AUTHOR=Liu Nian , Ma Xiaokang , Jiang Xianren 

TITLE=Effects of Immobilized Antimicrobial Peptides on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Index, Inflammatory Factors, Intestinal Morphology, and Microbial Community in Weaning Pigs

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.872990

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.872990

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of immobilized antimicrobial peptides on growth performance, serum biochemical index, inflammatory factors, intestinal morphology and microbial community of weaning piglets. A total of 21 weaning piglets [Duroc ×(Landrace ×Yorkshire)] with initial body weight (7.64 ± 0.65 kg) were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatments with 7 replicates (1 pig per replicate) per treatment according to sex and weight in randomized complete block design. Pigs in the three treatments were fed corn-soybean meal based diet (CON), corn-soybean meal based diet + flavomycin (25 mg/kg) + quinone (50 mg/kg) (AB), and corn-soybean meal based diet + 1000mg/kg immobilized antimicrobial peptides (IAMPs), respectively. The experiment lasted for 28 days, including early stage (0-14 days) and late stage (15-28 days). The results showed that: (1) Compared with the CON group, the average daily gain in the whole experimental time (P < 0.05) was significantly increased and the diarrhea rate of weaning piglets was decreased (P < 0.01) in IAMPs group. (2) Compared with the CON group, the concentrations of serum IgM and SOD in IAMPs group were significantly higher than the CON and AB groups (P < 0.01). (3) Compared with CON group, the concentrations of serum IL-10 and TGF-β were significantly increased (P < 0.05) and the concentration of IL-12 was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the IAMPs group. (4) Compared with CON group, the concentrations of serum endotoxin and D-lactate of piglets were significantly reduced (P < 0.05), and the relative expression of ZO-1 and Occludin in jejunum of piglets were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the IAMPs group. (5) Compared with CON group, villus height of duodenum and jejunum of weaning piglets in IAMPs and AB groups was significantly increased (P < 0.05). (6) Compared with CON group, the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella in colon and cecal digesta was decreased. In summary, the addition of 1000mg/kg immobilized antimicrobial peptides in the diet effectively relieved weaning stress by showing improved growth performance, antioxidant and immune capacity, intestinal morphology and microorganisms.