Microbial and molecular signatures for enhanced gut health in pigs fed a diet with spray-dried plasma as functional protein source

This study investigates the effects of dietary spray-dried plasma (SDP) supplementation on the gut and health of growing pigs using an advanced “FeedOmics” approach. This integrative methodology employs a range of omics-based techniques to analyze microbial and molecular “signatures” associated with...

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Main Authors: Soumya K. Kar, Dirkjan Schokker, Carine van Vuure, Herman van Iersel, Amy C. Harms, Leo Kruijt, Mari A. Smits, Alfons J. M. Jansman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Animal Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2025.1532914/full
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author Soumya K. Kar
Dirkjan Schokker
Carine van Vuure
Herman van Iersel
Amy C. Harms
Amy C. Harms
Leo Kruijt
Mari A. Smits
Mari A. Smits
Alfons J. M. Jansman
author_facet Soumya K. Kar
Dirkjan Schokker
Carine van Vuure
Herman van Iersel
Amy C. Harms
Amy C. Harms
Leo Kruijt
Mari A. Smits
Mari A. Smits
Alfons J. M. Jansman
author_sort Soumya K. Kar
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the effects of dietary spray-dried plasma (SDP) supplementation on the gut and health of growing pigs using an advanced “FeedOmics” approach. This integrative methodology employs a range of omics-based techniques to analyze microbial and molecular “signatures” associated with the dietary impact of SDP. Sixteen male growing pigs (34.9 ± 3.4 kg, 10–11 week old; n = 8/treatment group) were randomly assigned to receive one of two experimental diets for three weeks. These diets were prepared with one of the following protein sources containing (as fed basis): soybean meal (SBM, 343 g/kg), or SDP protein (SDPP, 196 g/kg). At the end of the trial, pigs were euthanized to collect jejunal and ileal mucosal tissues for gene expression analysis, jejunal and ileal digesta for microbiota profiling, blood plasma for systemic metabolomic assessment, and serum for cytokine and chemokine quantification. The SBM-based diet group was used as the reference. Findings indicate that SDPP influences the jejunum more than the ileum, where it causes a significant reduction in bacterial alpha diversity (P < 0.05) compared to SBM. We report a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the relative abundance of the Sarcina genera in the small intestine, an effect comparable to pharmaceutical concentrations of zinc oxide (ZnO). Transcriptomic analysis identified 319 genes with altered expression in the jejunal mucosal tissue. Notably, SDPP upregulated tight junction receptors in the jejunum, which suggests it improves intestinal integrity by strengthening the gut barrier. We measured metabolites like threonine, taurine, and glutamine/glutamate in the blood of SDPP-fed pigs. These metabolites act as distinctive “fingerprints,” contributing to gut health by providing cellular energy, restoring tight junctions, and orchestrating immune responses in the small intestine mucosa. Overall, our results highlight the nutritional and functional value of SDP as functional dietary protein source.
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spelling doaj-art-5845fb5f69104426b42cfe876eb069df2025-08-20T03:16:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Animal Science2673-62252025-03-01610.3389/fanim.2025.15329141532914Microbial and molecular signatures for enhanced gut health in pigs fed a diet with spray-dried plasma as functional protein sourceSoumya K. Kar0Dirkjan Schokker1Carine van Vuure2Herman van Iersel3Amy C. Harms4Amy C. Harms5Leo Kruijt6Mari A. Smits7Mari A. Smits8Alfons J. M. Jansman9Wageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, NetherlandsDarling Ingredients International, Son en Breugel, NetherlandsDarling Ingredients International, Son en Breugel, NetherlandsNetherlands Metabolomics Centre, Leiden University, Leiden, NetherlandsDepartment of Analytical Biosciences, Leiden University, Leiden, NetherlandsWageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsWageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsWageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, NetherlandsWageningen Livestock Research, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, NetherlandsThis study investigates the effects of dietary spray-dried plasma (SDP) supplementation on the gut and health of growing pigs using an advanced “FeedOmics” approach. This integrative methodology employs a range of omics-based techniques to analyze microbial and molecular “signatures” associated with the dietary impact of SDP. Sixteen male growing pigs (34.9 ± 3.4 kg, 10–11 week old; n = 8/treatment group) were randomly assigned to receive one of two experimental diets for three weeks. These diets were prepared with one of the following protein sources containing (as fed basis): soybean meal (SBM, 343 g/kg), or SDP protein (SDPP, 196 g/kg). At the end of the trial, pigs were euthanized to collect jejunal and ileal mucosal tissues for gene expression analysis, jejunal and ileal digesta for microbiota profiling, blood plasma for systemic metabolomic assessment, and serum for cytokine and chemokine quantification. The SBM-based diet group was used as the reference. Findings indicate that SDPP influences the jejunum more than the ileum, where it causes a significant reduction in bacterial alpha diversity (P < 0.05) compared to SBM. We report a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the relative abundance of the Sarcina genera in the small intestine, an effect comparable to pharmaceutical concentrations of zinc oxide (ZnO). Transcriptomic analysis identified 319 genes with altered expression in the jejunal mucosal tissue. Notably, SDPP upregulated tight junction receptors in the jejunum, which suggests it improves intestinal integrity by strengthening the gut barrier. We measured metabolites like threonine, taurine, and glutamine/glutamate in the blood of SDPP-fed pigs. These metabolites act as distinctive “fingerprints,” contributing to gut health by providing cellular energy, restoring tight junctions, and orchestrating immune responses in the small intestine mucosa. Overall, our results highlight the nutritional and functional value of SDP as functional dietary protein source.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2025.1532914/fullfeedomicsgut healthimmune systemmicrobiomepigspray dried plasma protein
spellingShingle Soumya K. Kar
Dirkjan Schokker
Carine van Vuure
Herman van Iersel
Amy C. Harms
Amy C. Harms
Leo Kruijt
Mari A. Smits
Mari A. Smits
Alfons J. M. Jansman
Microbial and molecular signatures for enhanced gut health in pigs fed a diet with spray-dried plasma as functional protein source
Frontiers in Animal Science
feedomics
gut health
immune system
microbiome
pig
spray dried plasma protein
title Microbial and molecular signatures for enhanced gut health in pigs fed a diet with spray-dried plasma as functional protein source
title_full Microbial and molecular signatures for enhanced gut health in pigs fed a diet with spray-dried plasma as functional protein source
title_fullStr Microbial and molecular signatures for enhanced gut health in pigs fed a diet with spray-dried plasma as functional protein source
title_full_unstemmed Microbial and molecular signatures for enhanced gut health in pigs fed a diet with spray-dried plasma as functional protein source
title_short Microbial and molecular signatures for enhanced gut health in pigs fed a diet with spray-dried plasma as functional protein source
title_sort microbial and molecular signatures for enhanced gut health in pigs fed a diet with spray dried plasma as functional protein source
topic feedomics
gut health
immune system
microbiome
pig
spray dried plasma protein
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fanim.2025.1532914/full
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