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The Effects of Direct-fed Microbial Supplementation, as an Alternative to Antibiotics, on Growth Performance, Intestinal Immune Status, and Epithelial Barrier Gene Expression in Broiler Chickens

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Bacillus subtilis-based probiotic supplementation in broiler chicken diets on growth performance, feed efficiency, intestinal cytokine, and tight junction (TJ) protein mRNA expression. Zero-day-old broiler chicks (n = 140) were randomly assigned to one of five dietary treatments: basal diet (CON); basal diet supplemented with either antibiotic bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD); or probiotics, namely, B. subtilis strain 1781 (PB1), a combination of B. subtilis strain 1104 + strain 747 (PB2), or B. subtilis strain 1781 + strain 747 (PB3). Body weight and feed intake were measured at 14 days of age, and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated. At 14 days of age, ileal samples were collected and used for intestinal cytokine, TJ protein, and mucin gene expression analysis using qRT-PCR. The chickens supplemented with antibiotic (BMD) and B. subtilis strain 1781 alone (PB1) had significantly higher body weights compared to controls of the same age. Dietary supplementation with antibiotic (BMD) or probiotics (PB1, PB2, PB3) significantly improved the feed efficiency as evidenced by decreased FCR compared to controls. No differences were observed in the expression of IL1β, IL17F, IFNγ, and MUC2 gene among the different treatment groups. However, elevated expression of IL6 (BMD, PB1, PB2), IL8 (PB2), and TNFSF15 (PB1, PB2, PB3) compared to controls was observed in the ileum. IL2 and IL10 expression was upregulated in chicks in the PB2 and PB3 groups, and IL4 was elevated in the PB1 group. IL13 was elevated in all probiotic-fed groups (PB1, PB2, PB3). Probiotic supplementation was also shown to significantly increase the expression of TJ proteins JAM2, ZO1 (PB2, PB3), and occludin (PB1, PB2). Taken together, B. subtilis supplementation altered intestinal immune activity and influenced gut barrier integrity through increased tight junction gene expression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Biosciences and Biotechnology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, 10300 Baltimore Ave, Bldg. 1043, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    U. Gadde, S. T. Oh, Y. S. Lee & Hyun S. Lillehoj

  2. Agro Biosciences Inc., 10437 Innovation Drive, Wauwatosa, WI, 53226, USA

    E. Davis, N. Zimmerman & T. Rehberger

Authors
  1. U. Gadde
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  2. S. T. Oh
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  3. Y. S. Lee
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  4. E. Davis
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  5. N. Zimmerman
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  6. T. Rehberger
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  7. Hyun S. Lillehoj
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hyun S. Lillehoj.

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Funding

Funding was partly supported by ARS CRIS 8042-32000-107-00D.

Conflict of Interest

Ujvala Deepthi Gadde, Sungtaek Oh, Youngsub Lee, and Hyun S. Lillehoj declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ellen Davis, Noah Zimmerman, and Tom Rehberger are employees of Agro Biosciences Inc. which developed the probiotic strains used in this study.

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Gadde, U., Oh, S.T., Lee, Y.S. et al. The Effects of Direct-fed Microbial Supplementation, as an Alternative to Antibiotics, on Growth Performance, Intestinal Immune Status, and Epithelial Barrier Gene Expression in Broiler Chickens. Probiotics & Antimicro. Prot. 9, 397–405 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-017-9275-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-017-9275-9

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