Effect of carotenoids secreted by halophilic archaea on cecal microbes in laying hens

In our research, we explored how carotenoids from a unique salt-loving microorganism, known as TRM89021, affect the gut bacteria and egg quality in hens. When we added these carotenoids to their feed, the diversity of the good bacteria in the hens' cecum remained largely the same as in the hens that didn't get the carotenoid-rich feed. However, the carotenoid-fed hens had a higher percentage of a key group of bacteria called Bacteroidota. Also, the most common type of bacteria in their cecum, which we can't fully identify yet and call _o_Bacteroidales, was more prevalent in the hens that received the carotenoid supplement.