Superior Performance of Biofilm vs. Planktonic Limosilactobacillus reuteri in Protection of the Intestines and Brain in a Piglet Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the leading cause of gastrointestinal surgical emergencies in premature infants. This etiology of the disease is multifactorial, with intestinal dysbiosis playing a major role. Probiotics have been studied for decades as preventative therapies against NEC. In this study, we investigated the effects of Lr-DM-maltose in an enteral feed-only piglet model of NEC. We found a significant decrease in the incidence of Definitive NEC (D-NEC) and death associated with D-NEC in piglets treated with Lr-DM-maltose compared to non-treated piglets. Microbiome analysis using 16S rRNA sequencing on stool samples showed a significantly different community microbial composition between piglets treated with Lr-DM-maltose compared to non-treated piglets, with an increase in Lactobacillaceae and a decrease in Clostridiaceae in Lr-DM-maltose-treated piglets.