Effects of patulin on quail muscle cells and the potential for microbiome-mediated recovery

Mycotoxins pose a significant threat to livestock health and productivity by compromising immunity and inducing various toxicities. This study investigated the potential of specific Bacillus strains to mitigate mycotoxin-induced muscle damage in poultry cells. We treated quail muscle clone 7 (QM7) muscle cells with patulin, a common mycotoxin, to induce cellular injury. Subsequently, the damaged QM7 cells were treated with the candidate microbial strains, B. subtilis and B. velezensis. Our findings revealed that patulin treatment elevated stress-inducible gene expression and apoptosis markers, concurrently disrupting normal myoblast differentiation, as evidenced by altered expression patterns of Paired Box 7 (PAX7) and Myogenic Differentiation 1 (MyoD) and impaired myotube formation. Notably, treatment with the Bacillus strains significantly reduced these negative effects, reducing stress and apoptosis indicators while promoting a different pattern of myotube development. Although the exact mechanism of muscle recovery warrants further functional assessment, our results highlight the potential of B. subtilis and B. velezensis as agents for mitigating mycotoxin-induced damage in poultry, and offer novel strategies for enhancing animal health and agricultural sustainability.