Functional Characterization and Whole-Genome Analysis of Probiotics from Mare's and Camel's Milk in Preventing <i>Salmonella</i> Infection

In this study, five Lactobacillus strains with strong inhibitory activity against pathogenic bacteria were screened in vitro. In a mouse model infected with Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC14028, strains TT97 and TT27 effectively alleviated infection-induced weight loss, organ damage, and systemic dissemination, while significantly reducing bacterial loads in the liver, ileum, and cecum. 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal samples and functional prediction revealed that TT97 and TT27 reversed Salmonella-induced gut dysbiosis, restored microbial diversity and beneficial taxa abundance, and repaired key metabolic pathways involved in sugar transport, defense, and signal transduction. Whole-genome analysis further demonstrated that both strains possess numerous metabolism-associated genes and diverse secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, offering a genetic rationale for their probiotic activities.