The effects of exogenous xylanase supplementation on the in vivo generation of xylooligosaccharides and monosaccharides in broilers fed a wheat-based diet

ABSTRACT

1. This study quantified xylanase-induced changes in soluble monosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) contents of the different sections of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and whether these were related to altered bird performance.

2. An in vitro digestion of the wheat-based diet was carried out with the xylanase (Econase XT at 16,000BXU/kg diet) to compare the in vitro and in vivo generation of these XOS and monosaccharides. For the in vivo study, 80 male Ross 508 b roiler chicks were split into two groups fed a wheat-based diet with or without Econase XT (16,000BXU/kg diet) for 21 days.

3. There were no effects of Econase XT inclusion on growth performance characteristics, likely a result of the high-quality wheat diet, the corresponding high performance of the control group (FCR average of 1.45 in controls) and the relatively young age of the birds (from four to 26 days of age).

4. Econase XT supplementation increased the xylotetraose (X₄) content in the colon (P = 0.046, enzyme x GIT section interaction) and the xylose contents in the colon and caeca (P < 0.001, enzyme x GIT section interaction).

5. The trend for increased acetate production in the caeca of Econase XT treated birds (P = 0.062) suggested that the XOS generated were subsequently fermented in the caeca, potentially impacting upon the types of microbiota present.

6. The present study suggested that wheat arabinoxylan degradation was enhanced by xylanase supplementation, which may have increased the production of beneficial volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the caeca, and thereby potentially modulated the caecal microbiome, but without affecting bird performance at this early age.     

Dysbiotic gut microbiome: A key element of Crohn's disease

Since the first publication on “regional ileitis”, the relevance of this chronic inflammatory disease condition termed finally as Crohn's disease is continuously increasing. Although we are beginning to comprehend certain aspects of its pathogenesis, many facets remain unexplored. Host's gut microbiota is involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes including immune system development, and pathogen regulation. Further, the microbiome is thought to play a key role in Crohn's disease. The presence of Crohn's-associated variants of NOD2 and ATG16L genes appears to be associated not only with alterations of mucosal barrier functions, and bacterial killing, but the gut microbiota, as well, reflecting a potential relationship between the host's genotype and intestinal dysbiosis, involved in disease etiology. This review aims to characterize some exciting new aspect of Crohn's disease pathology, focusing mainly on the role of intestinal microbes, and their interplay with the immune system of the host.     

Effect of hay type on cecal and fecal microbiome and fermentation parameters in horses

The effect of hay type on the microbiome of the equine gastrointestinal tract is relatively unexplored. Our objective was to characterize the cecal and fecal microbiome of mature horses consuming alfalfa or Smooth Bromegrass (brome) hay. Six cecally cannulated horses were used in a split-plot design run as a crossover in two periods. The whole plot treatment was ad libitum access to brome or alfalfa hay fed over two 21-d acclimation periods with subplots of sampling location (cecum and rectum) and sampling hour. Each acclimation period was followed by a 24-h collection period where cecal and fecal samples were collected every 3 h for analysis of pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Fecal and cecal samples were pooled and sent to a commercial lab (MR DNA, Shallowater, TX) for the amplification of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene and sequenced using Illumina HiSeq. The main effects of hay on VFA, pH, and taxonomic abundances were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 with fixed effects of hay, hour, location, period, and all possible interactions and random effect of horse. Alpha and beta diversities were analyzed using the R Dame package. Horses fed alfalfa had greater fecal than cecal pH (P ≤ 0.05), whereas horses fed brome had greater cecal than fecal pH (P ≤ 0.05). Regardless of hay type, total VFA concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the cecum than in feces, and alfalfa resulted in greater (P ≤ 0.05) VFA concentrations than brome in both sampling locations. Alpha diversity was greater (P ≤ 0.05) in fecal compared with cecal samples. Microbial community structure within each sampling location and hay type differed from one another (P ≤ 0.05). Bacteroidetes were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the cecum compared with the rectum, regardless of hay type. Firmicutes and Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in the feces compared with cecal samples of alfalfa-fed horses. In all, fermentation parameters and bacterial abundances were impacted by hay type and sampling location in the hindgut.     

人工养殖西伯利亚狍肠道微生物组成的雌雄差异

肠道微生物是一个复杂的生态系统,与宿主的健康、疾病以及其他因素有着密切的关系。目前,关于肠道菌群结构和功能的研究较多,但是对西伯利亚狍肠道菌群的研究还未见报道。西伯利亚狍(Capreolus pygargus)属于反刍动物,有独特的消化特性和微生物群来帮助它们适应高纤维的食物。本研究利用高通量测序技术在Illumina MiSeq平台上对14只狍肠道微生物进行16S rRNA基因分析。结果表明:个体样本中门类组成的差异,雌性个体JY3和雄性个体JY9除Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes,Proteobacteria这3类菌群外,其他门类菌群所占比例都很低。在科水平上,雌性个体中Ruminococcaceae在JY7和JY13肠道内含量相对较少,Bacteroidaceae在JY7,JY10和JY13中含量较高。雄性个体中Ruminococcaceae在JY11和JY14肠道内含量较少,Prevotellaceae在JY4中含量较少。在属水平上,雌性个体特有的菌属为Roseburia,Alloprevotella,Lachnospiraceae_incertae_sedis和Coprococcus;雄性个体特有的菌属为Fusobacterium,Succiniclasticum,Streptococcus和Clostridium sensu stricto。Alpha多样性分析表明,Ace指数范围2128.93—772.98,Chao1指数范围2128.89—785.27,Shannon指数范围5.44—3.78,Simpson指数范围0.07—0.01。在不同物种分类水平上,雌雄狍肠道内的优势菌群有些不同。PCoA(principal co-ordinates analysis)分析显示,狍样本几乎混在一起,没有明显差异。     

根系分泌物与土传病害的关系研究进展

根系分泌物是植物-土壤-病原微生物相互作用的桥梁,是决定病原菌-作物关系的关键生态因子,影响着土传病害的发生与发展.本文阐述了根系分泌物的定义、分类及产生机理;重点从根系分泌物的化感自毒效应,根系分泌物诱导根际微生物群落,根系分泌物影响病原菌丰度,根系分泌物影响根际土壤环境4个方面阐述了根系分泌物与土传病害的关系;并从...     

根际生命共同体：协调资源、环境和粮食安全的学术思路与交叉创新

植物营养学研究近年来在植物养分高效分子机理、植物-微生物互作、根际互作与微生态调控、农田养分管理等研究领域取得了一系列原创性进展。然而,当前如何协调粮食安全、资源高效和环境可持续性仍面临巨大挑战。针对这一重大问题,本文提出"根际生命共同体(Rhizobiont)"学术思路,围绕"根际互作与养分高效"这一重大科学命题,构建"植物-根系-根际-菌丝际-土体及其微生物"根际生命共同体理论体系,突破植物-微生物、微生物-微生物关键界面互作机制,阐明根际生命共同体结构、功能及其在养分活化、吸收与利用中的作用机制,建立共同体多界面互作增效的生物学调控新途径,开辟植物-土壤-微生物交叉创新领域,根际生命共同体理论创新有助于破解粮食安全、资源高效、环境保护多目标协同的难题,支撑我国农业绿色发展。文章指出了根际生命共同体与养分高效研究的重点方向与内容,尤其是深入揭示和调控植物第二基因组——微生物组的作用正成为农业科学的研究前沿。