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Winning the battle of intestinal peace with Bacillus—a multifaceted approach to animal health, immunity, and future applications in monogastric livestock production

Summary

This review examines how Bacillus bacteria, when added to animal feed, can improve the health and growth of chickens and pigs. These bacteria work by producing beneficial compounds that strengthen the gut, improve digestion, reduce harmful bacteria, and boost the immune system. Bacillus probiotics offer a natural alternative to antibiotics, helping reduce antibiotic resistance while keeping animals healthier and more productive.

Background

Bacillus-based probiotics are spore-forming bacteria that offer stability advantages over non-spore-forming probiotics in animal feed production. They have emerged as promising alternatives to antibiotics for improving animal health, growth performance, and welfare in poultry and swine industries. The mechanisms of action involve modulation of gut microbiota, immune function, and nutrient absorption.

Objective

This review examines the application of Bacillus-based probiotics in monogastric livestock production, with emphasis on their potential to enhance animal health and performance through multiple mechanisms. The review synthesizes current understanding of Bacillus modes of action in pigs and poultry and discusses their contribution to sustainable development goals.

Results

Bacillus probiotics demonstrate multifaceted beneficial effects including improved growth performance and feed conversion ratios, enhanced intestinal morphology and barrier function, modulation of gut microbiota composition, strengthened immune responses, and reduced pathogen colonization. These effects occur through production of bioactive molecules including enzymes, antimicrobial peptides, vitamins, and exopolysaccharides, with strain-specific variability noted across studies.

Conclusion

Bacillus-based probiotics represent promising, sustainable alternatives to antibiotics in monogastric livestock production with significant potential for improving animal health and performance. Further research is needed to standardize probiotic effects, identify reliable biomarkers for efficacy evaluation, and optimize their use within the context of animal production and health.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: PMID: 41472814, DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1711747
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