Lactobacillus frumenti Facilitates Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Function Maintenance in Early-Weaned Piglets

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Microbiology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Early weaning stress in piglets compromises intestinal epithelial barrier function, impacting health and feed efficiency.
• Probiotics are explored as antibiotic alternatives to prevent and manage intestinal barrier damage.
• Lactobacillus frumenti is a dominant Lactobacillus species in weaned piglet gut microbiota, but its role in barrier function is unconfirmed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of Lactobacillus frumenti oral administration on intestinal epithelial barrier function in early-weaned piglets.
• To assess L. frumenti's impact on gut microbiota composition, immune responses, and intestinal integrity.

Main Methods:

• Piglets were orally gavaged with L. frumenti (10^8 CFU/ml) daily from 6 to 20 days of age.
• Intestinal mucosal integrity, serum endotoxin, D-lactic acid, immunoglobulin levels (IgG, sIgA), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) were measured.
• Gut microbiota composition and metabolic pathways were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.

Main Results:

• L. frumenti administration significantly improved intestinal mucosal integrity and reduced serum endotoxin and D-lactic acid levels.
• Key tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1) were upregulated, enhancing barrier function.
• L. frumenti increased beneficial microbes (e.g., L. gasseri LA39) and decreased opportunistic pathogens (e.g., Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, Candida humilis), altering gut metabolism towards improved fatty acid and protein processing.

Conclusions:

• Lactobacillus frumenti effectively maintains intestinal epithelial barrier function in early-weaned piglets.
• L. frumenti promotes a healthier gut microbiota and immune response, supporting its potential as an antibiotic alternative.
• These findings highlight L. frumenti's role in preventing intestinal barrier damage in mammals.