Colonization of Germ-Free Piglets with Mucinolytic and Non-Mucinolytic <i>Bifidobacterium boum</i> Strains Isolated from the Intestine of Wild Boar and Their Interference with <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium

• Main Authors: Alla Splichalova, Radko Pechar, Jiri Killer, Zdislava Splichalova, Vera Neuzil Bunesova, Eva Vlkova, Hana Subrtova Salmonova, Igor Splichal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
• Series: Microorganisms
• Subjects: <i>Bifidobacterium boum</i>; <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium; goblet cells; mucin; mucinolytic; germ-free
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/12/2002

Non-typhoidal <i>Salmonella</i> serovars are worldwide spread foodborne pathogens that cause diarrhea in humans and animals. Colonization of gnotobiotic piglet intestine with porcine indigenous mucinolytic <i>Bifidobacterium boum</i> RP36 strain and non-mucinolytic strain RP37 and their interference with <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium infection were compared. Bacterial interferences and impact on the host were evaluated by clinical signs of salmonellosis, bacterial translocation, goblet cell count, mRNA expression of mucin 2, villin, claudin-1, claudin-2, and occludin in the ileum and colon, and plasmatic levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-10. Both bifidobacterial strains colonized the intestine comparably. Neither RP36 nor RP37 <i>B. boum</i> strains effectively suppressed signs of salmonellosis. Both <i>B. boum</i> strains suppressed the growth of <i>S</i>. Typhimurium in the ileum and colon. The mucinolytic RP36 strain increased the translocation of <i>S</i>. Typhimurium into the blood, liver, and spleen.