Xylanase modulates ileal microbiota in pigs

The experimental objective was to characterize the impact of insoluble corn-based fiber, xylanase, and an arabinoxylan-oligosaccharide on ileal digesta and mucosa microbiome of pigs. We hypothesized that the addition of xylanase or AXOS would modulate intestinal microbial communities that support fiber degradation (stimbiotic mechanism) or would be selectively utilized by communities that are known to confer a health benefit (prebiotic mechanism). Three replicates of 20 gilts were blocked by initial body weight, individually-housed, and assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments: a low-fiber control (LF), a 30% corn bran high-fiber control (HF), HF+100 mg/kg xylanase (HF+XY), and HF+50 mg/kg arabinoxylan oligosaccharide (HF+AX). Gilts were fed their respective treatments for 46-days. On day 46, pigs were euthanized and ileal digesta and mucosa were collected. The V4 region of the 16S rDNA was amplified and sequenced.