Protective Effects of Biopolymer-Delivered Bacillus subtilis Against Salmonella in Mice 🦠🧫

 

INTRODUCTION 🧬

Salmonella infection remains a critical concern due to its ability to disrupt the intestinal barrier and provoke severe inflammatory responses. In recent years, probiotic therapy has emerged as a potential strategy to mitigate such infections, yet issues like survival and delivery of beneficial bacteria in hostile gut environments persist. This study explores an innovative solution: the use of a carboxymethyl chitosan-dialdehyde glucan/polydopamine (CMDG/PDA) carrier system to deliver Bacillus subtilis (PBS). By enhancing the stability and bioavailability of this probiotic, the research aims to assess its protective effects on Salmonella-induced intestinal inflammation in mice. Various parameters, including organ indices, inflammatory markers, oxidase levels, gene expression of intestinal barrier components, microbiota composition, and inflammatory signaling pathways, were comprehensively evaluated. The findings provide new insights into microbial therapy with carrier enhancement, suggesting that PBS can significantly improve gut health and suppress inflammation through multifaceted mechanisms.

IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECTS OF PBS 🛡️

One of the primary focuses of this study was the immunomodulatory potential of PBS in counteracting Salmonella-induced inflammation. Infected mice typically exhibit elevated inflammatory cytokines and organ damage, as indicated by increased organ indices. However, following PBS intervention, these detrimental effects were notably reversed. PBS administration significantly decreased levels of inflammatory markers, suggesting that it actively suppresses immune overactivation. Concurrently, it boosted oxidase levels, which are essential for combating oxidative stress during infection. This dual action demonstrates that PBS not only reduces inflammatory damage but also promotes antioxidative defense, highlighting its therapeutic promise as a probiotic-based immunomodulator.

ENHANCEMENT OF INTESTINAL BARRIER FUNCTION 🧱

The integrity of the intestinal barrier is vital in resisting pathogenic invasion and maintaining homeostasis. This study reveals that PBS markedly enhances this barrier by upregulating the mRNA expression of several critical components. Notably, genes responsible for mucin production, tight junction formation (e.g., occludin and claudin), immune signaling molecules, and transcription factors exhibited increased expression compared to the untreated model group. These molecular changes suggest that PBS fortifies the intestinal lining, reducing permeability and preventing Salmonella translocation. Such barrier reinforcement is crucial in both acute treatment and long-term maintenance of gut health.

MODULATION OF GUT MICROBIOTA 🌱

Gut microbial composition is intricately linked to host immunity and inflammation. The study’s microbiota analysis demonstrated that PBS improved the abundance of beneficial genera such as Ruminococcus, Bacillus, and Roseburia. These microbes are known for their roles in maintaining gut health and producing vital metabolites. Salmonella infection typically leads to dysbiosis, but PBS restored microbial balance, supporting recovery and resilience of the gut ecosystem. This microbial modulation indicates that PBS not only acts directly against inflammation but also creates a favorable environment for endogenous bacteria to thrive, contributing to comprehensive intestinal protection.

INCREASE IN SHORT-CHAIN FATTY ACIDS (SCFAs) 🧪

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, propionate, and acetate, play critical roles in gut health, including energy supply, anti-inflammatory activity, and maintaining epithelial integrity. The PBS-treated mice exhibited increased SCFA levels, correlating with the enriched populations of SCFA-producing bacteria. This metabolite enhancement is a crucial indicator of functional gut improvement. SCFAs are also known to influence gene expression and immune responses, further amplifying the protective effects of PBS. These findings underscore the metabolic impact of PBS on the gut microbiome and its role in fostering a chemically balanced intestinal environment.

REGULATION OF INFLAMMATORY SIGNALING PATHWAYS 🔬

At the molecular level, inflammation in Salmonella-infected mice is largely driven by the TLR4-NF-κB-NLRP3 inflammasome axis, a key pathway in innate immune activation. PBS significantly inhibited this signaling cascade, as confirmed by downstream protein expression analyses. Suppression of these pathways mitigated pro-inflammatory cytokine production and inflammasome activation, thus reducing tissue damage and systemic inflammation. By interfering with this critical inflammatory axis, PBS demonstrated its efficacy in not just symptom suppression but also in targeting the root molecular mechanisms of inflammation. This adds a mechanistic foundation to the therapeutic potential of PBS-enhanced probiotic delivery.

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HASHTAGS

#GutHealth #Probiotics #BacillusSubtilis #SalmonellaInfection #MicrobiomeResearch #IntestinalBarrier #Inflammation #MolecularBiology #ImmuneResponse #MicrobialTherapy #ChitosanCarrier #Polydopamine #NFkB #NLRP3Inflammasome #TLR4Pathway #ShortChainFattyAcids #Ruminococcus #Roseburia #OxidativeStress #BiopolymerDelivery