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Developing an oral in situ-forming hydrogel that targets the inflamed intestine to suppress bleeding ulcers and alleviate intestinal inflammation is crucial for effectively treating ulcerative colitis (UC). Here, inspired by sandcastle worm adhesives, we proposed a water-immiscible coacervate (EMNs-gel) with a programmed coacervate-to-hydrogel transition at inflammatory sites composed of dopa-rich silk fibroin matrix containing embedded inflammation-responsive core-shell nanoparticles. Driven by intestinal peristalsis, the EMNs-gel can be actuated forward and immediately transform into a hydrogel once contacting with the inflamed intestine to yield strong tissue adhesion, resulting from matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-triggered release of Fe3+ from embedded nanoparticles and rearrangement of polymer network of EMNs-gel on inflamed intestine surfaces. Extensive in vitro experiments and in vivo UC models confirmed the preferential hydrogelation behavior of EMNs-gel to inflamed intestine surfaces, achieving highly effective hemostasis, and displaying an extended residence time (> 48 h). This innovative EMNs-gel provides a non-invasive solution that accurately suppresses severe bleeding and improves intestinal homeostasis in UC, showcasing great potential for clinical applications.

Dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS)-based diets are nutritious and can improve the inflammations and intestinal immunity in livestock. However, there is limited research examining the effect of feeding DDGS-based diets on changes in intestinal metabolites and related pathways in livestock. In this study, six Guanling crossbred cattle (Guizhou Guanling Yellow cattle × Simmental cattle) were selected and divided into a basal diet (BD) group and an experimental group fed with DDGS replacing 25% of the daily ration concentrates (DDGS) (n=3), respectively. Fresh jejunum (J), ileum (I) and cecum (C) tissues were collected for metabolomic analysis. Differential metabolites and metabolic pathways were explored by means of univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. In comparison to the J-BD group, 123 differential metabolites (VIP > 1, p 1.3). Among them, 3 significant pathways were significantly enriched in the J-DDGS group, 11 significant pathways were significantly enriched in the I-DDGS group, and 20 significant pathways were significantly enriched in the C-DDGS group. Importantly, primary bile acid biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism correlated with intestinal inflammation and immunity by regulating gut microbiota, prostaglandin synthesis, and cell signaling. The data suggest that DDGS-fed cattle unregulated three metabolic pathways mentioned above and that a DDGS-based diet was able to maintain a balance of these three metabolic pathways, thus resulting in improvement of intestinal inflammation and enhanced immunity in cattle. In conclusion, the DDGS diet has the potential to improve intestinal inflammation and enhance the immunity of Guanling crossbred cattle by regulating the metabolic patterns of lipids and lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, and related metabolic pathways. These results allude to potential metabolic regulatory mechanisms of DDGS diets and also provide a theoretical basis for the application of DDGS in livestock feed.

Fermented distiller's grains (FDG)-based diets are nutritious and can improve the growth and intestinal immunity in livestock. However, there is limited research examining the effect of feeding FDG-based diets on changes in intestinal metabolites and related pathways in livestock. In this study, nine Guanling crossbred cattle (Guizhou Guanling Yellow cattle × Simmental cattle) were selected and randomly divided into a basal diet (BD) group and two experimental groups fed with FDG replacing 15% and 30% of the daily ration concentrates (FDG-Case A and FDG-Case B), respectively, with three cattle in each group. Fresh jejunum (J) and cecum (C) tissues were collected for metabolomic analysis. Differential metabolites and metabolic pathways were explored by means of univariate and multivariate statistical analysis. Compared with the J-BD group, 30 and 100 differential metabolites (VIP > 1, p < 0.05) were obtained in the J-FDG-Case A group and J-FDG-Case B group, respectively, and the J-FDG-Case B vs. J-FDG-Case A comparison revealed 63 significantly differential metabolites, which were mainly divided into superclasses including lipids and lipid-like molecules, organoheterocyclic compounds, and organic acids and derivatives. Compared with the C-BD, 3 and 26 differential metabolites (VIP > 1, p < 0.05) were found in the C-FDG-Case A group and C-FDG-Case B group, respectively, and the C-FDG-Case B vs. C-FDG-Case A comparison revealed 21 significantly different metabolites, which were also mainly divided into superclasses including lipids and lipid-like molecules, organoheterocyclic compounds, and organic acids and derivatives. A total of 40 metabolic pathways were identified, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. Among them, 2, 14, and 18 metabolic pathways were significantly enriched in the J-FDG-Case A vs. J-BD, J-FDG-Case B vs. J-BD, and J-FDG-Case B vs. J-FDG-Case A comparisons, respectively. Meanwhile, 1, 2, and 3 metabolic pathways were obtained in the C-FDG-Case A vs. C-BD, C-FDG-Case B vs. C-BD, and C-FDG-Case B vs. C-FDG-Case A comparisons, respectively. Furthermore, four significant metabolic pathways, namely insulin resistance, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid metabolism, and primary bile acid biosynthesis, were significantly enriched in Guanling crossbred cattle fed FDG diets. These results suggest that feeding FDG diets may promote the growth and intestinal immunity of Guanling crossbred cattle by regulating metabolic patterns of lipid compounds and related metabolic pathways. This study sheds light on the potential metabolic regulatory mechanisms of FDG diets and offers some references for their use in livestock feed.

Fermented distillers’ grains (FDG) are commonly used to enhance the health and metabolic processes of livestock and poultry by regulating the composition and activity of the intestinal microbiota. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research on the effects of the FDG diet on the gastrointestinal microbiota and its metabolites in cattle. This study examines the impact of FDG dietary supplements on the gastrointestinal flora and metabolic profile of Guanling cattle. Eighteen cattle were randomly assigned to three treatment groups with six replicates per group. The treatments included a basal diet (BD), a 15% concentrate replaced by FDG (15% FDG) in the basal diet, and a 30% concentrate replaced by FDG (30% FDG) in the basal diet. Each group was fed for a duration of 60 days. At the conclusion of the experimental period, three cattle were randomly chosen from each group for slaughter and the microbial community structure and metabolic mapping of their abomasal and cecal contents were analyzed, utilizing 16S rDNA sequencing and LC-MS technology, respectively. At the phylum level, there was a significant increase in Bacteroidetes in both the abomasum and cecum for the 30%FDG group (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant reduction in potential pathogenic bacteria such as Spirochetes and Proteobacteria for both the 15%FDG and 30%FDG groups (p < 0.05). At the genus level, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005 fiber degradation bacteria. Non-target metabolomics analysis indicated that the FDG diet significantly impacted primary bile acid biosynthesis, bile secretion, choline metabolism in cancer, and other metabolic pathways (p < 0.05). There is a noteworthy correlation between the diverse bacterial genera and metabolites found in the abomasal and cecal contents of Guanling cattle, as demonstrated by correlation analysis. In conclusion, our findings suggest that partially substituting FDG for conventional feed leads to beneficial effects on both the structure of the gastrointestinal microbial community and the metabolism of its contents in Guanling cattle. These findings offer a scientific point of reference for the further use of FDG as a cattle feed resource.

Dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) are rich in nutrients and can enhance animals’ growth and immunity. However, there are few reports on the effects of a diet of DDGS on plasma metabolism and the related action pathways in domestic animals. In this study, groups of Guanling yellow cattle (GY) and Guanling crossbred cattle (GC) having a basal diet served as the control groups (GY-CG and GC-CG), and DDGS replacing 25% of the diet of GY and GC served as the replacement groups (GY-RG and GC-RG), with three cattle in each group. Plasma samples were prepared for metabolomic analysis. Based on multivariate statistical and univariate analyses, differential metabolites and metabolic pathways were explored. Twenty-nine significantly different metabolites (p < 0.05) were screened in GY-RG compared with those in GY-CG and were found to be enriched in the metabolic pathways, including choline metabolism in cancer, linolenic acid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Nine metabolites showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between GC-RG and GC-CG and were mainly distributed in the metabolic pathways of choline metabolism in cancer, glycerophospholipid metabolism, prostate cancer metabolism, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. These results suggest that a DDGS diet may promote healthy growth and development of experimental cattle by modulating these metabolic pathways. Our findings not only shed light on the nutritional effects of the DDGS diet and its underlying mechanisms related to metabolism but also provide scientific reference for the feed utilization of DDGS.