Reggi Serena, Frazzini Sara, Torresani Maria Claudia, Guagliano Marianna, Cristiani Cinzia, Pilu Salvatore Roberto, Ghidoli Martina, Rossi Luciana
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences-DIVAS, University of Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Biotecnologie BT srl, PTP, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Nov 28;14(23):3440. doi: 10.3390/ani14233440.
Biochar has gained interest as a feed ingredient in livestock nutrition due to its functional properties, circularity, potential to reduce environmental impact, and alignment with sustainable agro-zootechnical practices. The in vivo effects of biochar are closely tied to its physical characteristics, which vary depending on the biomass used as feedstock and the production process. This variability can result in heterogeneity among biochar types used in animal nutrition, leading to inconsistent outcomes. The aim of this study was to characterize the metabolomic and functional properties of an aqueous biochar extract from vine pruning waste, in order to predict its potential in vivo effects as a functional feed ingredient. A metabolomic analysis of the biochar extracts was conducted using quadrupole time-f-light (QQTOF) high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC MS/MS). Antimicrobial activity against F18+ and F4+ was assessed using standard growth inhibition assays, while quorum sensing in exposed to biochar extracts was evaluated using real-time PCR. Prebiotic activity was assessed by exposing selected strains to the biochar extract, monitoring growth patterns to determine species-specific responses. The metabolomic profile revealed several distinct molecular classes, including multiple peaks for phenolic compounds. The extract significantly inhibited the growth of both pathotypes, reducing growth by 29% and 16% for the F4+ and F18+, respectively ( < 0.001). The relative expression of the genes involved in quorum sensing (MotA, FliA for biofilm formation, and FtsE, HflX for cell division) indicated that the observed inhibitory effects likely resulted from interference with flagellar synthesis, motility, and reduced cell division. The biochar extract also showed species-specific prebiotic potential. In conclusion, biochar derived from vine pruning waste represents a valuable feed ingredient with functional properties that may help to reduce antibiotic use in livestock production.
由于生物炭的功能特性、循环利用性、降低环境影响的潜力以及与可持续农业畜牧实践的契合度，它已成为家畜营养领域中备受关注的饲料成分。生物炭的体内效应与其物理特性密切相关，而物理特性会因用作原料的生物质和生产工艺的不同而有所差异。这种变异性可能导致动物营养中使用的生物炭类型存在异质性，从而产生不一致的结果。本研究的目的是表征葡萄藤修剪废弃物水性生物炭提取物的代谢组学和功能特性，以预测其作为功能性饲料成分的潜在体内效应。使用四极杆飞行时间（QQTOF）高效液相色谱串联质谱（HPLC MS/MS）对生物炭提取物进行了代谢组学分析。使用标准生长抑制试验评估了对F18+和F4+的抗菌活性，同时使用实时PCR评估了暴露于生物炭提取物中的群体感应。通过将选定的菌株暴露于生物炭提取物中，监测生长模式以确定物种特异性反应，从而评估益生元活性。代谢组学图谱揭示了几个不同的分子类别，包括酚类化合物的多个峰。该提取物显著抑制了两种致病型的生长，F4+和F18+的生长分别降低了29%和16%（P<0.001）。参与群体感应的基因（用于生物膜形成的MotA、FliA，以及用于细胞分裂的FtsE、HflX）的相对表达表明，观察到的抑制作用可能是由于对鞭毛合成、运动性的干扰以及细胞分裂减少所致。生物炭提取物还显示出物种特异性的益生元潜力。总之，源自葡萄藤修剪废弃物的生物炭是一种具有功能特性的宝贵饲料成分，可能有助于减少家畜生产中抗生素的使用。
