Evaluation and selection of highly antagonistic Bacillus strains for the development of probiotic formulations
Abstract
The relevance of this article is driven by the global challenge of identifying and developing alternative biolog i cal preparations to antibiotics – formulations that are affordable, effective, and natural – for maintaining a stable epizootic situation in poultry farming and reducing epidemic risks to humans within the framework of the “One Health” strategy. Accordingly, the materials presented in this study aim to identify, through in vitro screening, B a cillus strains isolated from quails that exhibit ed very high levels of antagonistic activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive indicator test cultures: Ps eudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442, E scherichia coli ATCC 25922, S almonella typhimurium ATCC 29630, and S taphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538. To address this objective, two complementary research methods were employed: the indirect perpendicular streak method and the quantitative delayed antagonism method, applied to experimental strains of B acillus subtilis , B . licheniformis , and B. amylol i quefaciens against the test cultures. Based on the results, 9 strains (7.3% of the 123 Bacillus isolates studied) de m onstrated very high antagonistic activity simultaneously against all indicator test cultures. These included 4 strains (3.3%) of B. subtilis , 4 strains (3.3%) of B. licheniformis , and 1 strain (0.8%) of B. amyloliquefaciens . These 9 Bacillus strains were recognized as promising and selected for further research aimed at developing a synbiotic formulation for quails. The findings of this study have practical value, as the development and application of Baci l lus -based synbiotics – administered as feed additives or via environmental spraying – represent a promising strategy for maintaining a stable epizootic status in poultry farms, improving the sanitary conditions of poultry housing, enhancing intestinal barrier function and immune responsiveness in birds, and enabling a complete transition away from antibiotic use in poultry production.References
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