Single or Combined Supplementation of <i>Rhodotorula</i> Yeast Culture and <i>Bacillus Subtilis</i> Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function in Yellow-Feathered Broilers

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with <i>Rhodotorula</i> yeast cultures (RYC) and <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> (BS), alone or in combination, on growth performance and intestinal barrier function in yellow-feathered broilers. A 2 × 2 factoria...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xiangtan Su, Ke Wang, Yeqing Liu, Xinyu Lu, Meiru Chen, Jianlong Dang, Gaowei Zhang, Guang Yang, Aiqin Gao, Yuanqing Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/558
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850164893267787776
author Xiangtan Su
Ke Wang
Yeqing Liu
Xinyu Lu
Meiru Chen
Jianlong Dang
Gaowei Zhang
Guang Yang
Aiqin Gao
Yuanqing Xu
author_facet Xiangtan Su
Ke Wang
Yeqing Liu
Xinyu Lu
Meiru Chen
Jianlong Dang
Gaowei Zhang
Guang Yang
Aiqin Gao
Yuanqing Xu
author_sort Xiangtan Su
collection DOAJ
description This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with <i>Rhodotorula</i> yeast cultures (RYC) and <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> (BS), alone or in combination, on growth performance and intestinal barrier function in yellow-feathered broilers. A 2 × 2 factorial interaction study was conducted, in which a total of 192 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly assigned into four treatment groups: CON group, fed a basal diet; BS group, supplemented with 5 × 10<sup>9</sup> CFU/kg of BS; RYC group, supplemented with 5000 mg/kg of RYC; and RYC + BS group, supplemented with both. During the 56-day experimental period, body weight, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected by RYC, BS, or their interaction (<i>p</i> > 0.05). In the jejunum, the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio was significantly increased by the interaction of RYC and BS (<i>p</i> < 0.05). mRNA expression of tight junction proteins (<i>JAM2</i>, <i>TJP1</i>) was significantly upregulated by BS alone (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but this effect was diminished when RYC and BS were combined, indicating an antagonistic interaction between the two supplements. Mucin-2 (<i>MUC2</i>) expression was significantly increased by RYC or BS alone (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In immune function analysis, IgM levels were significantly increased by RYC alone but decreased when RYC and BS were combined (<i>p</i> < 0.05), further highlighting their antagonistic interaction. BS supplementation significantly increased IgG and pro-inflammatory gene expression (<i>TNFA</i>, <i>IL1B</i>, and <i>NFKB1</i>) (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while RYC supplementation reduced IFN-γ and increased anti-inflammatory gene expression (<i>IL10</i> and <i>MyD88</i>). Cecal microbial analysis revealed increased abundance of <i>g_Bacillus</i> in the BS group, <i>g_norank_f__norank_o__Clostridia_UCG-014</i> in the RYC group, and <i>g_norank_f__norank_o__norank_c_Clostridia</i> in the BS + RYC group were significantly increased compared to the CON group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). These results suggest that RYC and BS, as dietary supplements, may enhance intestinal health and barrier function in yellow-feathered broilers with minimal effects on growth performance. However, the antagonistic interactions between RYC and BS in modulating immune responses and tight junction protein expression highlight the need for careful consideration when combining these supplements in poultry nutrition strategies.
format Article
id doaj-art-d39cfcfdd9d64c77994dac9bb4fd710c
institution OA Journals
issn 2306-7381
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Veterinary Sciences
spelling doaj-art-d39cfcfdd9d64c77994dac9bb4fd710c2025-08-20T02:21:52ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-06-0112655810.3390/vetsci12060558Single or Combined Supplementation of <i>Rhodotorula</i> Yeast Culture and <i>Bacillus Subtilis</i> Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function in Yellow-Feathered BroilersXiangtan Su0Ke Wang1Yeqing Liu2Xinyu Lu3Meiru Chen4Jianlong Dang5Gaowei Zhang6Guang Yang7Aiqin Gao8Yuanqing Xu9College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaCollege of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, ChinaThis study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with <i>Rhodotorula</i> yeast cultures (RYC) and <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> (BS), alone or in combination, on growth performance and intestinal barrier function in yellow-feathered broilers. A 2 × 2 factorial interaction study was conducted, in which a total of 192 one-day-old yellow-feathered broilers were randomly assigned into four treatment groups: CON group, fed a basal diet; BS group, supplemented with 5 × 10<sup>9</sup> CFU/kg of BS; RYC group, supplemented with 5000 mg/kg of RYC; and RYC + BS group, supplemented with both. During the 56-day experimental period, body weight, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected by RYC, BS, or their interaction (<i>p</i> > 0.05). In the jejunum, the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio was significantly increased by the interaction of RYC and BS (<i>p</i> < 0.05). mRNA expression of tight junction proteins (<i>JAM2</i>, <i>TJP1</i>) was significantly upregulated by BS alone (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but this effect was diminished when RYC and BS were combined, indicating an antagonistic interaction between the two supplements. Mucin-2 (<i>MUC2</i>) expression was significantly increased by RYC or BS alone (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In immune function analysis, IgM levels were significantly increased by RYC alone but decreased when RYC and BS were combined (<i>p</i> < 0.05), further highlighting their antagonistic interaction. BS supplementation significantly increased IgG and pro-inflammatory gene expression (<i>TNFA</i>, <i>IL1B</i>, and <i>NFKB1</i>) (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while RYC supplementation reduced IFN-γ and increased anti-inflammatory gene expression (<i>IL10</i> and <i>MyD88</i>). Cecal microbial analysis revealed increased abundance of <i>g_Bacillus</i> in the BS group, <i>g_norank_f__norank_o__Clostridia_UCG-014</i> in the RYC group, and <i>g_norank_f__norank_o__norank_c_Clostridia</i> in the BS + RYC group were significantly increased compared to the CON group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). These results suggest that RYC and BS, as dietary supplements, may enhance intestinal health and barrier function in yellow-feathered broilers with minimal effects on growth performance. However, the antagonistic interactions between RYC and BS in modulating immune responses and tight junction protein expression highlight the need for careful consideration when combining these supplements in poultry nutrition strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/558yellow-feathered broilers<i>Rhodotorula</i> yeast culture<i>Bacillus subtilis</i>intestinal immunityintestinal barrier function
spellingShingle Xiangtan Su
Ke Wang
Yeqing Liu
Xinyu Lu
Meiru Chen
Jianlong Dang
Gaowei Zhang
Guang Yang
Aiqin Gao
Yuanqing Xu
Single or Combined Supplementation of <i>Rhodotorula</i> Yeast Culture and <i>Bacillus Subtilis</i> Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function in Yellow-Feathered Broilers
Veterinary Sciences
yellow-feathered broilers
<i>Rhodotorula</i> yeast culture
<i>Bacillus subtilis</i>
intestinal immunity
intestinal barrier function
title Single or Combined Supplementation of <i>Rhodotorula</i> Yeast Culture and <i>Bacillus Subtilis</i> Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function in Yellow-Feathered Broilers
title_full Single or Combined Supplementation of <i>Rhodotorula</i> Yeast Culture and <i>Bacillus Subtilis</i> Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function in Yellow-Feathered Broilers
title_fullStr Single or Combined Supplementation of <i>Rhodotorula</i> Yeast Culture and <i>Bacillus Subtilis</i> Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function in Yellow-Feathered Broilers
title_full_unstemmed Single or Combined Supplementation of <i>Rhodotorula</i> Yeast Culture and <i>Bacillus Subtilis</i> Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function in Yellow-Feathered Broilers
title_short Single or Combined Supplementation of <i>Rhodotorula</i> Yeast Culture and <i>Bacillus Subtilis</i> Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function in Yellow-Feathered Broilers
title_sort single or combined supplementation of i rhodotorula i yeast culture and i bacillus subtilis i enhances intestinal barrier function in yellow feathered broilers
topic yellow-feathered broilers
<i>Rhodotorula</i> yeast culture
<i>Bacillus subtilis</i>
intestinal immunity
intestinal barrier function
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/558
work_keys_str_mv AT xiangtansu singleorcombinedsupplementationofirhodotorulaiyeastcultureandibacillussubtilisienhancesintestinalbarrierfunctioninyellowfeatheredbroilers
AT kewang singleorcombinedsupplementationofirhodotorulaiyeastcultureandibacillussubtilisienhancesintestinalbarrierfunctioninyellowfeatheredbroilers
AT yeqingliu singleorcombinedsupplementationofirhodotorulaiyeastcultureandibacillussubtilisienhancesintestinalbarrierfunctioninyellowfeatheredbroilers
AT xinyulu singleorcombinedsupplementationofirhodotorulaiyeastcultureandibacillussubtilisienhancesintestinalbarrierfunctioninyellowfeatheredbroilers
AT meiruchen singleorcombinedsupplementationofirhodotorulaiyeastcultureandibacillussubtilisienhancesintestinalbarrierfunctioninyellowfeatheredbroilers
AT jianlongdang singleorcombinedsupplementationofirhodotorulaiyeastcultureandibacillussubtilisienhancesintestinalbarrierfunctioninyellowfeatheredbroilers
AT gaoweizhang singleorcombinedsupplementationofirhodotorulaiyeastcultureandibacillussubtilisienhancesintestinalbarrierfunctioninyellowfeatheredbroilers
AT guangyang singleorcombinedsupplementationofirhodotorulaiyeastcultureandibacillussubtilisienhancesintestinalbarrierfunctioninyellowfeatheredbroilers
AT aiqingao singleorcombinedsupplementationofirhodotorulaiyeastcultureandibacillussubtilisienhancesintestinalbarrierfunctioninyellowfeatheredbroilers
AT yuanqingxu singleorcombinedsupplementationofirhodotorulaiyeastcultureandibacillussubtilisienhancesintestinalbarrierfunctioninyellowfeatheredbroilers