Explore the vast range of titles available.

The gut mycobiota has never been studied either during pregnancy or in patients with gestational diabetes (GDM). This study aimed to analyze the fecal mycobiota of GDM patients during the second (T2) and third (T3) trimester of pregnancy and to compare it with the mycobiota of pregnant normoglycemic women (controls). Forty-one GDM patients and 121 normoglycemic women were studied. GDM mycobiota was composed almost exclusively by the Ascomycota phylum; Basidiomicota accounted for 43% of the relative frequency of the controls. Kluyveromyces ( p  < 0.001), Metschnikowia ( p  < 0.001), and Pichia ( p  < 0.001) showed a significantly higher frequency in GDM patients, while Saccharomyces ( p  = 0.019) , were more prevalent in controls. From T2 to T3, a reduction in fungal alpha diversity was found in GDM patients, with an increase of the relative frequency of Candida , and the reduction of some pro-inflammatory taxa. Many associations between fungi and foods and nutrients were detected. Finally, several fungi and bacteria showed competition or co-occurrence. Patients with GDM showed a predominance of fungal taxa with potential inflammatory effects when compared to normoglycemic pregnant women, with a marked shift in their mycobiota during pregnancy, and complex bacteria-fungi interactions.

Background The inclusion of sustainable protein sources in poultry feed has become essential for improving animal welfare in livestock production. Black soldier fly larvae are a promising solution due to their high protein content and sustainable production. However, most research has focused on fast-growing poultry breeds, while the effects on native breeds, such as the Bianca di Saluzzo, are less explored. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of BSFL supplementation in the diet of slow-growing chickens, with a focus on growth, intestinal health and meat quality for final consumers. Results The study demonstrated that Black soldier fly larvae supplementation, both in dehydrated and live form, improved growth performance, with an increase in final weights compared to the control group. No significant differences were found in feed conversion ratio, liver and spleen weight or histomorphometry between groups. Black soldier fly larvae supplementation did not negatively affect immune function or liver metabolism. Higher production propionic acid was detected in the black soldier fly larvae fed groups compared to the control, suggesting an effect on volatile fatty acid production. Gut microbiota analysis showed an increase in beneficial bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium, in the live larvae group. Furthermore, the meat fatty acid profile and atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices did not undergo significant changes, implying a low potential risk to consumers’ cardiovascular health. Conclusions Black soldier fly larvae supplementation in the diet of Bianca di Saluzzo improved growth without compromising animal health or meat quality. Moreover, the increase in beneficial volatile fatty acids and the modulation of gut microbiota suggest a positive impact on gut health. Finally, the absence of negative effects on meat lipid profiles confirms nutritional safety for consumers, making black soldier fly larvae a valid alternative in poultry feed. These results offer new perspectives for the use of Black soldier fly larvae in the nutrition of local breeds, contributing to sustainability in line with the One Health approach.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary Hermetia illucens (HI) meal on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, general health status and gut health of post-weaning piglets reared under commercial conditions. A total of 336, 28–days-old mixed-sex weaned piglets were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments (control [C] and 3, 6 and 9% HI meal inclusion [HI3, HI6 and HI9], with 4 replicate boxes/treatment, 21 animals/box and 3 feeding phases) and slaughtered after 63 days of trial (4 animals/box, 16 piglets/diet). In the whole trial, the average daily gain and feed conversion ratio showed a linear response to dietary HI meal inclusion (p < 0.05). The nutrient digestibility also displayed a linear and/or quadratic response to dietary HI meal inclusion during phases I and II, while the opposite trend was highlighted during phase III (p < 0.05). Increased blood antioxidant response was also identified for HI6- and HI9-fed animals (p < 0.01). Dietary HI meal inclusion did not influence gut histomorphology or organ histopathological findings, as well as caecal microbiota alpha and beta diversity. However, selected amplicon sequence variants were associated with specific dietary treatments (p < 0.05), such as Dorea, Faecalitalea, Bacteroides, Anaerostipes and Oscillospiraceae (HI3), Phascolarctobacterium, Rhodospirillales and Odoribacter (HI9), Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospiraceae, Anaerovoracaceae, Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Alistipes, Lachnoclostridium and Acinetobacter (HI3 and HI6), and Enterobacter, Roseburia, Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Bifidobacterium (HI-based diets). In conclusion, including up to 9% of HI meal enhanced growth performance and antioxidant response, and partially improved nutrient digestibility and caecal microbiota of the weaned piglets, without impairing their gut morphology and overall health status.

Increasing consumer demand for healthier and clean-label meat products, together with health concerns over synthetic antioxidants, has driven interest in natural alternatives. In this context, tannin-rich extracts were evaluated as functional ingredients to improve the quality and shelf life of beef patties. The effect of two different tannin-rich extracts, each tested at three different concentrations (0.005%, 0.02%, and 0.04% w/w), was investigated in beef patties. Obtained results were compared with a commercial rosemary extract (0.2% w/w) and an untreated control. Natural antioxidant supplementation significantly reduced lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage, limiting malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. At the end of the 7-day storage period, the control sample exhibited the highest thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) value of 2.99 ± 0.01 mg MDA/kg, whereas treated samples showed markedly reduced oxidation (0.34–0.97 mg MDA/kg), with tannin-rich extracts presenting greater antioxidant efficacy with respect to rosemary extract (p < 0.001). The natural compounds also effectively inhibited hexanal formation and delayed the accumulation of 1-octen-3-ol compared with the control (p < 0.001). Moreover, all extracts enhanced meat redness, as indicated by higher CIELAB a* values, while no significant effects (p > 0.05) were observed on texture, microbial growth, or overall sensory acceptance. These results highlight tannin-rich extracts as promising natural antioxidants for improving oxidative stability and extending the shelf life of beef patties.

Queijo Serra da Estrela is a PDO Portuguese cheese produced through coagulation of raw ewe’s milk using cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) flowers. The present research was aimed at depicting an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the microbiota of Queijo Serra da Estrela cheese. To this end, viable counting and metataxonomic analysis were carried out on cheeses sampled from four Portuguese artisan producers. Physico-chemical and morpho-textural analyses were also performed, together with the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Finally, non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) isolated from the cheeses were characterized for their enzymatic activities using a semi-quantitative method. According to the metataxonomic analysis, Lactococcus lactis and Lactococcus piscium were the species occurring at the highest relative abundance. The isolates collected from the cheeses were assigned to Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus lactis, Levilactobacillus brevis, Latilactobacillus graminis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and the Lacticaseibacillus casei group. The enzymatic characterization of these cultures highlighted esterase, aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, alpha-glucosidase, and beta-glucosidase among the major enzymatic activities. Fungal populations were dominated by Debaryomyces hansenii and Kurtzmaniella zeylanoides; however, species rarely found in cheese (e.g., Candida boidinii, Vishniacozyma victoriae, and Starmerella) were also detected. The volatile compounds characterizing the analyzed cheeses were carboxylic acids and esters, followed by carbonyl compounds and alcohols.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus D2/CSL (L-1 × 109 cfu/kg feed/day) on biochemical parameters, faecal score (FS), cecal pH, gut morphometry, microbiota and cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) in rabbits. Three zootechnical trials were performed and in each trial 30 rabbits were allotted to two groups; a probiotic group (L) and a control group (C). At slaughter (day 45), samples of blood, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, liver and spleen were collected and submitted to histomorphometric analyses. Blood biochemical analyses, cecal microbiota and SCFAs determination were also performed. In trial 1 and 3, L. acidophilus D2/CSL did not affect productive parameters (p > 0.05). However, L group of trial 1 showed a lower morbidity and mortality compared to the control. In trial 2, C group showed a higher daily feed intake (p = 0.018) and a positive statistical tendency for live weight and average daily gain (p = 0.068). On the contrary, albumin was higher and ALFA-1 globulin was lower in the C group compared to L (p < 0.05). In all the trials, FS, cecal pH, histomorphometry, microbiota and SCFAs were unaffected. In conclusion, L. acidophilus D2/CSL did not impair growth performances, gut and rabbit’s health, reducing morbidity and mortality.

Entomophagy is increasingly popular, and Acheta domesticus offers an ecologically sustainable protein alternative, but the effects on the human gut microbiome need further investigation. In this study, we investigated the impact of the intake of three isolated proteins: pea (plant), whey (animal), and cricket (insect) on gut microbiome of a single-donor using the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®). Cricket protein intake was associated with potential beneficial taxa such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus , genes related to vitamin biosynthesis and bacteriocin transport, and short and medium-chain fatty acids. Pea protein intake was associated with Faecalibacterium and Slackia , while whey protein with Butyricimonas and Lactobacillus . Metagenomic analysis revealed that pea intake led to increased lysine degradation genes, promoting SCFAs production. Each protein has its own unique characteristics that may contribute positively to gut health. Specifically, cricket protein intake appears to have beneficial effects, promoting the growth of potentially beneficial taxa and enhancing short-chain fatty acid production. The results of this study indicate that cricket protein does not exhibit any detrimental effects compared to pea and whey proteins.

The use of soybean meal in animal feed is crucial for nutrition but has a significant environmental impact, especially related to deforestation and biodiversity loss. With the increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices, it becomes essential to explore alternatives to soybean meal. This study evaluated the effect of a soy-free diet, replaced with fava beans and pea protein, on an Italian slow-growing chicken breed: the Bianca di Saluzzo. The results indicate that the experimental diet did not compromise the growth, final weight or intestinal health of the animals, demonstrating a good tolerance and adaptability of the breed to these alternative ingredients. Furthermore, the analysis of the intestinal microbiota showed a positive impact, with an increase in organic acids such as succinic and citric, which could improve intestinal health and metabolic efficiency. Some changes in liver enzyme levels were observed, such as the increase in glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, an enzyme involved in amino acid metabolism. This increase could indicate a higher efficiency in protein metabolism, suggesting that the diet based on alternative ingredients could support an improvement in liver metabolism. Although this aspect deserves further investigation, it could represent a positive effect of the diet on liver function and overall health of the animals. Further studies are needed to fully understand the long-term implications of these dietary modifications, particularly in relation to the gut microbiota and metabolism.

Humic substances (HS) are often used as feesd additives in livestock feeding. The long-term effects of different concentrations of HS additives in aquafeed on growth and production performance, antioxidant status, stress resistance, gut microbiome, overall health condition, final product yield, sensory properties of fresh and cooked meat, and composition of fatty acids of market size in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) originating from aquaculture were compared in this study. C. gariepinus were exposed to dietary inclusions of HS (0, 1, and 3, and 6% w/w) in a long-term experiment (six months in total) until fish reached market size. The growth parameters, condition factor, and selected somatic indices did not differ (p > 0.05) between the tested groups (HS0–HS6). Biochemical parameters were not different between the tested HS groups by the end of experiment, and only glucose (GLC) levels significantly increased (p < 0.05) with increasing concentrations of HS fed as an additive. The levels of cortisol (COR) and GLC did not differ between the tested groups (p > 0.05) after the stress challenge, but the results of GLC levels before and after the stress challenge showed an increasing tendency with increasing levels of HS addition in the diet. The levels of COR were slightly lower in groups HS3 and HS6 than in HS1 and the control group. In the case of protein and fat contents, differences between groups (HS0–HS6) were statistically insignificant. Significant differences were found, however, in water and ash content. In some cases, statistically significant differences were found in fatty acid profiles and in nutritional indices assessing fatty acids between samples. Sensory characteristics of fresh fillets did not differ between the tested groups HS0–HS6. The total content of polyphenols increased depending on the addition of humates. The main gut microbiota of samples analyzed (HS0–HS3 group) comprised the following three genera: Ralstonia, Pseudomonas and Cetobacterium; other genera were present in all samples at a low relative abundance: Staphylococcus, Bradyrhizobium, Bacillus, and Anaerobacillus. The relative abundance of Pseudomonas decreased while the presence of Cetobacterium increased in samples fed with 3% of HS. The results of our study yielded a comprehensive set of experimental results about African catfish fed with HS as additives. Although a significant effect of HS on overall performance of C. gariepinus was not proven, a positive effect on antioxidant status was seen as well as a decrease in gut microorganisms that can be present as pathogenic contaminants in aquatic environments.

Bakery products are a common medium for fungal growth due to their high-water activity and nutrients availability. The application of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from wheat bran or other cereals has shown great potential in controlling the growth of spoilage fungi, guarantee quality and prolong the shelf life of bakery products. This study outlines the antifungal, technological, functional and safety properties of autochthonous LAB microbiota isolated from type 0 soft wheat sourdough fermentation. Antifungal activity of 77 LAB belonging to Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lacticaseibacillus casei species isolated from spontaneous sourdough fermentation was tested in vitro against 16 spoilage fungi. Our findings demonstrated that the antifungal activity, enzymatic and safety properties of LAB isolates vary strain-dependently. Four LAB isolates (Lp. plantarum A16, A25, B11, and B15) showed the best traits, in particular strong antifungal activity and good capabilities to produce exopolysaccharides from different carbon sources in vitro. Care should be taken when using Lp. plantarum A310 and B18 and Lc. casei A23, as starter cultures, since these isolates exhibited a multiple antibiotic-resistance. Here we showed the promising potential of different LAB isolates as bio-preservative agents and to provide new insights regarding their prospective use as starter cultures to guarantee safety and palatability.Graphic abstract