Microbiomic and Metabolomic Insights into the Mechanisms of Alfalfa Polysaccharides and Seaweed Polysaccharides in Alleviating Diarrhea in Pre-Weaning Holstein Calves

Overview

Journal Animals (Basel)

Date 2025 Feb 26

PMID 40002967

Authors

Jianan Zhao

Haoliang Tian

Xiaohui Kong

Danqi Dang

Kaizhen Liu

Chuanyou Su

Hongxia Lian

Tengyun Gao

Tong Fu

Liyang Zhang

Wenqing Li

Wei Zhang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Neonatal calves' diarrhea, which can be severe enough to cause death, has a significant impact on the global cattle industry. In this study, alfalfa polysaccharides and seaweed polysaccharides were found to significantly improve the diarrhea condition in neonatal calves. To explore the underlying mechanisms, further microbiomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted. This study investigated the impact of alfalfa polysaccharides and seaweed polysaccharides on growth performance, serum metabolites, gut microbiota, and metabolomics in neonatal Holstein calves. A total of 24 newborn calves were randomly assigned to three groups, with 8 calves per treatment group. The control (CON) group was fed a basal diet, the alfalfa polysaccharide (AP) group received a basal diet supplemented with alfalfa polysaccharides (4 g/calf/day), and the seaweed polysaccharide group (SP) received a basal diet supplemented with seaweed polysaccharides (4 g/calf/day). These polysaccharides were plant extracts. Compared to the CON group, the results indicated that SP significantly enhanced the body weight, height, chest circumference, and average daily gain of Holstein calves ( < 0.05), while also reducing the diarrhea rate and improving manure scoring ( < 0.05). Compared to the CON, AP also reduced the diarrhea rate ( < 0.05). In terms of serum biochemistry, supplementation with AP and SP increased serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels compared to the CON group ( < 0.05). Both AP and SP elevated serum catalase (CAT) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (T-AOC) levels, indicating enhanced antioxidant status ( < 0.05). Regarding immune responses, supplementation with AP and SP significantly increased serum complement component 3 (C3) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels, while significantly reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-18 (IL-18), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) compared to the CON group ( < 0.05). Microbiota analysis revealed that AP modulated the abundance of , while SP influenced the abundance of and . AP and SP differentially influenced intestinal metabolites compared to the CON group, leading to enrichment in pathways related to immunity, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory functions. These pathways included the biosynthesis of alkaloids from ornithine, lysine, and nicotinic acid, glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor canothersis/antagonists, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and alkaloid biosynthesis from histidine and purine, thus alleviating intestinal inflammation. Therefore, by supplementing with AP and SP, the diarrhea rate in calves was reduced, and the immune function of Holstein calves was enhanced, while simultaneously promoting a higher relative abundance of beneficial gut bacteria and suppressing the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, gut pathways associated with immune response and inflammation were modulated by AP and SP. This study provided valuable insights and theoretical underpinnings for the use of AP and SP in preventing diarrhea in neonatal calves.

References

Wu M, Aquino L, Barbaza M, Hsieh C, De Castro-Cruz K, Yang L . Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Bioactive Compounds from L.-A Review. Molecules. 2019; 24(24). PMC: 6943436. DOI: 10.3390/molecules24244426. View

Lee H, Kim Y, Park H . Pectic polysaccharides: Targeting gut microbiota in obesity and intestinal health. Carbohydr Polym. 2022; 287:119363. DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119363. View

Wang Y, Wang Y, Liu X, Zhou J, Deng H, Zhang G . WGCNA Analysis Identifies the Hub Genes Related to Heat Stress in Seedling of Rice ( L.). Genes (Basel). 2022; 13(6). PMC: 9222641. DOI: 10.3390/genes13061020. View

Fan X, Hu H, Chen D, Yu B, He J, Yu J . Lentinan administration alleviates diarrhea of rotavirus-infected weaned pigs via regulating intestinal immunity. J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2021; 12(1):43. PMC: 7945689. DOI: 10.1186/s40104-021-00562-6. View

Du Y, Gao Y, Hu M, Hou J, Yang L, Wang X . Colonization and development of the gut microbiome in calves. J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2023; 14(1):46. PMC: 10082981. DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00856-x. View

Ma L, Zhu Y, Zhu La A, Lourenco J, Callaway T, Bu D . Schizochytrium sp. and lactoferrin supplementation alleviates Escherichia coli K99-induced diarrhea in preweaning dairy calves. J Dairy Sci. 2023; 107(3):1603-1619. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23466. View

Moldvai I, Temesvari-Major E, Incze M, Szentirmay E, Gacs-Baitz E, Szantay C . Enantioefficient synthesis of alpha-ergocryptine: first direct synthesis of (+)-lysergic acid. J Org Chem. 2004; 69(18):5993-6000. DOI: 10.1021/jo049209b. View

He K, Yan W, Sun C, Liu J, Bai R, Wang T . Alterations in the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in weaned piglets infected with Balantioides coli. Vet Parasitol. 2020; 288:109298. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109298. View

Yang J, Chen S, Wu Y, Liao Y, Yen G . Ameliorative effect of buckwheat polysaccharides on colitis via regulation of the gut microbiota. Int J Biol Macromol. 2022; 227:872-883. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.12.155. View

10.

Zhang C, Li Z, Zhang C, Li M, Lee Y, Zhang G . Extract Methods, Molecular Characteristics, and Bioactivities of Polysaccharide from Alfalfa ( L.). Nutrients. 2019; 11(5). PMC: 6567097. DOI: 10.3390/nu11051181. View

11.

Precup G, Vodnar D . Gut as a possible biomarker of diet and its eubiotic versus dysbiotic roles: a comprehensive literature review. Br J Nutr. 2019; 122(2):131-140. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114519000680. View

12.

Firrincieli A, Minuti A, Cappelletti M, Ferilli M, Ajmone-Marsan P, Bani P . Structural and functional analysis of the active cow rumen's microbial community provides a catalogue of genes and microbes participating in the deconstruction of cardoon biomass. Biotechnol Biofuels Bioprod. 2024; 17(1):53. PMC: 11003169. DOI: 10.1186/s13068-024-02495-4. View

13.

Liu X, Xi X, Jia A, Zhang M, Cui T, Bai X . A fucoidan from Sargassum fusiforme with novel structure and its regulatory effects on intestinal microbiota in high-fat diet-fed mice. Food Chem. 2021; 358:129908. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129908. View

14.

Werner H . The IGF1 Signaling Pathway: From Basic Concepts to Therapeutic Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci. 2023; 24(19). PMC: 10573540. DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914882. View

15.

Herr N, Bode C, Duerschmied D . The Effects of Serotonin in Immune Cells. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2017; 4:48. PMC: 5517399. DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2017.00048. View

16.

Clemente J, Ursell L, Parfrey L, Knight R . The impact of the gut microbiota on human health: an integrative view. Cell. 2012; 148(6):1258-70. PMC: 5050011. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.01.035. View

17.

Radjabzadeh D, Bosch J, Uitterlinden A, Zwinderman A, Ikram M, van Meurs J . Gut microbiome-wide association study of depressive symptoms. Nat Commun. 2022; 13(1):7128. PMC: 9726982. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34502-3. View

18.

Zhang J, Yang G, Wen Y, Liu S, Li C, Yang R . Intestinal microbiota are involved in the immunomodulatory activities of longan polysaccharide. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2017; 61(11). DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201700466. View

19.

Feng W, Liu J, Tan Y, Ao H, Wang J, Peng C . Polysaccharides from Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. Ameliorate ulcerative colitis via extensive modification of gut microbiota and host metabolism. Food Res Int. 2020; 138(Pt B):109777. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109777. View

20.

Zhang W, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Li L, Zhang Z, Hettinga K . A Comprehensive Review on Dietary Polysaccharides as Prebiotics, Synbiotics, and Postbiotics in Infant Formula and Their Influences on Gut Microbiota. Nutrients. 2024; 16(23). PMC: 11643758. DOI: 10.3390/nu16234122. View