Dietary Pediocin Supplementation Restores Intestinal Barrier Function and Microbiota Balance in Salmonella-Infected Specific-Pathogen-Free Chickens

In this study, the effects of pediocin (PP) on intestinal barrier function, renal injury, and immune regulation were evaluated in <i>Salmonella pullorum</i>-infected chickens. Forty-five 7-day-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were randomly assigned to three groups: control (CON), <i>S. pullorum</i> infection (SP), and <i>S. pullorum</i> infection + PP treatment (SPA). The results showed that <i>S. pullorum</i> infection significantly elevated (<i>p</i> < 0.05) the renal (CREA, UREA), hepatic (ALT, AST), immunological (IgG, IgM), and inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-6, SAA, CRP) parameters, as well as the expression of <i>trefoil factor 3</i>, <i>Toll-like receptor 2</i>, <i>TNF-α</i>, <i>IL-1β</i>, and <i>IL-6</i>. In contrast, the jejunal villus height and the villus-to-crypt ratio, and the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins (<i>occludin</i>, <i>claudin-1</i>, and <i>Zonula occludens-1</i>), <i>mucin-2</i>, and <i>transforming growth factor-β1</i> were significantly decreased in both the SP and SPA groups. In the SP group, the parameter alterations observed at 6 DPI compared to the CON group persisted until 12 DPI. In contrast, in the SPA group, these parameters returned to levels comparable to those of the CON group after 6 days of PP treatment. Moreover, <i>S. pullorum</i> infection markedly reduced the α-diversity of the gut microbiota, and this reduction could be partially restored following PP treatment. At the phylum level, <i>S. pullorum</i> infection significantly reduced the relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. PP treatment increased the abundances of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, while also restoring the abundances of Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia to some extent. At the genus level, PP treatment significantly increased the abundance of <i>Faecalibacterium</i> and <i>Lactobacillus</i>. Additionally, <i>Faecalibacterium</i> and <i>Butyricicoccus</i> were significantly more abundant in the SPA group. Thus, PP could alleviate <i>S. pullorum</i> infection induced intestinal barrier damage, reduce immune stress responses, and exert a protective effect by modulating the composition of the intestinal microbiota of chickens.