Impact and Applications of Probiotics, Prebiotics and Postbiotics in Animal Feed

Dear Colleagues,

The intestinal microbiota is a large and diverse community of microorganisms which inhabits the intestinal tract of the host, consisting of more than a thousand species of bacteria, as well as fungi, viruses, archaea, and protozoa. It is well known that the intestinal microbiota plays a key role in host health by developing the immune system, improving the digestion and absorption of nutrients, mitigating the growth of pathogenic flora, and increasing intestinal barrier integrity. The beneficial effects of the interactions between the microbiota and the gastrointestinal tract can be observed not only locally, but also in other organs (liver, kidney, lung, skin, brain, and so on) due to the systemic distribution of substances and cells produced in the intestine. Because of their roles in maintaining host health, intestinal microorganisms can be categorized into beneficial, harmful, and neutral bacteria. As gut microbial dysbiosis is associated with various diseases and growth retardation in animals, the modulation of the gut microbiota via the application of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics in feed has become a hot topic. Probiotics are “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer health benefits to the host” (FAO/WHO 2002). Probiotics (known as direct-fed, beneficial, and friendly microbes) widely used in feed are Gram-positive bacteria belonging to the following genera: Bacillus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Streptococcus. Additionally, some fungi and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces species) are also recognized as probiotics. A prebiotic is “a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit”, which is defined by the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP). Prebiotics most commonly used in feed include oligofructose (FOS), gluco-oligosaccharides (GOS), inulin, isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO), xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), lacticol, lactulose, and cereal fiber. The concept of postbiotics is based on the observation that beneficial effects on the microbiota are mediated by the secretion of various metabolites. According to Tsilingiri et al., postbiotics include any substance released by or produced through the metabolic activity of the microorganism, which directly or indirectly exerts a beneficial effect on the host. Postbiotics have beneficial effects on health through similar mechanisms to probiotics, while they do not appear to cause serious side effects like prebiotics. The supplementation of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics in feed could improve animal health and performance through the modulation of gut health and nutrient use. They also exert beneficial effects on the host due to their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic properties.

For this Special Issue of Microorganisms, entitled “Impact and Applications of Probiotics (Beneficial, Friendly, and Direct-Fed Microbes), Prebiotics, and Postbiotics in Animal Feed”, we invite you to submit your contributions concerning any aspects related to the use of probiotics (beneficial, friendly, and direct-fed microbes), prebiotics, and postbiotics as feed additives and their effects on the growth performance and health of farming and companion animals.

Prof. Dr. Weifen Li
Prof. Dr. Min Yue
Guest Editors

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• probiotics (beneficial microbes, friendly microbes, a direct-fed microbial)
• prebiotics
• postbiotics
• animals (pig, chicken, duck, sheep, cattle, pet, etc.)
• the intestinal microbiota
• microbial interactions
• gut health
• mechanisms of probiotics
• mechanisms of prebiotics
• mechanisms of postbiotics