Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) P. Kumm mushrooms are cultivated on diverse by-products based on substrates that hold promise for mitigating antibiotic usage in the poultry industry and reducing environmental pollution. By incorporating agricultural by-products into mushroom cultivation, the functionality of the mushroom products can be increased, then the final product can be a more effective feed supplement. After mushroom cultivation, spent mushroom substrate (SMS) can be valorized, due to the presence of huge amounts of bioactive compounds like β-glucan, chitin, polyphenols, and flavonoids related to mycelia. As a prebiotic and antimicrobial feed supplement, these mushrooms positively influence gut microbiota, intestinal morphology, and thus overall poultry well-being. This article underscores the potential of solid-state fermentation (SSF) to enhance the bioactivity of oyster mushrooms and their derivatives, offering a cost-effective and efficient strategy for transforming unconventional feeding materials. Moreover, it emphasizes broader implications, including the reduction of antibiotic dependence in poultry farming, highlighting the promising integration of oyster mushrooms and their derivatives for sustainable and environmentally conscious poultry production.

The small intestine is the longest part of the chicken (Gallus gallus) gastrointestinal system that is specialized for nutrient absorption. It is known that decrease in intestinal villi area or height in early age can cause a reduction in essential nutrient intake, which may lead to delayed growth and consequently poorer performance of broiler chickens. The small intestinal absorptive surface is known to be affected by various factors, among others things the nutritional state. In our experiment, we aimed to investigate the possible protein expression alterations that lie behind the villus area and height decrease caused by feed deprivation. A total of 24 chickens were divided into three groups, namely ad libitum fed, fasted for 24 h, fasted for 24 h then refed for 2 h. The morphometric parameters were also measured in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum tissue sections using image analysis. Differential proteome analyses from jejunum samples were performed using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis followed by tryptic digestion and protein identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Overall 541 protein spots were detected after 2D. Among them, eleven showed 1.5-fold or higher significant difference in expression and were successfully identified. In response to 24 h fasting, the expression of nine proteins was higher and that of two proteins was lower compared to the ad libitum fed group. The functions of the differentially expressed proteins indicate that the 24 h fasting mainly affects the expression of structural proteins, and proteins involved in lipid transport, general stress response, and intestinal defense.

Resources are needed for growth, reproduction and survival, and organisms must trade off limited resources among competing processes. Nutritional availability in organisms is sensed and monitored by nutrient-sensing pathways that can trigger physiological changes or alter gene expression. Previous studies have proposed that one such signalling pathway, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), underpins a form of adaptive plasticity when individuals encounter constraints in their energy budget. Despite the fundamental importance of this process in evolutionary biology, how nutritional limitation is regulated through the expression of genes governing this pathway and its consequential effects on fitness remain understudied, particularly in birds. We used dietary restriction to simulate resource depletion and examined its effects on body mass, reproduction and gene expression in Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). Quails were subjected to feeding at 20%, 30% and 40% restriction levels or ad libitum for 2 weeks. All restricted groups exhibited reduced body mass, whereas reductions in the number and mass of eggs were observed only under more severe restrictions. Additionally, dietary restriction led to decreased expression of mTOR and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), whereas the ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (RPS6K1) and autophagy-related genes (ATG9A and ATG5) were upregulated. The pattern in which mTOR responded to restriction was similar to that for body mass. Regardless of the treatment, proportionally higher reproductive investment was associated with individual variation in mTOR expression. These findings reveal the connection between dietary intake and the expression of mTOR and related genes in this pathway.

Methionine (Met) is an essential and first limiting amino acid in the poultry diet that plays a significant role in chicken embryonic development and growth. The present study examined the effect of in ovo injection of DL-Met and L-Met sources and genotypes on chicken embryonic-intestinal development and health. Fertilized eggs of the two genotypes, TETRA-SL layer hybrid (TSL) - commercial layer hybrid and Hungarian Partridge colored hen breed (HPC) - a native genotype, were randomly distributed into four treatments for each genotype. The treatment groups include the following: 1) control non-injected eggs (NoIn); 2) saline-injected (SaIn); 3) DL-Met injected (DLM); and 4) L-Met injected (LM). The in ovo injection was carried out on 17.5 d of embryonic development; after hatching, eight chicks per group were sacrificed, and the jejunum was extracted for analysis. The results showed that both DLM and LM groups had enhanced intestinal development as evidenced by increased villus width, villus height, and villus area (P < 0.05) compared to the control. The DLM group had significantly reduced crypt depth, glutathione content (GSH), glutathione S-transferase 3 alpha (GST3), occludin (OCLN) gene expression and increased villus height to crypt depth ratio in the TSL genotype than the LM group (P < 0.05). The HPC genotype has overexpressed insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene, tricellulin (MD2), occludin (OCLN), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and GST3 genes than the TSL genotype (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these findings showed that in ovo injection of Met enhanced intestinal development, and function, with genotypes responding differently under normal conditions. Genotypes also influenced the expression of intestinal antioxidants, tight junction, and growth-related genes.

Antibiotic resistance remains a pressing global health concern, necessitating the development of sustainable and innovative antimicrobial strategies. Plant-based nanomaterials, particularly those synthesized from agricultural byproducts, such as mango seeds, tomato skins, and orange peels, have emerged as promising candidates due to their potent antimicrobial activity and reduced likelihood of resistance development. These nanomaterials exert their effects through diverse mechanisms, including the generation of reactive oxygen species, the disruption of microbial membranes, and interference with critical cellular functions, such as DNA replication. Beyond their antimicrobial properties, recent studies have demonstrated their ability to modulate gut microbiota composition—promoting beneficial genera such as, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, while inhibiting pathogenic species like Staphylococcus spp. This dual functionality positions them as attractive agents for prebiotic interventions and targeted dietary strategies. The convergence of plant-derived nanotechnology and personalized nutrition, guided by individual microbiota profiles, offers a novel paradigm for enhancing host health and preventing infection-related disorders. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the sustainable production of nanomaterials from agricultural and food industry waste, their antimicrobial and prebiotic applications, and their potential in regulating gut microbiota. Furthermore, we discuss emerging nanoenabled strategies to combat infectious diseases and highlight future directions for mechanistic studies, safety assessments, and clinical translation in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and functional food contexts.

Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) holds excellent promise worldwide, bringing several opportunities and augmenting the tool sets used in the biotechnology field, the food industry, and medicine. Our study explores the antimicrobial and probiotic growth stimulation benefits of freeze-dried P. ostreatus powders (OMP-TF, oyster mushroom powder from the total fresh sample; OMP-CSR, oyster mushroom powder from the cooked solid residue; OMP-CL, oyster mushroom powder from the cooked liquid), focusing on their bioactive compounds and associated activities. Our research examined polysaccharide fractions—specifically total glucans and α- and β-glucans—alongside secondary metabolites, including polyphenols and flavonoids, from freeze-dried mushroom powders. Additionally, carbon nanodots (CNDs) were also characterized. The growth inhibition was tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis, while the capacity for stimulating probiotic growth was evaluated using Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei. Evidence indicates that OMP-CL and OMP-CSR exhibit significant antimicrobial properties against S. epidermidis Gram-positive bacteria. OMP-CL notably promoted the growth of L. casei. OMP-CL, containing the most significant number of CNDs, has shown to be a valuable source for gut microbiota modulation, with its antimicrobial and probiotic-stimulating efficacy. However, further in vitro and in vivo studies should be performed to explore CNDs and their behavior in different biological systems.