Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) is a major foodborne pathogen with a significant public health impact. Meanwhile, Probiotics have recently gained attention for their safe and effective role in managing gastrointestinal disorders. This study evaluated the effects of a probiotic mixture (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum) on gut immunity and dysbiosis in mice infected with S. typhimurium. Mice were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 3 per group): (1) Healthy control (CNG); (2) Infected control (CPG); (3) Probiotics only (LAPG); (4) Probiotics + infected (LAPST). Probiotics-treated mice showed improved clinical outcomes and reduced fecal Salmonella load (p Lactobacillus murinus, Streptococcus, Candidatus Arthromitus) associated with gut homeostasis, bacteriocin production, metabolism, immunity, and intestinal barrier integrity. Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that probiotic supplementation downregulated pro-inflammatory and upregulated the anti-inflammatory cytokines (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, it modulated genes involved in apoptosis, tight junctions, and oxidative stress. These findings provide mechanistic insight and may have translational relevance for managing Salmonella-induced gut disorders in livestock.
Junaid et al. (Wed,) studied this question.