Pork releases a large amount of exudate during storage, leading to microbial contamination, thereby shortening its shelf life. In this work, we designed an aerogel constructed of kenaf cellulose nanofiber (KCNF) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a support for cinnamon essential oil (CEO). This aerogel features low density (27.5 mg/cm3), high porosity (96.6%), and strong water absorption (3067.82 wt%), while simultaneously possessing the functions of adsorbing pork exudate and sustaining the release of (CEO). The CEO-loaded aerogel, serving as a meat preservation pad, can simultaneously achieve water absorption, antibacterial, and antioxidant functions during the storage of chilled pork. Aerogel preservation experiments on chilled pork showed that it can prolong the preservation period of chilled pork by 6 days. Release kinetics studies revealed that the CEO within the aerogel was released continuously and evenly into the fatty food simulant, with this process primarily governed by Fickian diffusion. The designed aerogel shows great potential in meat preservation, providing a innovative idea for natural fibers used in sustainable packaging.

This study evaluated changes in nutritional components and antinutritional factors in rapeseed meal before and after microbial fermentation. It further investigated the enhancements in its nutritional value and the growth-promoting effects of fermented rapeseed meal on broiler chickens. A total of 180 one-day-old male Arbor Acres (AA) broilers were randomly allocated into 3 treatment groups, with 6 replicates per group and 10 birds per replicate. The broilers were fed a basal diet (CON), a diet with 5% soybean meal (SBM) replaced by RSM (RSM-5), or a diet with 5% SBM replaced by FRSM (FRSM-5). The date of the experiment was 28 June 2025. The results showed that FRSM improves protein quality and reduces the levels of antinutritional factors, including glucosinolates (GSL), phytic acid (PA), and condensed tannins (CT), compared with unfermented RSM. Additionally, FRSM enhances antioxidant capacity in vitro, significantly enhancing the scavenging rates of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and superoxide anion radicals (O2•−). In the broiler feeding trial, the FRSM-5 group had significantly higher average daily gain (ADG) during the periods of 22–42 d and 1–42 d (p < 0.05), along with a significantly lower feed to gain ratio (F/G) (p < 0.05), compared with the CON and RSM-5 groups. Compared to the CON group, the FRSM-5 group showed a significantly higher slaughter rate (SR), full eviscerated rate (FER), and breast muscle rate (BMR) (p < 0.05), whereas the RSM-5 group had significantly lower SR and FER (p < 0.05). The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the serum and liver of the FRSM-5 group were significantly higher than those in the CON and RSM-5 groups (p < 0.05), and the serum immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG, and IgM) levels were significantly elevated (p < 0.05). Furthermore, compared with the CON and RSM-5 groups, the FRSM-5 group exhibited a significant increase in duodenal villus height (VH) (p < 0.05), a significant reduction in duodenal crypt depth (CD) (p < 0.05), and a consequent significant increase in the VH/CD (p < 0.05). In conclusion, microbial fermentation effectively enhances the nutritional value of RSM by improving its nutrient composition and reducing antinutritional factors. Replacing 5% SBM with FRSM in broiler diets significantly improves growth performance, enhances antioxidant capacity and immune function, and optimizes intestinal morphological structure, thereby replacing part of the soybean meal in broiler diets.

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a common and economically significant skeletal disorder in broilers, characterized by unmineralized, avascular cartilage plugs protruding into the metaphyseal region. Despite some evidence connecting the gut microbiota to skeletal disorders, the specific microbial drivers of TD pathogenesis remain unclear. In this study, we performed fecal microbiota transplantation in both healthy and TD model broilers to assess the influence and contribution of gut microbiota dysbiosis to TD pathogenesis. The broilers were allocated into 4 groups: CON (normal control group broilers), TD (TD model broilers), TDRN (TD model broilers that received FMT from normal broilers) and NRTD (normal broilers that received FMT from TD model broilers). Results demonstrated that FMT successfully transferred the TD phenotype from diseased to healthy broilers (NRTD group), whereas transplantation from healthy donors did not reverse the TD phenotype in TD broilers (TDRN group). This to some extent indicates that gut microbiota as a critical pathogenic driver. Microbiome analysis revealed significant depletion of Lactobacillus and enrichment of Streptococcus and Escherichia-Shigella in all TD-affected groups (TD, TDRN, NRTD) compared to controls (P < 0.05). Metabolomic profiling identified seven stably dysregulated metabolites. Among them, chenodeoxycholic acid showed a strong positive correlation with Lactobacillus abundance and tibial mineral content, while 2-methoxyestradiol (an estrogen metabolite) exhibited inverse associations. Collectively, these findings provide evidence that gut microbiota dysbiosis causally contributes to TD and define the Lactobacillus-chenodeoxycholic acid axis and estrogen metabolism as promising targets for preventive and management strategies against TD in broilers.

To address the limitations associated with traditional methods of detecting total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN), which include complex operational procedures and inadequate sensitivity, this study fabricated a novel ultra-sensitive intelligent aerogel label (KVN) from renewable sisal fibers. Via preparing sisal cellulose nanofibers, silane coupling agent cross-linking, and in-situ neutral red loading, KVN exhibited 98.4% porosity, 136.5° water contact angle, good mechanical stability, rapid response, high selectivity to ammonia/biogenic amines, and stable reversibility after 7 acid-base cycles. Shrimp freshness tests confirmed a strong exponential correlation between KVN’s color difference (ΔE) and TVBN, with distinct color change at the 20.8 mg/100g spoilage threshold. This biomass-based label provides a visual, rapid solution for high-protein food freshness monitoring and supports intelligent packaging advancement.

The effects of dietary L-lactic acid (L-lactic acid or LAC) supplementation in weaned piglets were investigated. 24 healthy weaned piglets (Duroc & times; Yorkshire & times; Landrace) (body weight = 8.76 +/- 0.42 kg) were randomly assigned into 4 treatments with 6 replicate pens per treatment and 1 piglet per pen. The treatment consisted of basal diets serves as control and groups supplemented with 0.5% (LAC0.5%), 1% (LAC1%) or 2% of L-lactic acid (LAC2%), respectively. We examined the growth performance, oxidative status, immune, inflammatory biomarkers, lactate transporters associated genes and caecal microbial composition. The results showed that growth performance (final body weight, feed intake and feed conversion) was not affected by LAC supplementation. However, higher (P < 0.01) antioxidant capacity, immune and metabolic biomarkers were observed. Positive effects on increased of metabolic biomarkers including acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.001), pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-8; P < 0.01) and anti-inflammatory IL-10 (P < 0.01) were found. In contrast, Immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG and IgM) decreased (P < 0.01) in response to LAC treatments. Expression of lactate transport genes (MCT1, MCT2 and MCT4) increased (P < 0.01) in colon but decreased in muscle. Microbial composition and richness were not affected but taxa such as Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group were enriched (FDR P < 0.05) in LAC05% and LAC1%. Adverse effects were observed on intestinal morphology such as progressive villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia in LAC1% and LAC2% treatments but not in LAC0.5%. Overall, while growth performance was largely not affected, low level of LAC supplementation (0.5%) appeared to be safely used in weaning piglets while higher levels (1-2%) could negatively impact intestinal health and immune status of weaned piglets.

Evaluating the adaptive responses of different plant species to different types of Cd-contaminated soils and selecting the most effective hyperaccumulator are essential for improving remediation efficiency. In this study, we evaluated the Cd accumulation capacity and adaptive responses of five common (hyper)accumulator: Amaranthus hypochondriacus (A.H), Solanum nigrum (S.N), Celosia argentea (C.A), Phytolacca acinosa (P.A), and Sedum plumbizincicola (S.P), which were grown in two typical Cd-contaminated soils from Renhua (RH) and Maba (MB) in southern China. The results demonstrated that photosynthetic and rhizospheric responses were key factors in mediating plant adaptation to Cd stress. Leaf Cd levels were between 40.4 and 152.9 mg kg-1 in MB soil and between 9.9 and 541.4 mg kg-1 in RH soil, with S. plumbizincicola and P. acinosa accumulating the most and least Cd, respectively. Amaranthus hypochondriacus and S. nigrum exhibited the greatest above-ground biomass in MB and RH soils, respectively, whereas P. acinosa consistently demonstrated the highest root biomass in both soils. Phytolacca acinosa also showed the highest concentration of photosynthetic pigments, with 42.8 ∼ 220.4 % higher than those of other species grown in RH soil, likely due to higher Cu uptake. Conversely, S. plumbizincicola exhibited the lowest levels of photosynthetic pigments, suggesting an inverse correlation between leaf Cd concentration and the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments. Phytolacca acinosa demonstrated significantly higher rhizospheric microbes compared to other species, with increases in bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi ranging from 20.9 % to 30.7 %, 10.6-30.2 %, and 78.4-182.9 %, respectively. In addition, root-secreted oxalic and malic acids were elevated in all species, particularly in RH soil, helping to mitigate the restrictive effects of near-neutral pH on nutrient availability. These findings underscore that hyperaccumulator species employ unique physiological and rhizospheric strategies to manage Cd stress, with these strategies differing based on Cd exposure level and soil types.

Intestinal damage induced by immune stress leads to economic losses in broiler production; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This experiment investigated the effects of immune stress on the intestinal mucosa proteome of Arbour Acres (AA) broilers challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A total of 144 one-day-old, male, AA broiler chickens were randomly divided into two groups: the treatment group was challenged with LPS and the control group received an equal volume of saline injection. On day 42, intestinal morphology, enterocytes and mucosal proteomes were analysed from three birds in each replicate, with a total of six replicates per group. The microvilli of intestinal epithelial cells exhibited damage and necrotic enterocytes were evident in broilers challenged with LPS. Proteomic analysis indicated that 851 proteins were differentially expressed in the intestinal mucosa of broiler chickens from the immune stress group; 463 proteins were down-regulated, and 388 proteins were up-regulated. Functional analysis revealed that LPS disrupted intestinal mucosa protein homeostasis, affecting beta-oxidation of fatty acids, oxidative stress and immune function. Furthermore, immune stress increased the expression of alanine, tyrosine, leucine, isoleucine, tryptophan, arginine and serine-tRNA ligase. The data suggest that gut damage in broiler chickens induced by LPS is triggered by dysfunctional and unbalanced proteostasis alterations. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms by which immune challenges impair nutrient absorption and mucosal immunity in broiler chickens.

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which Bacillus amyloliquefaciens JF (JF) mitigates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress in broilers. Whole genome sequencing was employed to predict the potential resistance of JF to oxidative stress. A total of 240 one-d-old Arbor Acres broilers (41.2 ± 0.5 g) were divided into four treatment groups based on a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, which included LPS (with or without) and JF (with or without) as the two factors. Each treatment consisted of 6 replicates, with ten broiler chicks per replicate. The experiment lasted for 21 d. The results showed that the JF genome was predicted to contain 138 carbohydrate-active enzymes, 8 secondary metabolites, and genes linked to various stress responses. In broiler experiment, the addition of JF significantly improved the average daily gain and average daily feed intake (P < 0.001). Lipopolysaccharide and JF exhibited interactive effects on serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (P = 0.030), catalase (CAT) (P = 0.003), malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.001), and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) (P = 0.007), with a trend of interaction observed in interleukin-6 (IL-6) (P = 0.065) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) (P = 0.092). There were interactive effects on the villus height (VH) (P = 0.028) of the duodenum of broilers, as well as on the villus height to crypt depth (VH/CD) ratio in the jejunum (P = 0.036) and ileum (P < 0.001), with an interactive trend noted for jejunal VH (P = 0.093). In comparison to the control (CON) group, JF group significantly increased the abundance of Subdoligranulum in the intestine (P = 0.037). Furthermore, correlation analysis demonstrated a significant positive relationship between Subdoligranulum and growth performance, antioxidant indicators, and intestinal morphology (P < 0.05). In summary, JF strain exhibited significant antioxidant and protective effects, which can be attributed to its rich array of oxidative stress resistance genes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, etc.) and diverse bioactive compounds (bacilysin, surfactin, lichenysin D, etc.). Furthermore, JF enhanced the antioxidant capacity of broilers by increasing the intestinal abundance of Subdoligranulum.

This experiment aims to investigate the physicochemical properties of fermented soybean meal (FSBM) and its effects on the growth and development of broilers when used as a substitute for soybean meal (SBM). The process optimization of FSBM was based on indicators such as particle size, moisture content, temperature, and the amounts of protease and microbial agents added. The physicochemical indicators of the FSBM meal were measured accordingly. On this basis, 320 one-day-old AA broilers were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups, with each group having 8 replicates. The treatment groups were: control (CON) group was fed a basal diet. The experimental group replaced 5 % (FSBM-1), 7.5 % (FSBM-2), and 10 % (FSBM-3) of SBM with FSBM. The trial period lasted for 42 d. The results indicate that the crude protein (CP) and acid-soluble protein (ASP) content of FSBM have significantly increased. Additionally, the amino acid content of FSBM surpasses that of SBM. Furthermore, the peak area percentage (PAP), number average molecular weight (NAMW), and weight average molecular weight (WAMW) for molecules below 5000 Da have shown significant increases (P<0.05). FSBM also significantly reduces anti-nutritional factors, including raffinose, stachyose, glycinin, etc. In the broiler chicken experiment, the ADG of the FSBM-1 group from 22 to 42 d and from 1 to 42 d was significantly increased (P<0.05), while the F/G was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Additionally, compared to the CON group, the nutrient apparent metabolism rates of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and energy (EN) in the diet were also significantly enhanced (P<0.05). The comparison of broiler chickens in the FSBM-1 group at 21 d and 42 d shows a significant decrease (P<0.05) in the crypt depth (CD), while the villus height to crypt depth (V/C) significantly increased (P<0.05). In summary, fermentation can significantly reduce the anti-nutritional factors present in SBM and enhance feed quality. Replacing 5% of SBM with FSBM can notably improve the growth performance and intestinal morphology of broiler chickens.

Intercropping is a widely used agricultural system; however, the effect of intercropping between accumulator plants on phytoextraction in heavy metal-contaminated soils remains unknown. Here, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the phytoextraction efficiency and related environmental effects of three Amaranthaceae plants (Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Celosia argentea, and Pfaffia glomerata) using mono- and intercropping models. In monocropping, the total biomass of A. hypochondriacus was only 51.2 % of that of C. argentea. Compared with monocropping, intercropping reduced the fresh weight per plant of A. hypochondriacus by 53.0 % (intercropping with C. argentea) and 40.5 % (intercropping with P. glomerata) but increased the biomass per plant of C. argentea and P. glomerata by 128.2 and 14.2 %, respectively. The Cd uptake of the three plants in the monocropping models showed the following trend: C. argentea > P. glomerata > A. hypochondriacus. Interplanting A. hypochondriacus and C. argentea further increased the phytoextraction efficiency by 361.2 % (compared with A. hypochondriacus monocropping) and 52.0 % (compared with C. argentea monocropping). Soil exchangeable Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, K, and P, soil N-NO3- and N-NH4+, soil common bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi, and soil total organic carbon (TOC) play key roles in Cd and Pb uptake by the three accumulator plants (p < 0.05). The biomass of common bacteria, Gm+, Gm- bacteria, fungi, AM fungi, and actinomycetes increased with the three accumulators planted in the mono- and intercropping models. Compared with C. argentea monocropping, the biomass of soil microbes in the rhizosphere soil was obviously increased in the intercropping A. hypochondriacus and C. argentea models. These results suggest that interplanting A. hypochondriacus and C. argentea can increase Cd removal efficiency from Cd-contaminated soils, and this model could be recommended to remediate Cd-contaminated soils on a field scale.

Gut health of broiler chickens is essential for production performance. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary supplementation with potassium diformate (KDF) on growth performance and intestinal health in broiler chickens. A total of 180 Arbor Acres (AA) broiler chickens were randomly allocated into 3 treatments, with 6 replicates, containing 10 chicks in each replicate. The treatment groups were: control group (CON) was fed a basal diet; KDF-4 groups fed the basal diet with 4 g/kg KDF; KDF-8 groups fed the basal diet with 8 g/kg KDF. The experiment period lasted for 42 d. During the starter phase, the ADFI and F/G of broilers in KDF groups were lower (P < 0.05) compared to the CON group. Furthermore, the BW and ADG in KDF-4 group was improved (P<0.05). The treatment groups exhibited a significant increase (P < 0.05) in both ADG and ADFI during the grower and overall phase. Moreover, the F/G in KDF-4 group was lower (P < 0.05) compared to the CON and KDF-8 groups. The semi-eviscerated weight rate (SEWR), eviscerated carcass weight rate (ECWR), pectoral muscle rate (PMR), and leg muscle rate (LMR) of broilers were improved (P < 0.05) in KDF groups. The serum levels of glucose (GLU) and UREA (UA) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in KDF-8 group. Additionally, the nutrient apparent utilization rate of dry matter (DM), energy (EE), and crude protein (CP) were improved (P < 0.05) in KDF-4 group. The villus height (VH) and villus height to crypt depth ratio (V/C) of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were higher (P < 0.05) in KDF groups compared to the CON group, while crypt depth (CD) was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The digestive enzyme activities of lipase (LIP), amylase (AMS), or trypsin (TPS) were significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) in the intestinal chyme, while the total bacterial count, Escherichia coli, Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, and Bacillus were reduced (P < 0.05) in the ileum. This study demonstrates that the inclusion of KDF in the diet of broilers leads to improvements in growth, slaughter performance, nutrient utilization rate, and maintenance of intestinal health.

The increasing concerns about food waste and environmental pollution call for highly efficient food packaging materials from sustainable sources. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are emerging sustainable materials, and more nonwoody biomasses should be used to prepare CNF-based food packaging materials due to the commercial applications of wood pulp. Herein, we explored the use of four bast fibers to produce CNFs via ball milling and high-pressure homogenization to produce CNF suspensions that were spray-coated onto model fruits (e.g., banana and mango) for food preservation. Unlike other CNF coatings derived from ramie, flax, and kenaf fibers, jute-derived CNF coating significantly prolonged the shelf life of fruits, due to its improved homogeneity, higher oxygen and UV barrier properties, and higher antioxidant activity. This work offers a new strategy to prepare sustainable active packaging materials from natural biomass without chemical modification or additive, boosting related applications in the fields of food and agriculture.

Bombus terrestris, an important eusocial insect, plays a vital role in providing pollination services for both wild plants and greenhouse crops. For the development of the colonies, the workers must leave the hives to collect nectar and pollen. However, limited findings about the foraging behavior of B. terrestris workers (e.g., first foraging period, total foraging duration, and daily foraging bouts). Here, radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology was used to monitor the continuously foraging behavior of B. terrestris workers during August and October, 2021 and August, 2023. The findings of our study indicate that the participation rate in the foraging activity among adult workers was 65.07%. In addition, it was observed that adult workers initiate their initial foraging activities on the second day, with the majority commencing their first foraging endeavors between the ages of 3 and 5 days. It is noteworthy that worker bees will remain within the confines of the hive for the entirety of their lifespan, if they do not begin their first foraging within the first 12 days. Our results also revealed that workers were mainly foraged from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 14:00 PM to 17:00 PM in August, while, and predominantly from 12:00 to 15:00 in October. Furthermore, it was shown that foraging efficiency was notably greater during seasons marked by a plentiful availability of flower resources. This was supported by an observed rise in the frequency of daily foraging activities and the overall duration of foraging.

Bumblebees play a vital role in both natural and agricultural environments, but there has been a noticeable decline in their populations. Pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, are widely regarded as a substantial contributing factor to the decline in bumblebee populations, as evidenced by the detrimental impacts documented across many stages of their life cycle. Mating is vital for the population maintenance of bumblebees. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research conducted on the effects of pesticides on the mating process. In this study, we individually examined the impact of imidacloprid on the mating behavior of bumblebee males and queens. A competitive mating experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect on the competitive prowess of male individuals and the mate selection behavior of female individuals. The study revealed that the mating rate of bumblebees exposed to a concentration of 10 ppb of imidacloprid was 3 %. This finding demonstrated a statistically significant impact when compared to the control group, which exhibited a mating rate of 58 % in the normal mating experiment. Furthermore, in the competitive mating experiment, we found that the competitive mating success rate of treated males (1 %) was significantly lower than that of untreated males (35 %). Hence, it provides evidence that neonicotinoid imidacloprid negatively affects bumblebee mating success and cautions us to protect bumblebees from pesticide exposure to prevent a severe impact on their populations.

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has great application potential in heavy metal-polluted soils owing to its safe non-food utilization. However, the fate of heavy metals in different varieties of hemp planted in strongly contaminated natural soils remains unknown. Here, we investigated the growth, heavy metal uptake, distribution, and transfer of nine hemp varieties in soils strongly contaminated with Cu, As, Cd, and Pb. Hemp variety and metal type were the main factors affecting the growth and heavy metal uptake in hemp. The nine hemp varieties grew well in the contaminated soils; however, differences existed among the varieties. The biomass of Z3 reached 5669.1 kg hm-1, whereas that of Yunma No. 1 was only 51.8 % of Z3. The plant height, stalk diameter, and stalk bark thickness of Z3 were greater than those of the other varieties, reaching 168 cm, 9.2 mm, and 0.56 mm, respectively. Permanova’s analysis revealed that the total effects of Cu, As, Cd, and Pb on the growth of the nine hemp varieties reached 60 %, with leaf As having the greatest effect, reaching 16 %. , Even in strongly contaminated soils, the nine varieties showed poor Cu, As, Cd, and Pb uptake. Most of the Cu, As, Cd, and Pb were retained in the root, reaching 57.7–72.4, 47.6–64.7, 76.0–92.9, and 70.0–87.8 %, respectively. Overall, the Cu, As, Cd, and Pb uptake of Wanma No.1 was the highest among the nine varieties, whereas that of Guangxi Bama was the lowest. These results indicate that hemp is a viable alternative for phytoattenuation in soils contaminated with heavy metals because of its ability to tolerate and accumulate Cu, As, Cd, and Pb in its roots, and Guangxi Bama is superior to the other varieties considering the safe utilization of hemp products.

Cellulosic hydrogels are widely used in various applications, as they are natural raw materials and have excellent degradability. However, their poor mechanical properties restrict their practical application. This study presents a facile approach for fabricating cellulosic hydrogels with high strength by synergistically utilizing salting-out and ionic coordination, thereby inducing the collapse and aggregation of cellulose chains to form a cross-linked network structure. Cellulosic hydrogels are prepared by soaking cellulose in an Al2(SO4)3 solution, which is both strong (compressive strength of up to 16.99 MPa) and tough (compressive toughness of up to 2.86 MJ/m3). The prepared cellulosic hydrogels exhibit resistance to swelling in different solutions and good biodegradability in soil. The cellulosic hydrogels are incorporated into strain sensors for human-motion monitoring by introducing AgNWs. Thus, the study offers a promising, simple, and scalable approach for preparing strong, degradable, and anti-swelling hydrogels using common biomass resources with considerable potential for various applications.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum seed meal (ZBM), a novel plant protein raw material, has shown promising potential in enhancing the growth of broiler chickens as a substitute for soybean meal (SBM) in feed. In the artificial digestive experiment of vitro experiments, the digestibility of ZBM and SBM were assessed using the SDS-III Single Stomach Animal Biometric Digestion System. Subsequently, 180 1-day old AA chicks were divided into three groups for in vivo experiments: corn–soybean-meal-based diet (CON group); ZBM replacing 5% soybean meal in the basal diet (ZBM-1 group); ZBM replacing 10% soybean meal in the basal diet (ZBM-2 group). The experiment period lasted for 42 days. Compared to SBM, ZBM demonstrated higher crude protein content, dry matter digestibility, and extracorporeal digestible protein. Compared with the CON group, the broilers in the ZBM-2 group showed improved ADG and ADFI during the 1–21 d, 22–42 d, and 1–42 d periods (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the ZBM groups exhibited significant increases in slaughter performance compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). The substitution of ZBM for SBM also leads to a significant reduction in serum enzyme indicators (p < 0.05). Additionally, the lipoprotein and total cholesterol of the ZBM groups were significantly lower than those of the CON group (p < 0.05). Substituting SBM with ZBM significantly enhances the activity of superoxide dismutase and the content of immunoglobulin G in broiler serum, while reducing the content of malondildehyde (p < 0.05). The ZBM groups showed significantly higher utilization of dry matter, crude protein, and energy compared with the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the study confirmed that the substitution of SBM with 5–10% ZBM in broiler diets has a significant positive effect on growth, development, antioxidant capacity, immune function, and nutrient utilization. This study not only provides a theoretical foundation for the utilization of ZBM in broiler diets but also offers an effective approach for reducing reliance on soybean meal.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of compound probiotics on the performance, egg quality, biochemical parameters and intestinal morphology of laying hens. A total of 180 healthy 200-day-old Hyline Brown laying hens with similar initial laying rate (87.5% ± 0.2%) were randomly divided into the control group and the treatment group. Each group included 6 replicates and each replicate included 15 laying hens. The control group was provided a basal diet, while the treatment group received the basal diet supplemented with compound probiotics. The experiment lasted for 52 days. The study indicated the following outcomes: (1) The laying rate (LR) and average egg weight (AEW) of laying hens in the treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05), whereas the feed-to-egg ratio (F/E) was significantly lower (p < 0.05); (2) The yolk weight (YW), egg shape index (ESI) and albumen height (AH) were significantly higher (p < 0.05), whereas the eggshell percentage (EP) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) after the dietary supplementation of compound probiotics; (3) The treatment group significantly decreased in total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in serum compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, serum levels of total protein (TP), globulin (GLB), albumin (ALB), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were significantly higher in the treatment group (p < 0.05); (4) The supplementation of compound probiotics to laying hen diets led to a significant reduction in crypt depth (CD) and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (V/C) in the jejunum compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the supplementation of compound probiotics can regulate the body metabolism and improve the intestinal morphology, thus enhancing the antioxidant capacity and immune function of the body, which in turn improves the performance and egg quality of laying hens.

This article aims to investigate the mechanism by which Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alleviates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal oxidative stress. The study involved two experimental subjects: human colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells and Arbor Acres broiler chickens. The experiment involving two samples was designed with the same treatment groups, specifically the control (CK) group, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (JF) group, and JF+LPS group. In the Caco-2 experiment, we administered 2 μg/mL of LPS and 1 × 106 CFU/mL of JF to the LPS and JF groups, respectively. In the broiler experiment, the LPS group (19-21 d) received an abdominal injection of 0.5 mg/kg BW of LPS, whereas the JF group was fed 1 × 107 CFU/g of JF throughout the entire duration of the experiment (1-21 d). The results indicated the following: (1) JF significantly decreased the DPPH free radical clearance rate and hydrogen peroxide levels (p < 0.05). (2) JF significantly enhanced the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px) activity in Caco-2 cells (p < 0.05), while concurrently reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p < 0.05). (3) Compared to the CK group, JF significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), SOD, catalase (CAT), GSH-Px, interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), Claudin, Occludin1, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), and mucin 2 (MUC2) in Caco-2 cells (p < 0.05), while concurrently reducing the mRNA expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) (p < 0.05). In comparison to the LPS group, the JF+LPS group demonstrated a significant increase in the mRNA expression of Nrf2, SOD, GSH-Px, and IL-4, as well as Occludin1, ZO-1, and MUC2 in Caco-2 cells (p < 0.05), alongside a decrease in the mRNA expression of Keap1, TNF-α, and IL-1β (p < 0.05). (4) In broiler chickens, the JF group significantly elevated the levels of T-AOC, CAT, and GSH-Px in the jejunum while reducing MDA content (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the CAT level in the JF+LPS group was significantly higher than that observed in the LPS group, and the levels of MDA, TNF-α, and IL-1β were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). (5) In comparison to the CK group, the JF group exhibited a significant increase in Nrf2 levels in the jejunum of broiler chickens (p < 0.05). Notably, the mRNA expression levels of IL-4, IL-10, Claudin, Occludin1, ZO-1, and MUC2 were reduced (p < 0.05), while the mRNA expression levels of Keap1, TNF-α, and IL-1β also showed a decrease (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, Occludin1, ZO-1, and MUC2 in the JF+LPS group were significantly elevated compared to those in the LPS group (p < 0.05), whereas the mRNA expression levels of Keap1 and TNF-α were significantly diminished (p < 0.05). In summary, JF can enhance the intestinal oxidative stress response, improve antioxidant capacity and intestinal barrier function, and decrease the expression of inflammatory factors by regulating the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Objective The object of this study was to investigate the effect of replacing soybean meal with Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP) in broiler diets on growth performance, blood indicators, antioxidant capacity, and immune function. Methods A total of 180 Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into three treatments, each treatment with six replicates and 10 broilers per replicate for a 42-day feeding trial. The control group (CON) was fed corn-soybean meal based diet. The CAP-1 and CAP-2 groups were considered to use CAP to replace 25% or 50% of soybean meal in the diet, respectively. The average daily gain and average daily feed intake of broilers at 1 to 21 d, 22 to 42 d, and 1 to 42 d were measured, and the feed conversion ratio was calculated. At the 42nd day of age, two broilers with similar weights and fasted for 12 h were selected in each replicate for blood collection from the brachial wing vein. The blood routine indicators, serum biochemical indicators, serum antioxidant capacity, and immunoglobulin content of broiler chickens were measured. Results Replacement of soybean meal with 25% (CAP-1) and 50% (CAP-2) CAP significantly increased the average daily gain of 22 to 42 d and 1 to 42 d and decreased the average daily feed intake and feed conversion rate (p<0.05). The CAP-1 group, and CAP-2 group significantly increased hemoglobulin in the blood of broilers, while the CAP-2 group increased hematocrit content (p<0.05). Compared with the control group, the contents of superoxide dismutase and immunoglobulin A in serum of the CAP-2 group were significantly increased, while the contents of malondialdehyde in CAP group were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Conclusion Replacing soybean meal with CAP led to significant improvements in the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immunoglobulin content of broilers.