Joint Application of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis Improves Growth Performance, Immune Function and Intestinal Integrity in Weaned Piglets

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Problems such as the emergence of drug-resistant genes and food safety are becoming increasingly prominent due to the overuse of antibiotics. Probiotics can suppress the growth of pathogens effectively and enhance the immune functions of the host to replace antibiotics partially without the production of drug-resistance genes. There is an urgent request to explore the potential mechanisms of probiotics in regulating host health. In the study, our findings indicated that joint application of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis as an antibiotics alternative improved growth performance via promoting immune function and intestinal integrity of weaned piglets. ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to explore the effects of the joint application of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, immune function, antioxidant capacity, intestinal integrity, and gut microbiota composition in weaned piglets. The piglets were allocated randomly into 4 dietary groups, which were a control diet (NC), NC + 150 ppm mucilage sulfate (PC), and 3 additional diets containing 1 kg/t (LT), 1.5 kg/t (MT), or 2 kg/t (HT) mixture of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. Results showed that joint application of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis increased ADFI and ADG of weaned piglets in d 14~28 and d 28~42 (p < 0.05), and decreased serum concentrations of DAO, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-2. The LT group increased jejunal and colonic sIgA contents compared with the PC group (p < 0.05). Groups of MT and HT increased colonic mRNA expression of host defense peptides and tight junction proteins compared with the NC and PC groups. The joint application of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis increased the abundance of colonic Lactobacillus compared with NC and PC groups (p < 0.10). In conclusion, the joint application of Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis as an antibiotics alternative improved growth performance via promoting immune function and intestinal integrity of weaned piglets.