Engineered Bacillus subtilis WB600/ZD reduces post-weaning diarrhea in piglets by modulating gut microbiota and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling

Post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) causes significant economic losses to the pig farming industry. Our previous study demonstrated that the engineered Bacillus subtilis WB600/ZD (an engineered Bacillus subtilis strain expressing the antimicrobial defensin peptide from Zophobas atratus), alleviates intestinal inflammation, modulates gut microbiota, and maintains redox homeostasis in Salmonella-challenged mice, yet the precise mechanisms remain unclear. This study suggests that WB600/ZD has great potential as an antibiotic alternative for improving the intestinal health in newly weaned piglets. Keywords: Engineered Bacillus subtilis WB600/ZD; Post-weaning diarrhea; Salmonella Infantis; Fecal microbiota transplantation; Ileitis; Aryl hydrocarbon receptor