Dynamics of tryptophan metabolites and microbial adaptations during corn by-product fermentation in the pig gut microbiome
Corn germ meal supplementation reshapes gut microbial communities, enhances metabolic activity, and promotes the generation of bioactive tryptophan metabolites with potential immunomodulatory effects. These findings highlight the value of corn by-products as dietary fibres that can drive beneficial microbial cross-feeding and influence host intestinal homeostasis. Although demonstrated in an ex vivo setting, this study provides a mechanistic basis and preclinical evidence for future in vivo studies, supporting the sustainable utilisation of food industry by-products to improve gut health and resource efficiency in livestock production.
Authors
- Yoshihiro Muneta
- Keita Nishiyama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6483-0669)
- Masataka Watanabe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8841-3915)
- Itsuko Fukuda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5969-4295)
- Eri Nishiyama (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1158-0456)
- Masamitsu Maekawa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6723-0298)
- Wakako Ikeda‐Ohtsubo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8489-1936)
- Nariyasu Mano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1679-9024)
- Ryuta Tobe
- Toma Kashima (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3372-0827)
- A Yoshida
- Hirohide Uenishi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3899-9580)
- Kenji Yamane (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0255-0842)
- Afifah Zahra Agista
- Hiroki Shinkai
- Eita Toyoshi
- Kasumi Suzuki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7917-7842)
- Taiga Sakuma
- Yuji Imai
- Gou YOSHIOKA
- Sae Tsuchida
- Fu Namai
- Haruki Kitazawa
- Hitoshi Shirakawa
Institutions
- National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (JP)
- Tohoku University (JP)
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (JP)
- Tohoku University Hospital (JP)
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology (DE)
- Okayama Prefecture (JP)
- Nihon Nohyaku (Japan) (JP)
- Gifu Prefectural Research Institute for Forests (JP)
- Kobe University (JP)
- The University of Tokyo (JP)
- Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology/Journal of animal science and biotechnology
- Published
- 2026-02-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-026-01364-4
- Primary Topic
- Gut microbiota and health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Japan Racing Association
- University of Tokyo
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science