Chuwatthanakhajorn, Schwann, Wedley, Amy 
ORCID: 0000-0002-4164-545X, Watts, Amyleigh, Slater, Rachael, Green, Kraig, Probert, Chris ORCID: 0000-0003-0477-6714, Wiriyarat, Witthawat, Wigley, Paul and Campbell, Barry J ORCID: 0000-0002-7407-012X
(2026)
Lactobacilli Isolated from the Caecum of Healthy Broilers with Antimicrobial Activity are Probiotic Candidates for Controlling Salmonella
PROBIOTICS AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROTEINS, 18 (6).
pp. 7723-7743.
ISSN 1867-1306, 1867-1314
Abstract
With the trend shifting towards reducing antibiotic usage, the utilization of lactobacilli as a probiotic is emerging as an alternative, effective method for mitigating Salmonella infection in the poultry industry. Here, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of cell-free culture supernatants (CFCS) of three lactobacilli (Lactobacillus (Lact.) johnsonii, Lact. reuteri and Lact. crispatus) isolated from caecal microbiota from mature, healthy broiler chickens, against five Salmonella enterica serovars (Salm. Typhimurium 4/74, Salm. Enteritidis P125109, Salm. Enteritidis AviPro®, Salm. Gallinarum 9 and Salm. Gallinarum 287/91). Lactobacilli CFCS demonstrated potent bactericidal activity against all Salmonella serovars although the degree of inhibition varied amongst the three strains, where MIC ranged from 8.98 to 18.58 mg/mL, and MBC from 12.62 to 25.54 mg/mL. In support, co-culture assays confirmed all serovars as being completely inhibited by lactobacilli CFCS within 3–6 h. In agar well diffusion assays, Lact. crispatus demonstrated highest inhibitory activity, with Salm. Gallinarum showed highest susceptibility. Lactobacilli CFCS significantly suppressed Salmonella invasion of caecal enterocytes and proinflammatory cytokine release from macrophages. Molecular characterisation of inhibitory moieties within lactobacilli CFCS established they were ≤ 3 kDa, pH dependant, heat tolerant and resistant to proteases. Head-space solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry identified volatile organic short- and medium-chain fatty acids, aldehydes, alcohols, ketones and pyrazines as candidate anti-Salmonella post-biotics generated by lactobacilli. In conclusion, lactobacilli isolated from the caecal microbiota of healthy broiler chickens exhibit excellent potential as probiotic candidates to control salmonellosis in poultry and warrant testing in flock intervention studies.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Antimicrobial metabolites, Lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus, Salmonella, Volatile organic compounds |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology (T&R Staff) Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences > Clinical Infection, Microbiology & Immunology Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > Molecular & Clinical Cancer Medicine Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences (T&R Staff) Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences > Infection Biology & Microbiomes |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Mar 2026 08:21 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Sep 2026 11:30 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s12602-026-10980-5 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-026-10980-5 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3197669 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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