Bacillus subtilis spores germinate in the chicken gastrointestinal tract.
A number of poultry probiotics contain bacterial spores. In this study, orally administered spores of Bacillus subtilis germinated in the gastrointestinal (GI) tracts of chicks. Furthermore, 20 h after spores were administered, vegetative cells outnumbered spores throughout the GI tract. This demonstrates that spore-based probiotics may function in this host through metabolically active mechanisms.
Cartman
Stephen T
ST
Department of Food and Environmental Safety, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, United Kingdom. stephen.cartman@nottingham.ac.uk
La Ragione
Roberto M
RM
Woodward
Martin J
MJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D002645:Chickens; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005516:Food Microbiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D019936:Probiotics; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D013997:Time Factors
D012329:RNA, Bacterial