缓解亚临床坏死性肠炎感染肉鸡的炎症反应，增强其机体免疫力。最终研究发现，饲喂地衣芽孢杆菌H2可通过调控肝脏基因表达以抑制免疫应答，并依赖肠道菌群促进肉鸡的生长与代谢。

结论：本研究结果阐明了地衣芽孢杆菌H2通过调控肠道稳态维持肠道健康并促进生长的益生菌作用机制，表明其可作为抗生素替代品用于家禽养殖业中亚临床坏死性肠炎的防控。