Search Results (101)

Feed supplementation strategies are essential for optimizing cattle productivity, and the incorporation of non-conventional feed resources may reduce both production costs and environmental impact. This study evaluated the effects of pelletized protein concentrates (including Acacia farnesiana, A. schaffneri, and Agave duranguensis bagasse) on rumen fermentation parameters, microbial communities, and gas emissions. Fistulated bullocks received the concentrate daily, and ruminal contents were collected and filtered before and after supplementation to assess in vitro gas and methane production, pH, and microbial composition using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and mcrA amplicons. In addition, in situ degradability was evaluated during and after the supplementation period. Supplementation led to a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in degradability parameters and methane production, along with a marked decrease in the abundance of Methanobrevibacter and an increase in succinate-producing taxa. These effects were attributed to the enhanced levels of non-fiber carbohydrates, hemicellulose, crude protein, and the presence of bioactive secondary metabolites and methanol. Rumen microbiota composition was consistent with previously described core communities, and mcrA-based sequencing proved to be a valuable tool for targeted methanogen detection. Overall, the inclusion of non-conventional ingredients in protein concentrates may improve ruminal fermentation efficiency and contribute to methane mitigation in ruminants, although further in vivo trials on a larger scale are recommended. Full article

In this study, we explored the dose-dependent effects of neutral sodium humate (NSH) on the growth performance, slaughter traits, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal health of yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 240 one-day-old male yellow-feathered broilers were randomly allocated into three groups, with each group consisting of four replicates containing 20 birds per replicate. The control group (Blank) received a basal diet, while the NSH-L and NSH-H groups were provided with the same basal diet included with neutral sodium humate at concentrations of 0.15% and 0.3%, respectively. The results indicate that dietary inclusion of neutral sodium humate at both low (NSH-L) and high (NSH-H) doses significantly increased the body weight and leg muscle yield of yellow-feathered broilers and improved meat quality (p < 0.05). Furthermore, NSH inclusion effectively reduced serum total cholesterol levels and elevated total protein concentration (p < 0.05). In addition, NSH significantly improved duodenal and ileal morphology (e.g., increased villus height and reduced crypt depth), strengthened intestinal barrier integrity (p < 0.05), and enhanced antioxidant capacity (p < 0.05). Notably, the high-dose NSH group (NSH-H) demonstrated significantly greater enhancements in intestinal and barrier integrity compared to the low-dose group (NSH-L). Microbiome analysis revealed that, compared to the Blank group, both the NSH-L and NSH-H groups exhibited significant shifts in cecal microbiota composition, including increased abundance of Bacteroidota and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and reduced abundance of Euryarchaeota and Methanobrevibacter. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that neutral sodium humate acts as a multifunctional feed additive in yellow-feathered broilers, enhancing productivity and gut health. The study provides a theoretical foundation for the scientific application of neutral sodium humate in broiler production. Full article

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of gallic acid (GA) on nutrient degradability, gas production, rumen fermentation, and the microbial community and its functions using in vitro fermentation methods. An in vitro experiment was conducted to test GA dose levels (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/g DM) in the cow’s diet. Based on the results of nutrient degradability, gas production, and rumen fermentation, the control group (0 mg/g DM, CON) and the GA group (10 mg/g DM, GA) were selected for metagenomic analysis to further explore the microbial community and its functions. The degradability of dry matter and crude protein, as well as total gas production, CH₄ production, CH₄/total gas, CO₂ production, and CO₂/total gas, decreased quadratically (p < 0.05) with increasing GA doses, reaching their lowest levels at the 10 mg/g DM dose. Total volatile fatty acid (VFA) (p = 0.004), acetate (p = 0.03), and valerate (p = 0.03) exhibited quadratic decreases, while butyrate (p = 0.0006) showed a quadratic increase with increasing GA doses. The 10 mg/g DM dose group had the lowest levels of total VFA, acetate, and valerate, and the highest butyrate level compared to the other groups. The propionate (p = 0.03) and acetate-to-propionate ratio (p = 0.03) linearly decreased with increasing gallic acid inclusion. At the bacterial species level, GA supplementation significantly affected (p < 0.05) a total of 38 bacterial species. Among these, 29 species, such as Prevotellasp.E15-22, bacteriumP3, and Alistipessp.CAG:435, were less abundant in the GA group, while 9 species, including Aristaeella_lactis and Aristaeella_hokkaidonensis, were significantly more abundant in the GA group. At the archaeal species level, the relative abundances of Methanobrevibacter_thaueri, Methanobrevibacter_boviskoreani, and Methanobrevibactersp.AbM4 were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by GA supplementation. Amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, Starch and sucrose metabolism, Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis, and Pyruvate metabolismwere significantly enriched in the GA group (p < 0.05). Additionally, Alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism was also significantly enriched in the GA group (p < 0.05). GA use could potentially be an effective strategy for methane mitigation; however, further research is needed to assess its in vivo effects in dairy cows over a longer period. Full article

Dietary protein levels greatly influence gut microbial ecosystems; however, their effects on gut archaea and associated functions in ruminants require further elucidation. This study evaluated the impact of varying dietary protein levels on gut archaeal composition, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, virulence factors, and functional capacities in sheep. Eighteen ewes (Yunnan semi-fine wool breed, uniparous, 2 years old, and averaging 50 ± 2 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to diets containing an 8.5 (low; H_1), 10.3 (medium; H_m), or 13.9% (high; H_h) crude protein level from the 35th day of pregnancy to the 90th day postpartum. The total duration of the experiment was approximately 202 days. A total of nine fecal samples (three from each group) were analyzed via 16S rRNA and metagenomics sequencing. Higher archaeal alpha diversity and richness were observed in the H_m and H_h groups compared to the H_l group (p < 0.05). A Beta diversity analysis revealed the archaeal community’s distinct clustering mode based on protein levels. The methanogenic genera Methanobrevibacter and Methanocorpusculum were dominant across the three groups, and their abundance was influenced by protein intake. A functional prediction analysis indicated moderate changes in amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism, which are particularly associated with methane production, an important source of greenhouse gases. AMR genes (e.g., tetA (60), patA, vat, and Erm methyltransferase) and virulence factors (Bacillibactin, LPS) were significantly enriched when animals were fed high-protein diets. Our results demonstrated that dietary protein levels significantly influence gut archaeal composition, AMR gene enrichment, and related functional pathways. Medium-protein diets promoted greater archaeal diversity, whereas high-protein diets favored resistance gene proliferation and enhanced methanogenic activity. Optimizing dietary protein intake may enhance gut health, mitigate antimicrobial resistance risk, and reduce methane emissions, thereby supporting livestock sustainability and environmental protection. Full article

Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are a debilitating non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD), often associated with dopaminergic therapy. However, their occurrence in some patients but not others suggests additional biological mechanisms, including the gut microbiome. In this study, we analyzed 191 PD patients (14 with ICDs, 177 without) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to explore the association between gut microbiota and ICDs. No significant differences were observed in alpha or beta diversity between groups, but several bacterial taxa showed differential abundances. Notably, Methanobrevibacter and Intestinimonas butyriciproducens were enriched in ICD patients. Functional pathway analysis revealed differences in metabolic pathways, including enrichment of xenobiotic degradation and nicotinate metabolism in the ICD group. These findings suggest that specific gut microbial taxa and their associated metabolic functions may contribute to ICDs in PD, highlighting a potential non-dopaminergic mechanism and opening new avenues for microbiome-targeted intervention. Full article

Psychological distress and gut dysbiosis play key roles in IBD. This study investigated whether specific psychopathological and gut microbiota features predict adverse outcomes in UC patients. This retrospective cohort study included 35 UC patients recruited in 2019. Baseline assessments involved clinical interviews, psychiatric evaluations, and stool sampling. In 2024, follow-up interviews and medical record reviews assessed disease progression, including biologic therapy failure, hospitalization, surgery, and diagnosis changes. Disease activity was measured via the Mayo score. Psychological testing included MMPI-2, STAI-Y2, GSES, CD-RISC, and TAS-20. Patients with biological therapy failure showed increased levels of Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Trabulsiella, while Firmicutes were less abundant. UC-related hospitalized patients had lower levels of Rikenellaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Methanobrevibacter, and Phascolarctobacterium compared to non-hospitalized patients. Hospitalized patients scored higher on the Sc clinical scale and the OBS and HEA content scales. Acidaminococcus and Bilophila were more abundant in patients who underwent surgery. PCA revealed differences between patients with and without biological failure. Logistic regression found that Fusobacteria were negatively correlated with the failure of three or more biologics, while Hy and Pd were positively correlated. Pa and Pt were negatively correlated with multifailure. Obsessiveness, health concerns, somatization, and reduced SCFA-producing bacteria may predict UC-related adverse outcomes. Full article

This study was conducted to compare the effects of hydrolysable versus condensed tannins on growth performance, nutrient digestion, and rumen fermentation in goats. A total of 27 Liaoning cashmere goats with similar initial body weights were randomly distributed into three groups: a basal diet, a basal diet +0.5% tannic acid (hydrolysable tannin, HT), or a basal diet +0.5% quebracho tannin (condensed tannin, CT), respectively. Compared to the control group, HT showed a decreased (p < 0.05) feed intake, while CT showed an increased (p < 0.05) feed intake and body weight gain. Digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber did not differ (p > 0.05) among groups. The HT group showed lower pH and acetic acid concentration in the rumen (p < 0.05), while the CT group showed a decrease (p < 0.05) in the abundances of Verrucomicrobia and Methanobrevibacter. Supplementation of CT decreased (p < 0.05) the levels of dihydrouracil, xanthosine, alpha-D-mannose, and L-tryptophan, while HT increased (p < 0.05) these metabolites. In conclusion, this study suggested that responses of ruminal microbiota and metabolite profiles to the type of tannins varied, and CT displayed a more positive effect on the growth performance of goats than HT when supplemented at the same level in the diets. Full article

Carbon emission fluxes in urban sewer systems and the microbial community structure in sewer sediments remain unclear. In this study, a sewer system located in southern China was utilized to investigate the water quality characteristics. The results showed that the chemical oxygen demand loss rates in the branch pipe and sub-main pipe were 27.1% and 14.1%, respectively. The estimated carbon emission flux was estimated by the carbon emission factor method. The results revealed that the total carbon emission flux from the sewer system was 1.39 kg CO₂-eq/m³ and the emission fluxes of methane and carbon dioxide were 0.87 kg CO₂-eq/m³ and 0.51 kg CO₂-eq/m³, accounting for 62% and 36.4%. The microbial community structure was analyzed by 16S rRNA. The results indicated that the methanogenic archaea in the sediments of the branch pipe and sub-main pipe were Methanobacterium, Methanosaeta, and Methanobrevibacter. The methanogenic activity of the sewer sediments was further assessed. This study further confirmed that the branch pipe and sub-main pipe were the main sources of carbon emissions and methane and carbon dioxide are the main greenhouse gases in the sewer system. This study furnishes novel insights for the control of carbon emissions in municipal sewage systems. Full article

Traditional anaerobic digestion (AD) technology continues to have severe limitations in terms of complicated substrate degradation efficiency and methane production. This study optimizes the AD system using corn straw and cattle manure as substrates by introducing an exogenous N-Hexanoyl-L-Homoserine lactone (C6-HSL) signaling molecule in concert with an applied external voltage of 0.8 V, systematically investigating its impact on methanogenic performance and microbial community dynamics. The results show that the combined regulation significantly increased methane production (by 29.74%) and substrate utilization rate (by 74.73%) while preventing acid inhibition and ammonia nitrogen inhibition. Mechanistic analysis revealed that the external voltage enhanced the system’s electrocatalytic activity, while the C6-HSL signaling molecule further facilitated the electron transfer efficiency of the biofilm on the electrode. The combined regulation notably enriched hydrogenotrophic methanogens (with Methanobacterium predominating on the cathode and Methanobrevibacter in the digestate), establishing a stable metabolic cooperative network on both the electrode and in the digestate, optimizing the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis pathway, and enhancing the synergistic effects among microbial communities and system robustness. This study uncovers the synergistic enhancement mechanism of C6-HSL and external voltage, providing new technological pathways and theoretical support for the efficient conversion of low-quality biomass resources and the production of clean energy. Full article

Bovine lameness leads to significant economic losses in the dairy industry. This study investigated the relationship between rumen microbiota and lameness in Holstein cows. Rumen fluid and blood samples were collected from 11 cows with mild lameness and 10 healthy cows before morning feeding. Using high-throughput sequencing and ELISA kits, we found that cows with lameness exhibited decreased rumen pH and increased lameness scores compared to healthy cows. Additionally, cows with lameness had higher blood concentrations of LPS, IL-1, IL-8, and TNF-α. Although there were no significant differences in microbial alpha diversity, principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed significant differences in the rumen microbial structure between the two groups. Further analysis showed that the relative abundances of ruminal Clostridium_IV, Streptococcus, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Desulfobulbus, Methanobrevibacter, and Mogibacterium were significantly higher in the lameness group, whereas Succinivibrio, Lachnobacterium, Elusimicrobium, Succiniclasticum, and Prevotella were significantly more abundant in the rumen of healthy cows. Importantly, the microbial interaction network in the rumen of cows with lameness was more complex, with key bacteria such as Mogibacterium dominating the microbial interaction network. This study highlights the relationship between rumen microbiota and lameness, providing insights into the prevention and treatment of bovine lameness. Full article

A series of in vitro studies were conducted to explore the anti-methanogenic potential of five seaweeds collected from the Indian sea and to optimize the level(s) of incorporation of the most promising seaweed(s) into a straw and concentrate diet to achieve a significant reduction in methane (CH₄) production without disturbing rumen fermentation characteristics. A chemical composition analysis revealed a notable ash content varying between 55 and 70% in seaweeds. The crude protein content was highly variable and ranged between 3.25 and 15.3% of dry matter. Seaweeds contained appreciable concentrations of tannins and saponins. Among the seaweeds, Spyridia filamentosa exhibited significantly higher CH₄ production, whereas the percentage of CH₄ in total gas was significantly lower in the cases of Kappaphycus alvarezii and Sargassum wightii. The ranking of seaweeds in terms of CH₄ production (mL/g OM) is as follows: Sargassum wightii < Kappaphycus alvarezii < Acanthophora specifera < Padina gymnospora < Spyridia filamentosa. A remarkable decrease of 31–42% in CH₄ production was recorded with the incremental inclusion of Kappaphycus alvarezii at levels of 3–5% of the dry matter in the diet. The addition of Sargassum wightii led to a significant decrease of 36–48% in CH₄ emissions when incorporated at levels of 4–5% of dry matter, respectively. The findings of this study revealed a significant decrease in the numbers of total protozoa and Entodinomorphs, coupled with increasing abundances of sulfate-reducing microbes and minor methanogens. Metagenome data revealed that irrespective of the seaweed and treatment, the predominant microbial phyla included Bacteroidota, Bacillota, Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, Fibrobacterota, and Euryarchaeota. The prevalence of Methanobrevibacter was similar across treatments, constituting the majority (~79%) of the archaeal community. The results also demonstrated that the supplementation of Kappaphycus alvarezii and Sargassum wightii did not alter the feed fermentation pattern, and therefore, the reduction in CH₄ production in the present study could not be attributed to it. Animal studies are warranted to validate the extent of reduction in CH₄ production and the key processes involved by supplementation with Kappaphycus alvarezii and Sargassum wightii at the recommended levels. Full article

It is known that the addition of feed rich in bioactive components to animal diets will affect rumen fermentation parameters and flora structure. However, research on the regulatory effects of prickly ash seeds (PASs) during rumen development or on the rumen microbiome and its metabolites in sheep is limited. The current study was designed to explore the effects of PASs on sheep rumen development and growth performance using metagenomics and metabolomics. Eighteen 3-month-old Hu lambs were randomly allotted to three different dietary treatment groups: 0% (basal diet, CK), 3% (CK with 3% PAS, low-dose PAS, LPS), and 6% (CK with 6% PAS, high-dose PAS, HPS) PASs. The lambs were slaughtered to evaluate production performance. Our results showed that dietary PAS addition improved the average daily gain and reduced the F/G ratio of the experimental animals. Additionally, the height and width of the rumen papilla in the treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the CK group. The fermentation parameters showed that the levels of acetate and butyrate were significantly higher in the LPS group than in the CK and HPS groups. The propionate levels in the HPS group were significantly higher than those in the CK and LPS groups. Metagenomics analysis revealed that PAS dietary supplementation improved the abundance of Clostridiales and Bacteroidales and reduced the abundance of Prevotella, Butyrivibrio, and Methanococcus. Metabolomic analyses revealed that increased metabolite levels, such as those of serotonin, L-isoleucine, and L-valine, were closely related to growth-related metabolic pathways. The correlations analyzed showed that papilla height and muscular thickness were positively and negatively correlated with serotonin and L-valine, respectively. Average daily gain (ADG) was positively and negatively correlated with L-valine and several Prevotella, respectively. In addition, muscular thickness was positively correlated with Sodaliphilus pleomorphus, four Prevotella strains, Sarcina_sp_DSM_11001, and Methanobrevibacter_thaueri. Overall, PAS addition improved sheep growth performance by regulating beneficial microorganism and metabolite abundances, facilitating bacterial and viral invasion resistance. Full article

Biomethane production via biogas upgrading is regarded as a future renewable gas, further boosting the biogas economy. Moreover, when upgrading is realized by the biogas CO₂ conversion to CH₄ using surplus renewable energy, the process of upgrading becomes a renewable energy storage method. This conversion can be carried out via microorganisms, and has attracted scientific attention, especially under thermophilic conditions. In this study, mesophilic conditions were imposed using a previously developed enriched culture. The enriched culture consisted of the hydrogenotrophic Methanobrevibacter (97% of the Archaea species and 60% of the overall population). Biogas upgrading took place in three lab-scale bioreactors: (a) a 1.2 L bubble reactor (BR), (b) a 2 L trickling bed reactor (TBR) filled with plastic supporting material (TBR-P), and (c) a 1.2 L TBR filled with sintered glass balls (TBR-S). The gas fed into the reactors was a mixture of synthetic biogas and hydrogen, with the H₂ to biogas CO₂ ratio being 3.7:1, lower than the stoichiometric ratio (4:1). Therefore, the feeding gas mixture did not make it possible for the CH₄ content in the biomethane to be more than 97%. The results showed that the BR produced biomethane with a CH₄ content of 91.15 ± 1.01% under a gas retention time (GRT) of 12.7 h, while the TBR-P operation resulted in a CH₄ content of 90.92 ± 2.15% under a GRT of 6 h. The TBR-S operated at a lower GRT (4 h), yielding an effluent gas richer in CH₄ (93.08 ± 0.39%). Lowering the GRT further deteriorated the efficiency but did not influence the metabolic pathway, since no trace of volatile fatty acids was detected. These findings are essential indicators of the process stability under mesophilic conditions. Full article

The experiment was to compare the effects of switching all-concentrate to all-roughage diets on rumen microflora and functional metabolism of yak, cattle-yak, Tibetan yellow cattle and yellow cattle living in different altitudes. A total of 24 yaks, cattle-yaks, Tibetan yellow cattle and yellow cattle with a similar weight and good body condition aged 3.5 years were selected and divided into four groups according to species. They were fed a concentrate diet with 40% soybean meal and 60% corn meal for the first month (C group) and a roughage diet with dry corn stalks (100%) for the second month (R group); the formal experimental period was 60 d. These results showed that the conversion had a significant effect on the rumen microflora structure of the four herds, and the biggest difference between concentrate and roughage diets was yak and cattle-yak, followed by Tibetan yellow cattle and yellow cattle. At the phylum level, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes still predominate in all groups. Compared with the C groups, the relative abundance of Lentisphaerae and Kiritimatiellaeota increased in all R groups, and Lentisphaerae was significantly increased in yak and cattle-yak (p < 0.05). At the genus and species levels, Prevotella had the highest abundance, and the relative abundances of Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Sarcina and Ruminobacter in R groups were lower, while the abundances of other differential genera, including Methanobrevibacter, Fibrobacter, Treponema, Eubacterium, Butyrivibrio, Succinivibrio and Succinimonas, were all higher. Roughage diets increased the number of unique genes and functional genes encoding different CAZymes in rumen microorganisms in all four herds. In the functional contribution analysis, with the exception of ABC transporters and methane metabolism, Prevotella was the main contributor to almost all of these functions. In methane metabolism, Methanobrevibacter had the highest relative abundance, followed by Prevotella, Clostridia and Bacteroidales in all groups. Compared with Tibetan yellow cattle and yellow cattle, yaks and cattle-yaks have better adaptability to roughage, and its utilization rate can be fully improved to reduce methane emission. The study indicates that when four herds are converted to high roughage at the later stage of feeding, the growth and reproduction of rumen microorganisms are affected, and the abundance and diversity of rumen microorganisms are increased to varying degrees. The transformation of concentrate to roughage diet can change the metabolic pathways of rumen microorganisms in yaks and finally affect the fermentation mode of rumen. The above results provide a theoretical basis for the research and development of fattening feeds for yaks, cattle-yaks, Tibetan yellow cattle and yellow cattle and the intensive feeding of livestock on the plateau. Full article

The animal gastrointestinal tract contains a complex microbiome whose composition ultimately reflects the co-evolution of microorganisms with their animal host and their host’s environment. This study aimed to gain insights into the adaptation of the microbiota of local Egyptian cattle to three different ecosystems (Upper Egypt, Middle Egypt, and Lower Egypt) distributed across 11 governorates (with an average of 12 animals per governorate) using amplicon sequencing. We analyzed the microbiota from 136 fecal samples of local Egyptian cattle through a 16S rRNA gene sequencing approach to better understand the fecal microbial diversity of this breed which developed under different ecosystems. An alpha diversity analysis showed that the fecal microbiota of the Egyptian cattle was not significantly diverse across areas, seasons, sexes, or farm types. Meanwhile, microbiota data revealed significant differences in richness among age groups (p = 0.0018). The microbial community differed significantly in the distribution of its relative abundance rather than in richness across different ecosystems. The taxonomic analysis of the reads identified Firmicutes and Actinobacteriota as the dominant phyla, accounting for over 93% of the total bacterial community in Egyptian cattle. Middle Egypt exhibited a different microbial community composition compared to Upper and Lower Egypt, with a significantly higher abundance of Firmicutes and Euryarchaeota and a lower abundance of Actinobacteriota in this region than the other two ecosystems. Additionally, Middle Egypt had a significantly higher relative abundance of the Methanobacteriaceae family and the Methanobrevibacter genera than Lower and Upper Egypt. These results suggest a difference in the adaptation of the fecal microbial communities of Egyptian cattle raised in Middle Egypt. At the genus level, eleven genera were significantly different among the three ecosystems including Bacillus, DNF00809, Kandleria, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, Methanobrevibacter, Mogibacterium, Olsenella, Paeniclostridium, Romboutsia, Turicibacter, and UCG-005. These significant differences in microbiota composition may impact the animal’s adaptation to varied environments. Full article