Multi-Omics Revealed the Protective Effects of Rhamnolipids in Lipopolysaccharide Challenged Broilers

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Microbiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Rhamnolipid (RL) is a biosurfactant with antibacterial, low-toxicity, and biodegradable properties.
• Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenges induce intestinal injury and immune responses in broilers.
• Antibiotics are commonly used but face resistance and safety concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of rhamnolipids (RL) as an alternative to antibiotics in LPS-challenged broilers.
• To analyze the impact of RL on cecal microbial composition and serum metabolites.
• To compare the efficacy of RL with antibiotic supplementation.

Main Methods:

• 16S rRNA gene sequencing for microbial composition analysis.
• Metabolomics for serum metabolite profiling.
• Assessing growth parameters, serum immunoglobulin, inflammatory cytokines, and intestinal morphology.

Main Results:

• RL supplementation decreased weight loss, improved intestinal integrity, and enhanced serum immunoglobulin levels in LPS-challenged broilers.
• RL modulated serum cytokine profiles, reducing pro-inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α) and increasing anti-inflammatory markers (IL-4, IL-10).
• RL supplementation demonstrated a better protective effect compared to antibiotic treatment.

Conclusions:

• Rhamnolipids alleviate LPS-induced intestinal injury, enhance growth and immunity, and ameliorate gut microbiota and serum metabolites in broilers.
• RL may exert protective effects by altering 6-methoxymellein levels and influencing the Bacteroides genus.
• RL presents a promising alternative to antibiotics for improving broiler health and performance under inflammatory conditions.