Increased dietary protein rather than fiber supports key metabolic and intestinal tissue functions in pigs, without increasing postweaning diarrhea.

The postweaning period in pigs is a critical window where nutritional interventions are implemented to prevent postweaning diarrhea (PWD) and antibiotic use. One common strategy is feeding low-protein diets immediately following weaning. This intervention may reduce protein fermentation and pathogen proliferation, therefore decreasing the incidence of postweaning diarrhea.

A comparison of wild boar and domestic pig microbiota does not reveal a loss of microbial species but an increase in alpha diversity and opportunistic genera in domestic pigs.

Unlabelled: The microbiome of wild animals is believed to be co-evolved with host species, which may play an important role in host physiology. It has been hypothesized that the rigorous hygienic practices in combination with antibiotics and diets with simplified formulas used in the modern swine industry may negatively affect the establishment and development of the gut microbiome. In this study, we evaluated the fecal microbiome of 90 domestic pigs sampled from nine farms in Canada and 39 wild pigs sampled from three different locations on two continents (North America and Europe) using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.

Tracking the fecal mycobiome through the lifespan of production pigs and a comparison to the feral pig.

This work provides evidence that early-life fungal community composition, or host genetics, influences long-term mycobiome composition. In addition, this work provides the first comparison of the feral pig mycobiome to the mycobiome of intensively raised pigs.

Comparing the impact of mixed-culture microbial communities and fecal transplant on the intestinal microbiota and metabolome of weaned piglets.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging technique for modulating the pig microbiota, however, donor variability is one of the major reasons for inconsistent outcomes across studies. Cultured microbial communities may address some limitations of FMT; however, no study has tested cultured microbial communities as inocula in pigs. This pilot study compared the effects of microbiota transplants derived from sow feces to cultured mixed microbial community (MMC) following weaning.

Maternal Mycobiome, but Not Antibiotics, Alters Fungal Community Structure in Neonatal Piglets.

Early-life antibiotic exposure is associated with diverse long-term adverse health outcomes. Despite the immunomodulatory effects of gastrointestinal fungi, the impact of antibiotics on the fungal community (mycobiome) has received little attention. The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of commonly prescribed infant antibiotic treatments on the microbial loads and structures of bacterial and fungal communities in the gastrointestinal tract.

Colonic innate immune defenses and microbiota alterations in acute swine dysentery.

Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, an etiologic agent of swine dysentery (SD), is known for causing colitis. Although some aspects of colonic defenses during infection have been described previously, a more comprehensive picture of the host and microbiota interaction in clinically affected animals is required. This study aimed to characterize multiple aspects of colonic innate defenses and microbiome factors in B.

Dietary benzoic acid and supplemental enzymes alter fiber-fermenting taxa and metabolites in the cecum of weaned pigs.

Inclusion of enzymes and organic acids in pig diets is an important strategy supporting decreased antibiotic usage in pork production. However, limited knowledge exists about how these additives impact intestinal microbes and their metabolites. To examine the effects of benzoic acid and enzymes on gut microbiota and metabolome, 160 pigs were assigned to one of four diets 7 days after weaning: a control diet or the addition of 0.

Cereal grain fiber composition modifies phosphorus digestibility in grower pigs.

Increased fermentable carbohydrates (e.g., β-glucan, amylose) may increase endogenous losses including for P, and thereby reduce apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of P.

Probiotic treatment vs empiric oral antibiotics for managing dysbiosis in short bowel syndrome: Impact on the mucosal and stool microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, and adaptation.

Background: Infants and children with short bowel syndrome (SBS) are presumed to be at risk of gut microbial dysbiosis with potential sequelae of bacterial overgrowth that include sepsis, d-lactic acidosis, mucosal inflammation, and malabsorption. In neonatal piglets with SBS, we compared intestinal microbial composition, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and adaptation given probiotic (PRO) treatment (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp) vs oral metronidazole (MET).

Methods: Following 75% distal small intestinal resection, piglets were allocated to PRO (500 mg twice a day, n = 7), MET (15 mg/kg twice a day, n = 8), and placebo (PLA) (500 mg twice a day, n = 8).

High Vaccenic Acid Content in Beef Fat Attenuates High Fat and High Carbohydrate Western Diet Induced Changes in Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota in Pigs.

High-fat diets (HFD) have been shown to induce substantial shifts in intestinal microbial community composition and activity which are associated with adverse metabolic outcomes. Furthermore, changes in microbial composition are affected by fatty acid composition; saturated, monounsaturated (MUFA), and industrial trans fats (iTFA) adversely affect microbial diversity while polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) have been shown to have neutral effects. The effects of naturally occurring trans fats on gut microbial composition are unknown.

Baseline Fecal Microbiota in Pediatric Patients With Celiac Disease Is Similar to Controls But Dissimilar After 1 Year on the Gluten-Free Diet.

Unlabelled: The objectives of this pilot study were to examine fecal microbiota composition of pediatric patients with celiac disease (CD) before and after a 1-year gluten-free diet (GFD) and to determine the association with symptoms and anti-tissue transglutaminase (aTTG) antibody.

Methods: Stool samples were obtained from pediatric patients with CD and from healthy controls. Patients were classified by the presence (diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss) or absence (asymptomatic, headache, fatigue, etc.

Transient antibiotic-induced changes in the neonatal swine intestinal microbiota impact islet expression profiles reducing subsequent function.

Neonatal antibiotics administered to human infants initiate gut microbiota dysbiosis that may have long-term effects on body weight and metabolism. We examined antibiotic-induced adaptations in pancreatic islets of the piglet, a well-accepted model of human infant microbiota and pancreas development. Neonatal piglets randomized to amoxicillin [30 mg/kg body wt/day; = 7, antibiotic (ANTI)] or placebo [vehicle control; = 7, control (CON)] from ()- were euthanized at , , and .

Kefir microbial composition is a deciding factor in the physiological impact of kefir in a mouse model of obesity.

Kefir consumption has been demonstrated to improve lipid and cholesterol metabolism; however, our previous study identified that benefits vary between different commercial and traditional kefir. Here, we investigate the ability of pitched culture kefir, that is, kefir produced by a small number of specific strains, to recapitulate health benefits of a traditional kefir, in a diet-induced obesity mouse model, and examine how microbial composition of kefir impacts these benefits. Eight-week-old female C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (40 % energy from fat) supplemented with one of five kefir varieties (traditional, pitched, pitched with no Lactobacillus, pitched with no yeast and commercial control) at 2 ml in 20 g of food for 8 weeks prior to analysis of plasma and liver lipid profiles, and liver gene expression profiles related to lipid metabolism.

Putting the microbiota to work: Epigenetic effects of early life antibiotic treatment are associated with immune-related pathways and reduced epithelial necrosis following Salmonella Typhimurium challenge in vitro.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is an animal welfare and public health concern due to its ability to parasite livestock and potentially contaminate pork products. To reduce Salmonella shedding and the risk of pork contamination, antibiotic therapy is used and can contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Here we hypothesized that immune system education by the microbiota can play a role in intestinal resilience to infection.

Neonatal Exposure to Amoxicillin Alters Long-Term Immune Response Despite Transient Effects on Gut-Microbiota in Piglets.

Antibiotic exposure during neonatal development may result in transient or persistent alterations of key microbes that are vital for normal development of local and systemic immunity, potentially impairing immune competence later in life. To further elucidate the relationship between antibiotic exposure and immune development, newborn pigs were exposed to a therapeutic pediatric dose (30 mg/kg/day) of amoxicillin (AB) or placebo (PL) from post-natal day (PND) 0-14. Subsequently, immune cell phenotype, microbial composition, and immune response to an intraperitoneal (IP) challenge with serovar Typhimurium were evaluated.

Diet-Microbe-Host Interactions That Affect Gut Mucosal Integrity and Infection Resistance.

The gastrointestinal tract microbiome plays a critical role in regulating host innate and adaptive immune responses against pathogenic bacteria. Disease associated dysbiosis and environmental induced insults, such as antibiotic treatments can lead to increased susceptibility to infection, particularly in a hospital setting. Dietary intervention is the greatest tool available to modify the microbiome and support pathogen resistance.

Dietary Fiber and Intestinal Health of Monogastric Animals.

Animal performance, feed efficiency, and overall health are heavily dependent on gut health. Changes in animal production systems and feed regulations away from the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) have necessitated the identification of strategies to optimize gut health in novel and effective ways. Among alternatives to AGP, the inclusion of dietary fibers (DF) in monogastric diets has been attempted with some success.

Characterization of whole blood transcriptome and early-life fecal microbiota in high and low responder pigs before, and after vaccination for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.

We investigated gene expression patterns in whole blood and fecal microbiota profile as potential predictors of immune response to vaccination, using healthy M. hyopneumoniae infection free piglets (n = 120). Eighty piglets received a dose of prophylactic antibiotics during the first two days of life, whereas the remaining 40 did not.

Dietary supplementation of weaned piglets with a yeast-derived mannan-rich fraction modulates cecal microbial profiles, jejunal morphology and gene expression.

The development of nutritional strategies to improve microbial homeostasis and gut health of piglets post-weaning is required to mitigate the high prevalence of post-weaning diarrhea and subsequent growth checks typically observed during the weaning transition. Therefore the objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing piglet creep and nursery feed with a yeast-derived mannan-rich fraction (MRF) on piglet growth performance, cecal microbial profiles, and jejunal morphology and gene expression. Ten litters of piglets (n=106) were selected on postnatal day (PND) 7 and assigned to diets with or without MRF (800 mg/kg) until weaning (n=5 litters/treatment; initial weight 3.

Establishing a model for childhood obesity in adolescent pigs.

Objective: Rising worldwide prevalence of obesity and metabolic diseases in children has accentuated the importance of developing prevention and management strategies. The objective of this study was to establish a model for childhood obesity using high-fat feeding of adolescent pigs, as pigs have a longer developmental period and are physiologically more similar to humans than rodents.

Methods: Crossbred pigs were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) or low-fat diet ( = 6/treatment) from postnatal day 49 to 84.

Dietary Pea Fiber Supplementation Improves Glycemia and Induces Changes in the Composition of Gut Microbiota, Serum Short Chain Fatty Acid Profile and Expression of Mucins in Glucose Intolerant Rats.

Several studies have demonstrated the beneficial impact of dried peas and their components on glucose tolerance; however, the role of gut microbiota as a potential mediator is not fully examined. In this study, we investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with raw and cooked pea seed coats (PSC) on glucose tolerance, microbial composition of the gut, select markers of intestinal barrier function, and short chain fatty acid profile in glucose intolerant rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed high fat diet (HFD) for six weeks to induce glucose intolerance, followed by four weeks of feeding PSC-supplemented diets.

Whole-Grain Starch and Fiber Composition Modifies Ileal Flow of Nutrients and Nutrient Availability in the Hindgut, Shifting Fecal Microbial Profiles in Pigs.

Changes in whole-grain chemical composition can affect the site of nutrient digestion, which may alter substrate availability and gut microbiota composition. This study elucidated the function of whole-grain fermentable fiber composition on ileal substrate flow, hindgut substrate availability, and subsequent gut microbial profiles in pigs. Five whole grains-) high-fermentability, high-β-glucan hull-less barley (HFB); ) high-fermentability, high-amylose hull-less barley (HFA); ) moderate-fermentability hull-less barley (MFB); ) low-fermentability hulled barley (LFB); or ) low-fermentability hard red spring wheat (LFW)-were included at 800 g/kg into diets fed to ileal-cannulated growing pigs for 9 d in a 6 (periods) × 5 (diets) Youden square.

Initial Gut Microbial Composition as a Key Factor Driving Host Response to Antibiotic Treatment, as Exemplified by the Presence or Absence of Commensal Escherichia coli.

Antibiotics are important for treating bacterial infection; however, efficacies and side effects of antibiotics vary in medicine and experimental models. A few studies have correlated microbiota composition variations with health outcomes in response to antibiotics; however, no study has demonstrated causality. We had noted variation in colonic expression of C-type lectins, regenerating islet-derived protein 3β (Reg3β) and Reg3γ, after metronidazole treatment in a mouse model.

Host Immune Selection of Rumen Bacteria through Salivary Secretory IgA.

The rumen microbiome is integral to efficient production in cattle and shows strong host specificity, yet little is known about what host factors shape rumen microbial composition. Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) is produced in large amounts in the saliva, can coat both commensal and pathogenic microbes within the gut, and presents a plausible mechanism of host specificity. However, the role salivary SIgA plays in commensal bacteria selection in ruminants remains elusive.