Need for speed Although rapid germination just after ingestion in the stomach may initially appear to offer a competitive advantage, it’s not that clear cut. On one hand, the nutrient rich and low microbial pressure of the small intestine is a good growth environment for germinated cells. But on the other, the presence of gastric juices and bile make this pathway far from ideal for the highly susceptible germinated cells. So rather than focusing on speed, other key factors such as strain specificity and the conditions applied during the sporulation process prior to ingestion are likely to have a greater impact on germination activity.


Does quantity matter? Despite there being a huge variety of dosage among commercial probiotic spore-formers, comparing them on this basis is not viable. Probiotic properties are strain-specific or strain-dependent, so it’s wrong to assume that the more colony-forming-units (CFUS) ingested, the better the animal’s performance. Rather, it is the responsibility of suppliers to set the optimal inclusion dose for their product, and this should be based on the results of rigorous in vivo studies. In addition, using a multi-strain probiotic – such as Enviva PRO – does offer advantages as it combines strain specificities and delivers complimentary benefits.


What about lifecycle? Several methods exist for tracking Bacillus germination in the gut, but they lack precision and accuracy. This means that any


data should be approached with a clear understanding of its limitations (see box). It’s also worth bearing in mind that for producers, the ultimate test of a probiotic is whether it benefits animal health and performance, creating that favourable nutribiotic state.


Figure 1 - (Non-)specific beneficial mechanisms of Bacillus attributable to viable vegetative cells and spores in the gut.


Supporting mechanisms


EXPECTED BENEFITS


ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY


AID IN NUTRITION DIGESTION


Bacillus spores


LTAs Proteinaceous coat


DETOXIFICATION ADSORPTION


COMPETITIVE FOR ECOLOGICAL


NICHES BY ADHESION


COMPETITION FOR NUTRIENTS


Spores do have probiotic value


High resilience in macrophages


DPAs coat composition IMMUNE


MODULATION SURVIVAL


Cell growth Activation of TLRs


Supporting mechanisms


Bacteriocins


Bacteriocins-like substances Antibiotics


Enzymes LTAs Bacillus vegetative cells


J Food Sci Technology (July 2017) 54(8):2570–2584


▶ ANTIBIOTIC REDUCTION | DECEMBER 2021


77


PHOTO: DANISCO ANIMAL NUTRITION (IFF)


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